198 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

of Colonel Swabey, as Adjutant General of Militia in 1859, Colonel Stewart received that appointment, in which he served to the period of his death. In connection with the venerable gentleman’s journey through this life, we shall mention a most melancholy accident which happened in the year r829. During that period, Captain Stewart was on garrison duty with his battery at Halifax, N. 5., while Mrs. Stewart and family were passing the winter and spring at Charlottetown. On the 15th May, the family at the usual hour having retired to rest in apparent security from trouble, were awakened from their repose by the loud barking of their dog; in ascertaining the cause of this, the house was discovered to be on fire. The alarm being given the inmates were instantly removed in safety, except a little girl aged nine. Thereupon a noble minded boy aged twelve, under the impulse of affection rushed into the burning house in order to save his sister and bring her forth, but sad to relate—both were consumed in the devouring flames.

The Hon. Edward Whelan was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1824, and at an early age emigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he entered the printing office of Mr. Joseph Howe, (afterwards the Honorable Governor of Nova Scotia). In 1842, young Whelan arrived at Charlottetown, where he established a newspaper on his own account, ranging himself on the side of the people, in opposition to the then order of government, which had been established in the colony in 1770. Having obtained a seat in the Assembly, here his oratorical power was acknowledged, as of high order. He died at his residence within the city on the roth of December, 1867.

At Southport, during this year, the Reverend Donald Mc- Donald, minister of the Church of Scotland, died in the 85th year of his age. Mr. McDonald came to the Island in 1826, and, says Campbell,—“commenced his labors in the spirit of a true evangelist. Multitudes flocked to hear him preach; in barns, dwelling-houses, school-houses, and in the open air he proclaimed his commission to eager hundreds. As years rolled on, spacious and elegant churches began to take the place of rude shanties. His people grew in numbers, in wealth, in respectability, and in love {or their minister. His eloquence was of high order. The audience would uncon- . sciously become magnetized, convicted, and swayed to the speaker’s will. Seldom has such pulpit power been witnessed