resolution, moved by the Honourable Edward Palmer , set up a committee comprised of five individuals (all prominent citizens and members of St. Paul's congregation) to prepare the Memorial and to direct the movement to acquire Diocesan status for P.E.I. It was decided that the Lieutenant - Governor should forward the Memorial to Queen Victoria upon its completion, and that the Lieutenant - Governor be requested, along with the Bishop of Nova Scotia , to use official influence to support the prayer and request of the Memorial . The appeal of the Memorial was based upon a number of points of concern: Two Missions that were lately occupied are now entirely vacant. That the number of Churches consecrated and in course of erection in this Island is 19, which will require at least an addition of 5 clergymen to the present staff to be effectually served. That the number of Episcopal visitations to this Island since the commencement of the present century have not exceeded 8, which with the exception of the last in 1860 have been necessarily short and transient. That the clergymen or laity of this Island have never connected themselves with or been represented at the Diocesan Assembly of Nova Scotia ... That in these dependencies of our great Empire there exists no necessity for the bestowal of large incomes upon the holders of the Episcopal office the state of society being altogether different from that in the parent country and the expenses of living much more moderate...But that the situation of this country and general means of its inhabitants like all new countries renders it quite impossible that any material part of the above fund can be raised from local resources. That for several years past Charlottetown has been the seat of a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, which gives that Church an apparent pre-eminence on all public occasions, and that the various bodies of dissenters have all their respective organizations of Church Government in this Island. That the peculiar situation of the Island depending entirely on water communication with the American continent during summer and being for five months in the winter season almost deprived of personal communications with the mainland renders it a matter of the gravest importance to the interests of the Church that it should enjoy an independent Episcopal supervision.' 24 The Petition was not immediately sent as there was a perceived need expressed to obtain Island-wide support for the movement. There was initial encouragement in the immediate response received from England but popular support on the Island did not reach the anticipated level quickly and English support began to fade as public attention began to be diverted from this issue. The matter was eventually laid aside temporarily on the advice of Bishop 42. Ibid. 28