IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
 
 €<m 
 
 &< 
 
 1.0 
 
 liilllM IIIII2.5 
 
 y. |12 III 2 2 
 
 
 I.I l.-^i 
 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1.4 
 
 1.6 
 
 
 < 6" — 
 
 
 ► 
 
 V] 
 
 «? 
 
 /i 
 
 ^a 
 
 >^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^vy .^ "'^y 
 
 s*- 
 
 y 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 d 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 4^ 
 
 c\ 
 
 ,v 
 
 ^s. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 rv 
 
 "t." ,A ^-^ 
 
 '"^^ 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
&< 
 
 & 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microroproducti uns / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques 
 
 6^ 
 
 I 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et biblingraphiquas 
 
 The 
 to t^ 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographicaliy unique, 
 which may altar any of the images in tha 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couieur 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 □ 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 "^^ Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 
 — I along interior margin/ 
 
 La re liure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagie 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurie at/ou peJIiculAe 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couieur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couieur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Rclii avec d'autres documents 
 
 n 
 
 ^ 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes 
 lors dune restauration apparaissent dans le texta. 
 mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas ixi filmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplAmentaires; 
 
 L'Institut a microfilmji le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a iti possible da se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-itre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la methods normale de filmage 
 sont indiquds ci-dessous. 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couieur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagees 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculAee 
 
 r~~VPages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 LzJ Pages d^color^es. tachet^es ou piqu^es 
 
 n Pages detached/ 
 Pages ddtachees 
 
 n^l^Showthrough/ 
 L— J Transparence 
 
 □ Quality of print varies/ 
 Qualit^ in^gale de I'impression 
 
 □ includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel suppidmentaire 
 
 □ Only edition available/ 
 Seuie Edition disponible 
 
 The 
 pos: 
 of tt 
 filmi 
 
 Orig 
 begi 
 the I 
 •ion 
 othe 
 first 
 sion 
 or ill 
 
 The 
 shal 
 TINI 
 whi< 
 
 IVIap 
 diffe 
 entii 
 begi 
 right 
 requ 
 metl 
 
 n 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refiimed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 4t6 film^es i nouveau de fa^on h 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 Pagination a ° follows: [2], [l]-38, 33-34, 38, 36, 37-56, 58, 57, 59-76, 75-76 p, 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filmd au :aux de reduction indiqu^ ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 30X 
 
 12X 
 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 u 
 
 32X 
 
The copy filmed hare has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Metropolitan Toronto Library 
 Canadian History Department 
 
 L'exempla!re filmi fut reproduit grAce h \a 
 g6n4rosit6 de: 
 
 Metropolitan Toronto Library 
 Canadian History Department 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in Iceeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Las images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la netteti de I'exemplaire filmA. et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginn'ng on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol — «»- (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprim^e sont filmis en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en terrninant soit par la 
 darnidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par le second 
 plat, ?eion le cas. Tous les autres exempU:ires 
 originaux sont film^s en commenpant par la 
 premiire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, seton le 
 cas: le symbols -^ signifie "A SUiVRE". le 
 symbols V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagramts illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., pcuvent dtre 
 film6s A des taux de reduction iiffdrents. 
 Lnrsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seul clichi, il est film6 A partir 
 de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mdthode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
I - 
 
 j-m. 
 
LETTERS 
 
 ON' 
 
 PRINCE EDWAllD ISLAND 
 
 BY 
 
 JOPIN LAWSON, EsftuiRE, 
 Barrister at Law, and Judge Advocate. 
 
 CHARLOTTKTOWX : 
 
 GEORGE T. HA SZARD, 
 Printed by James DougJas Haszard, Queen's Printer. 
 
 1851. 
 
mmm 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 V 
 
 
 A 
 
 ■f 
 
 The following Letters were written for the Royal 
 Gazette Newspaper, published at Charlottetown, and 
 were intended merely to serve the usual purpose of 
 ephemeral publications. 
 
 It was the opinion, however, of some, upon whose 
 judgment, reliance, it was thought, ought to be placed, 
 th at they would tend to make the Island better known 
 ifcolle<"<ed and published in a Pamphlet form, and 
 accordingly with the exception of a few of the first, 
 th« matter of the columns of the newspaper, was divided 
 into pages and reprinted immediately. This, it is to be 
 hoped, will serve to disarm criticism, and account for 
 the many imperfections of style and other irregularities 
 that may be found in them. 
 
 Charlottetown, l-2th February, 1851. 
 
LETTERS ON 
 
 : the Royal 
 town, and 
 purpose of 
 
 pon whose 
 
 be placed, 
 
 tter known 
 
 form, and 
 
 the first, 
 
 was divided 
 
 , it is to be 
 
 account for 
 
 regularities 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 n.Z^'V^'^A^Z "^ '^.^"'■'P^on of Prince Edward Island; one that 
 
 TaLt th?h^'" '^ ''"'^u "P.°" ^y ^h°^« ^*^« "»^y contemplate mi- 
 grating th.ther, in search of an eligible place of residence. I aiL 
 
 iSmt^^^'f"^/- '"'"Pr'y ''''^ y°"^ ''^^^''> to the best of my 
 abilities, and w, I, ,n my future letters, devote a part of each to that 
 
 LT!fi?"'*''"V*''rr''?ri''"°'y'^^^^"«« I f««» convinced; ha 
 there a e few parts of British North America to which certain c asses 
 
 ofpeople, desirous of crossing the Atlantic, can Ijrn their attention 
 jvih better prospects of success. I say ceVtain classes, because h" 
 sland IS neither an El Dorado nor a California, and is no place for 
 the speculative adventurer, who is anxious to accumulate a fortane 
 with which he may, after the lapse of a few years, return ^o h s na-* 
 tive country, and dazzle the eyes of his friends and acquaintance. 
 On the contrary, he man who seriously contemplates a^ removal to 
 Prince Edward Island, must make up his mind to its beinnhlnVr 
 manent home of himself and family, where, if he Lve aVode^at; 
 ncome, he may with common prudence and economy, oS all 
 the necessaries and comforts of life, and a considerable share of .hi 
 
 Irwhot^aT" '"^'"^^^ °""^^ thanin'Zt o?ht ptc?s°'¥: 
 ses ed of si. in"?? ?' '" increasing family, and who is also pos! 
 nnf ?n hn.. ^ T'-'^l' ^^^^ompanied with industiious habits, whb is 
 not in haste to get rich, out anxious to put that family in the wav of 
 earning their o^vj, livelihood, the Island affords equ i,^f not srerior 
 advantages to the surrounding Provinces j and. ?a«tly. the noor but 
 sober and industrious farmer, mechanic, or labourer who wUI con 
 
 irt:;J!!i ^;!!;:i^i'.v'-Aj^ ^^ ^-^ health ^et^^^^;:; 
 
 ' '"'""'' "• «'o»T years, m a far more respectable 
 
LETTERS Ox\ 
 
 and independent rank of life that he could ever have expected to 
 attain to in his own country. But those who hope to succeed with- 
 out prudence, economy, industry, and patience, will find themselves 
 miserably disappointed. 
 
 A glance at the map will show you that the Island is situated be- 
 tween the 45lh and 47lh parallels of North Latitude. Charloltetown, 
 the capital, which is also t'iO centre of the Island, is in lat, 46, 12, 
 North;, and Ion. 63, West. It is surrounded by part of the Gulf of 
 St. Lawrence and the Strait of Northumberland, which separates it 
 from the sister Colonies of Nova Sootia and New Brunswick, the 
 nearest point of the coast of the latter (Cape Tormentine) being dis- 
 tant, from Cape Traverse, about 10 miles. It is between these two 
 headlands that the English ond Colonial mails are brought over every 
 week during the winter. People from the Old Country, as we are in 
 the habit of calling the British Islands, are sometimes led to.suppose 
 that the climate of America is similar to that of countries in corres- 
 ponding latitudes in Europe : this is not, however, the case, for though 
 the summers of the former are as warm and perhaps warmer, the 
 winters are invariably colder than those of the latter continent. 
 Why this difference should exist, is involved in much obscurity, and 
 has been productive of much discussion ; but, if Julius Ctesar is to be 
 believed, — and his; celebrated ** Commei)taries" are not, as has been 
 asserted, a species of the ♦' Romance of History," got up centuries 
 after he was dead and buried, — that the climate of France was in his 
 time pretty much the same with that of these Northern Provinces of 
 America. He states, that the Sequana (the modern Seine) was 
 frozen so hard as to enable it to sustain the weight of a whole nation, 
 with all its baggage. Now though no mention is to be met with in 
 modern history, of a similar occurrence, with respect to the Seine, 
 yet, on this side of the Atlantic, our rivers and the seas around our 
 coasts are, during the months of January and February, at all events, 
 fully as capable of bearing — not, perhaps, a whole nation with its 
 baggage, but — as heavy loads as we can get horses to draw, and form 
 a species of railway, upon which the principal traffic, from one pnrt 
 of the Island to another, is carried on with far greater ease than it 
 could be accomplished in the summer. I must here pause for a 
 moment. Would it not be better that I should first dilate upon the 
 great advantages that may be expected from a residence in the 
 Island 1 Will not this at once deter you, and all to whom you shall 
 show this letter, from embarking for such a hyperborean region T — 
 As you must be acquainted with it some time or other, I am deter- 
 mined that you shah know the worst at once. The winters, then, it 
 uiust be cunfessed) are both long and severe, compared with those of 
 
 ^9b 
 
 y 
 
VlllSCV. EDWARD ISLAXD. 
 
 ve expected to 
 
 succeed with- 
 
 find themselves 
 
 I is situated be- 
 Charlolletown, 
 in lat, 46, 12, 
 of the Gulf of 
 ch separates it 
 Brunswick, the 
 ine) being dis- 
 i^een these two 
 ught over every 
 r, as we are in 
 led to. suppose 
 tries in corres- 
 ase, for though 
 s warmer, the 
 Lter continent, 
 obscurity, and 
 Ccesar is to be 
 >t, as has been 
 ot up centuries 
 ance was in his 
 1 Provinces of 
 n Seine) was 
 I whole naiion, 
 be met with in 
 i to the Seine, 
 IS around our 
 ', at all events, 
 lation with iti 
 Iraw, and form 
 from one pnrt 
 :r ease than it 
 3 pause for a 
 Hate upon the 
 lidence in the 
 horn you shall 
 ;an region T — 
 T, I am deter- 
 inters, then, it 
 1 with those of 
 
 Biifain, France, and some -jarls of Germany ; not one whit more 
 
 ' .^^^ver, than .hose of the Province, of ^N^va Scotia and New 
 
 Brunswick ; less severe and shorler than the winters of, what wa^ 
 
 former y called. Lower Canada ; and short and mild, when con rasTed 
 
 w,lh hose o( Norway. Sweden, Denmark, or R^^sia. What we 
 
 term the setting in of winter, usually occu.s about the middle of 
 
 n^Z":u"J' h'^'" the ground begins 'to be covered with sTow; the 
 
 navigat on, however, is not closed till about the htfer end of that 
 
 month .r^Charloltetown, and at Georgetown, or Tllee Rive," as it is 
 
 more frequently termed, the harbor remains open un iha e in jl^nu i 
 
 time "'at the '^h"^' ""' '^^ '''''^'''''' corr.'mences, in April so" e^J 
 times at the beginning, sometimes towards the latter end of tha 
 
 nn^t'mddIeof";""r' 1'.%^'°."^^^ '^ '" "P^^^^" from the b,n! 
 ning or m ddle of April umIiI the lalter end of November. There arP 
 
 oT^r^s'^; '?0«"f,°''f r ^°''' ^^'^ t'— -e'er verg g";; 
 
 owe' bnt 1 ''"'' '^' ^^'"^ "'■ I'^^^'^'-l^eif, and even, it°is said, 
 
 cv auend S ul.""' ""f ^'"^"""' ^"^ ^^ very short duration ; nor are 
 
 DuTin. the mo h f?-^ ^'^"^^••""l^r,^^" disagreeable consequences. 
 
 yuring ine months of January and February, s\\xt\x the cold is most 
 
 he hliT ■• fvilT •" ?■; '"'h ^"' '''' ^'^ '^ cIear^;alCnd 
 n.alih) 1 Will, ,n a future letter, show you how we pass the timn 
 
 durmg h,s portion of the year. In fact, the length of ?he wiL T 
 
 any ouiei, aiU by them generally wiUioat much show of reason 
 Accustomed to keep more horser, and more cattle, than tlcvon 
 provide fodder lor, they throw the blame of their own inp?ov denco 
 
 y'd'bv "t;.:'^'^^""'^v'"^ 0^/'- 1 ^^haii^.:;"7nr n"; 
 
 of, ''the a l^rt to l?r"^ '' « -ort, and compels the husbandman to b'e 
 o • ( e%e'e ation TU^""^' '" sutficently early to meet the rabidity 
 oi i.je vegetation. The summers are in general warm- thfrp \l 
 
 ::ilT\:rfT''}' ^^^'^^r- ^-^^ thermometer rt'sashi^h 
 as «()o ,n the shade, but, like the extreme cold, it is seldom of lon^ 
 
 ' brepr. "• ''' 'T, '^^^^'^^^e^^ t« f'^ve the benefit of a refresh 
 
 "reit/sf- ' ^T '"/'^^ '^°^^*^'* ^^^^^'^*^'"' «" «nc point of th. 
 
 dct In th7°;''T'-' f""f'^?'^' ^'•^^'y-'^^^l without fe^r ofcontr": 
 Uiction, the climate is decidedly a healthy one. We are subierVr^ 
 
 asjetbeen merqfully spared the visitation of Cholera. In a word 
 
 nor Ih'rh^r r":.'^ ^'"'^ ^'^^^^' "^•"^^'' ^h« severity of the wZ/ 
 clo'h nt ^'V''^^'^' ?""'"\'''' '^ •" ^h*^ ^^^'^ to be feared : <^ood wa'm 
 clothmg and exercise without, and a Coht hou.. nn^ ^ ° J'™ 
 
 -'tnin aoors, wiil protect you iVom the effects of li^e fonnerTa^i^ir.f 
 
 > 
 
Nli^MBRi 
 
 ■■ 
 
 LETTERS 0?f 
 
 you ehould at times feel it rather warmer than you hare been ac- 
 customed; by the aid of a light dress and cooling diet, you will not 
 be hkely to sufler much from the short lime you will be exposed to 
 It. I must not forget to mention, that we are entirely free from 
 those fogs which are so great a drawback to comfort, and impedi- 
 ments to navigation in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Our 
 autumns are delightful, and there is nothing in the month of Novem- 
 ber to induce meditations of a suicidal nature. 
 
 1 
 
ou haye been ac- 
 et, you will not 
 I be exposed to 
 ntirely free from 
 3rt, and impedi- 
 Brunswick. Our 
 month of NoTCim- 
 
 O^ 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAIHD. 
 
 LETTER 
 
 rood and raiment, fire and shelter are t nm »,«« 
 
 existence, say the Philosophers, and hey -^re nodo2 " ^r"*^ .^'' 
 
 ways to be had, and in their respective season* Jlni f 7 ^'® "'- 
 and poultry, at reasonable price^s! 'ke hSsf nrV "r^' ^ 
 mutton, lamb, veal and pork, seldom exceed e'n^ ^''^' 
 
 four pence sterlin«' the lb nvnJr.i, »J *^-^^efa> even m the Summer, 
 
 As to^he quahty^f these Ih^^^^ ""^i/*'"" ?'>^ ^^^ ^ ^''^^^ion 
 
 Jiighlyfed^norLarl^Tl^rtXs^X^^^^ ^^^^^ "^': ^^ 
 
 }ar, is undersized, but is admitted Tn .li^? i ^^\^«^^' '" particu- 
 
 tender and nourishing luhl^s,n^ '"^ }l «^««^-'««ted. 
 
 grass-fed, and will so contnue until ^Lk- ^•''' ^^^S"^') ^^ is all 
 
 which, a great reduction in th pHc ^'a'kes'^re" l^f'^T-'.^'^^' 
 been talk ng of the niice in mai-L^ k !f ^'■^' ^ "^^^ hitberlo 
 ever, as the wea herbedns to 1*^ ^ ^^ ^T^ ^ ^' ^""' »^«^v. 
 to purchase a qu^n'ofS, s^f m^Qo'ir'^Oot' '' ^"f '^ "^ 
 the vvinter fed is offered for sairitirvL? fOObs., and when 
 sterling per lb., and even lowir' A? W^"^ ^' ^'^^ ^d. to l^d, 
 
 ing tubVnow becbmestn i Snsfbfe'^HroTL-M^' '' ^'^^''' 
 cellar furniture, upon thb iuSn. nn^ i ■? , ^^^'^chen, or rather 
 
 of the domestic^oSWr^^^^^^^^^^ "^^l --^ 
 
 «nd quality of the mutton and lamb' we "h.v/^nr* '" '"^ V""^ 
 
 -.petition with any of th. auirotdh.^ Cvin^.raT coimS;! 
 
I 
 
 I.LTTERS ON 
 
 seura from England Inve praised them liiglily; some of ilie former 
 is Raid to resemble the Welsh mutton in delicacy of flavour. In 
 the vvintnr, abundance of stall-fed mutton is to be met with, either 
 ir. the market or broi ht to the doors, the best at 2d. sterling the 
 lb. Owing to the quantity furnished by the farmers in the vicinity/ 
 veal is not so good in proportion to the supply as other kinds' of 
 »neat; it seldom rises above 2d sterling the lb. It is not considered 
 here as it is in many other places, rather as a luxury, and therefore 
 the same pains are not bestowed upon the fattening and whitening 
 of the meat. But there is nothing to hinder our being as well pro- 
 vided with this article in the first style, ond of the best ouality; 
 nnd when our butchers find an increased demand, and a more fas- 
 tidious taste, they will doubtless exert themselves to please the 
 public. Winter is the season for pork, and it is then plenty, well- 
 fed, and well-tasted. It is never over large, the carcass seldom 
 exceeding 300 lbs; the price maybe stated at 2d. sterling the lb. 
 In general, private l;»niilies, to whom economy is an object, pre- 
 fer curing their own pork, bacon and hams, purchasing the animal 
 by the carcase in the Winter or toward the Spring, when it ia 
 cheapest; excellent hams and bacon may, however be procured 
 from butchers and others at from 4d. to 6d. the lb. Winter ia also the 
 fceason for poultry ; not that we are without more or less of it at 
 all times in market, but about Christmas it is in great abundance, 
 nnd so continues until some time afier Easter. Plenty of turkeys 
 may be had, from 49. to 23. sterling each, either alive or dead 
 as you may chose. Geese are most generally brought in killed and 
 rt^ady picked, ready for dressing; and excellent fut and well- 
 flavou'^ed ones — either Tthe stubbb, or during the winter — may 
 be had from is. to 2s. sterling, according to size. They are not, 
 QS you may suppose, as large as p»"'ze geese in England, but are 
 by no means to be despised, even as respects size, and are un- 
 questionably the cheapest meat in the market* Fowls aie equally 
 plentiful, and may be had for 8d. to Is. the couple. Why the 
 duck should not be as frequently seen in our market as the rest of 
 the feathered tribe is more than I can say, but so it is ; they ne- 
 vertheless take their place sometimes with the others, and at 
 acorrespondent price. But methinks I hear you say — Have you 
 no game, no wild fowl, no venison, and above all have you no 
 fish? Of course we have, but, being delicacies, they have been 
 reserved for the second course — I mean the game, &c. As to the 
 
 51:^11, vyt; uarc vv/Uj i;aviv'^vnj 25c;zxiiig, iiiavrixji tj j tx-^t?t. «si\i sttimvit 
 
 I uee'i not remind you that we are, in consequence of the frost, una- 
 
rniXCE EDWARD JSLA\D. 
 
 of the former 
 r flavour. In 
 et with, either 
 J. sterling the 
 in the vicinity/ 
 other kinds' of 
 
 not considered 
 , and therefore 
 
 and whitening 
 g as well pro- 
 ! best ouality; 
 id a more fa^- 
 
 to please the 
 »i plenty, well- 
 jarcass seldom 
 sterling the lb. 
 in object, pre- 
 ing the animal 
 ig, when it ia 
 2r be procured 
 'inter is also the 
 r less of it at 
 jat abundance, 
 enty of turkeys 
 alive or dead 
 ;ht in killed and 
 fut and well- 
 e winter — may 
 
 They are not, 
 igland, but are 
 ;, and are un-> 
 wis aie equally 
 e. Why the 
 
 as the rest of 
 t is ; they ne* 
 
 others, and at 
 ay — Have you 
 I have you no 
 ihey have been 
 &c. As to the 
 
 »f the frost, una- 
 
 ble to procure them in the wiuter- hut r .. 
 
 bors to .he closing. il..y ....^^^^ Ij VT> '^' '^'^^ °^ ^''« hnr- 
 abundance as to cease 'to be con.tl 1 . • *^ '"n"* "^ "'^-•» i» sunh 
 "•y. CodHsh and h.uldoc la e f o f^ '" » ":.f '-'''test degree a lux- 
 a very large one-fo.. feet lo gf a e .t T, .'^- ^Ifv '^^'^' "'"^t be 
 price; herring, at first 4d. per dozpn S"- ' '''" ^^'*<^'» l»»e Jatter 
 •undrod; maclrerel arc- oml.tes V, " ,'''7''^ °' •"'^ "« I« bo 
 jom is. 6d. to 2s. sterling the doSn ^ ? ""^""' « - ^«'/ i"4e 
 l^ter s, .„ the Eastern part of the I hnj" r" 'T ^.'^"'''^ '^^'n ^t 
 are-but not where, as I take i thn * ^''"'^' ^'"^« where they 
 «oid, according to size, from Is 6d 7;"'''^ l>e-caugbt; they ?,% 
 ascertained a few days since so/ i, .i ',''»' ?^''-averaging^ as I 
 The steainer from PiLubrL;^^ ^'^^'^ 4^. stg? tfc ]b 
 
 '" trout, and. I will venture to J /nor.'T^^ '\^' I^iand abounds 
 as hne, very liitle inferior to sahi^;,, thel' fV','^' '^^^^^'^'^^ il-not 
 
 mLTu'"''1! '"^ ^'»^ epicure wa^Lr' ^^"^' gratification 
 iMd nohsh in the winter: Vout ir^ n, ■ ?P^ '" ^^^ting tliat wo 
 
 «"d can bu, sny, ,Lt if jo°u"'re f„„d'"? '■?^'J' }'""S the,,, i„™e^f 
 
 abundant .'hat they >vere t iL f"""^J■»"s since, ovster» i^^ 
 - and in such .uantiliriha ' t" LeZ/ '.'Jeft ""^ b"'»t fcrZr 
 
 * a treat; /^^ll'^f •"[ "^''- '"=»''^« TyZlTV"""!^^ ""« 
 
 ■ now corragate^d skit „n I'L ,".!!.lS-..tly disengaging lirir^:!;-".!' 
 
 I 5 I lie snow, invites ** ih,j 
 
LETTERS Or< 
 
 8 
 
 hungry traveller to hU food," and forces hitn to confess jj^at «ome 
 UmeVlhe greatest mumph of art is sinnpiicity. I« .^^°^-^"\\'"" r 
 ufn-m If T have a weak point about me, it is situated, I rather 
 Sale n the region of th^e stomach-for I never think, write or 
 calculate, '";"«;^» . . , j^dined to be poetical. As to venison, 
 'P''^ I'notex^nect t th moose and carriboo having long since 
 
 you must »«^^^^P^^;^^^^^ time-worn antler occasionally found, 
 
 been unheard of, not ng but a ume ^.^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 
 Sl^rCevrf^ncv a' bear's ham, there are those who, 
 bhouid you, now«vi. , accommodate you— and famously 
 
 ^lZ^r they -vej I..0W »„d hav. da* flesh^^ 
 ';^'^''"""S^»t':wt^ ;«! rbo edTsfewed, «; made inj a carry. 
 
 '• ' Third ■ :"f";irp»" partridge.-' Early in the spring of the 
 cious l'''''v='"^„, P TpV," h— to all but gastronomic ears— cry of 
 
 l;"^";/dreS'ii;-L'r wlllperl s ,nee.ti.h' a^y where; though 
 
 SrJk and tedharbecorne scarce. There 'are bittern snipe. 
 
 Te^" tot^rro'r.l'eL':T.hr; lay gracefully composed on bed, of 
 
 toast beforo me on the dinner table. 
 
 ^X+*«.."»»-«s«ee«<faK"W-*» 
 
fell 
 
 PRlXCt: EDWARD IjJLA.N D. 
 
 Lhat some- 
 t)ut I must 
 ,, I rather 
 , write or 
 to venison, 
 long since 
 [illy found, 
 the forest, 
 hose who, 
 1 famously 
 t in reality 
 —are to be 
 3y make a 
 Lo a curry. 
 !, is also nt 
 of food in 
 i most del i- 
 pring of the 
 are — cry of 
 British shil- 
 ook knows 
 jre; though 
 r the brant 
 ind delicate 
 1 *• canvasa 
 Mue winged 
 ;ern, snipe, 
 r find their 
 not do witli^ 
 i on beda of 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 i-Iy liist was as d(»I! and prosy, my wife says, as a price current, 
 and in good sooth I agree with her ; yet, as it was absolutely uects- 
 sary that you should ho informed of these tilings, I trust you will not 
 only boar with that, b;it eori.sent also to a prolongation of it as aflert^ 
 the vcgetab'o part cf the bill of faro which 1 have lo ofier. The 
 Island dour does not present lhat dazzling white starch-like appear- 
 ancethattho United Stales Hour does, but where care has been 
 taken m the gnndnig and boiling, it is of a good white, with a just 
 perceptible shade ol cream cojou;-— only discernible, by the way, 
 when put m juxta-po.sii.m wiih American superfine. IJy the word 
 'American" you mast understand we always mean '« of and per- 
 taining to the Lmted Stales ofAme.ica." Keep this in mind for 
 1 sometimes forget lhat I am addressing myself to a person cf ano- 
 !ier country, and make use of terms which, thoagli they may be to 
 him equivocal, have here a definite and acknowledged oonv..Mtional 
 .neaning. JJut to reiun, to the flour. I need noi, I should think 
 lell you, for you will readily imagine, that it is of every degree of 
 menes. and your eye and tongue must be your ^.ide* in purcha.in^ 
 re b?n rr . ""'^'^ American ilour ; it is brougl.t in barrels, wh d 
 : «reb.anded-superhue,''-extra-saper(ine,--tine,--mi.ld!i...s '' 
 
 onSf 'it i^t?r"'"^ '\^ "'"""' ^>^ it. leaves you to judge for 
 
 always • r^Jnteni!. "f -^^ f'' ''""^'^^* ^^^■'='>^' '^'^''-^ '^'^ "'"^^^^^ 
 ide er .If ' v'^^^^^^ ^''^^''-'^^ 5 l.id. sterling may be con- 
 
 ound of'/ *"'"''' *^'"''i''>^ ^''«"'' "I ^' »i-^«^l P'i'^e, all the re.' 
 
 bread'. LsoZ^^^r "r,«i;«"'^i"g oftliose uL ha'ketheirC 
 
 ' in ctrdot ow^^V^^^^^^ "/'the baker may, 
 
 fnnd highly res,H:Si:. .:, "ccornmodated ; there are several 
 
 Vvervd ^ind'^«!^> inulesmen who n„ni.sh fresh baked bread 
 
 cone ad S* ; t , ; l^l";/"" '' ''''f "" ->-.>l.Vmt.s U may b« 
 _ "u in.u tlRii wor.\ gives satisf;.clion. I'verv hou.e in lh« 
 
"^ 
 
 10 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 country, and mnny in the town, bake their own br«nd, and prolor 
 if, though a «hade darker, to that of the baker. I make no npoKigy 
 tor being thu.s minute. There is nothing, after all, tliat is so impor- 
 tant, as to be able to command good vvhole>-ome bread at a cheap 
 rate. And tiiis you may gather, from what has gone before, may 
 be safely counted npou. And if the taste of yourself, or nny of your 
 family or friends, is peculiarly fastidious, imported flour may aUvays 
 be had, at prices varying from [d. to l^d. sterling per lb. above the 
 market price of the home-made article. Oatmeal is always to be 
 had, and generally of excellent quality ; in fact, it is seldom" oflered 
 for sale unless good ; but there are, at least I have always found it 
 «o, certain shades of dilVerence in the quality, known only to the 
 initiated ; its price may be safely stated at Id. sterling per lb. occa- 
 sionally higher, seldom lower. Previous to the disease, by whatever 
 name it nniy be known, of the potato, this valuable esculent was the 
 staple article of home consumption and of export ; and we trust that 
 we shall still be able to reckon upon the superiority hitherto conced- 
 ed to us, if it be the will of Providence to shield us from any further 
 attack of this justly dreadad foe. There was a tolerably fair crop 
 last year. There are botli old and new potatoes now (middle of 
 August) in the market, the former are selling for Is. sterling tlu? 
 bushel, the latter at 2s. or 2s. 6d. The general price of the potato 
 is, however, from 8d, to la. sterling ; lower at times, when taken in 
 the Fall — as we call it, but Autumn as you call it — from off the 
 field. 1 know of no part of Atnerica where they cnn be bad of a 
 better quality ; and they ceitainly are cheaper here tiian any 
 where else. 
 
 Owing to almost every house of respectability being provided with 
 ft kitchen garden, of larger or smaller dimensions, we have I'.ot 
 hitherto had much of a vegetable market to boast < f, or any thing at 
 all of a green-grocery establishment. But this will not long be thu 
 case, and symptoms of amendment in this respect are already jter- 
 ceptible. The owners of sn)all pieces of land in the vicinity sue 
 bringing into town (besides eaily potatoes) lettuces, cucumbers, 
 green peas, French beans, sweet herbs, &?,, which are sold at lov\ . 
 perhaps too low prices, to encourage compet'iion. As the town fills 
 up — which it is doing fast — there will be a greater demand, and 
 consequently n more abundant and more varied supply. iM;t;ts, 
 carrois, tuinips, cabbages, turnips solely for winter use, may be hnd 
 in the autumn in as great abundance, and I undeistand as cheaj) rr 
 cheaper than in most pints of Britain. 
 
 I regret to say, that \vc at present are obliged to depend alii.f si 
 
r'RlNCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 U 
 
 , and prolor 
 110 npology 
 is jjo iriipor- 
 I at a choaji 
 jcforo, may 
 iny of your 
 nay aKvavd 
 I. above tluj 
 Iways to he 
 lorn oflejc'd 
 lys foaiul it 
 only to the 
 er lb. occa- 
 >y whatever 
 c;nt was the 
 re trust that 
 no conceil- 
 any further 
 ily fair crop 
 { middle of 
 sterling tlu; 
 f the potato 
 en taken in 
 from off the 
 Le had of a 
 1 than ariY 
 
 nvidcd wiih 
 e have r.ot 
 iny thing at 
 long ho th(i 
 Ircady jter- 
 viciiiily sue 
 cucumbers, 
 sold at lovN . 
 le town fills 
 ^mand, aiid 
 ily. ImhoIs, 
 may be had 
 as cheaj) rr 
 
 lend aliii'.sl 
 
 €& 
 
 entirely on our neiglibors for the article of fruit; nnd I re.rret it the 
 more, because it proceeds solely from our own negligence— to aive it 
 no harsher term— that it is so. There is nothing to impede or hinder 
 our having as good fruit, and in unlimited abundance, as our nei.'h- 
 bors; nor do I despair of seeing an alteration in this respect There 
 were some few bundles of trees (grafted apples) sent on speculation 
 trom the States this last spring; these were purchased at fair prices- 
 and If there are more brought next year, and the circumstance of 
 their importation better known, I have no doubt there will be i 
 greater competition. I shall, however, touch upon gardening bv and 
 by; at present we will keep to the market. Currants, bfa-^k and 
 red; gooseberries, garden and wild; Kentish cherries, damson, and 
 a lev/other kinds ol plum, and some tolerably good cooking apnle^ 
 are all we hav. to talk about-not to boast of^in this respect 1 
 must not forget to mention though, that strawberries, deliciou.; iu 
 lavor, may be had in profusion, in the momh of July; these are 
 brought in nicely cleaned from the foot-stalks, in wooden buckets 
 and sold from 2d to 3d. stg. the Winchester quart. Raspber ie ' 
 equally good of the.r kind, are still lower in price. BoVh these la ^t' 
 are wild, but none the worse for that, I assure you. The -o id 
 dames are purchasing them by the bucket-full, for preservin^J^M 
 good store ot these notions being considered almost indispensable- a 
 certam share of the housewife's reputation depending upon the good- 
 ness and variety of these, displayed at her dinner or tea tS 
 Cheese and butter, though not actually vegetables, are, howcn^r' 
 of vegetable origin ; and as they must comerin son ewhe e mai « 
 well be disposed of here as elsewhere. There is very good chees,' 
 made . some of the farmers in the Island, and what^isTmade i' 
 
 frequently arrive m the fall from that Province If von .rl Vi Y r 
 oheese, therefore, bring some with you to se ve you until you deter 
 
 Where here are meadows and cattle, there will be butter— .nd .f 
 course, in thi«. n« in u\\ «itw. ..:__ •. ,.^ "^ uuiier — and, of 
 
 there 
 
 or od. 
 
 you perceive, given the priceg'if 'e7erv\hinri,rrV ' ''''''^' 
 though all our monetary tLnsactions"r7in c^r "c wh^ 
 «udeavour to make you understand. A sover^ In Vt," J '"" 
 
 ^^ twenty .hillings, i with us worih Uih ^r:"^;:;,;;^ T^'l^^: 
 
 „ • , .. • . • ' ,, -"...v., i.icic Will DO Duiter — and of 
 
 e, in this, as m all other countries, it differs greatly in n "al hv 
 1 a wa>^, l.owever plenty of good to be obtaine/aTfrn^l' 
 • to Is. sterling the lb., either fresh or salted down I hn . 
 •erceive. -r vpm iho nr;.o» ^r "'tuuown. I have, a* 
 
I 
 
 li 
 
 LETrr.R."^ o^ 
 
 ^hi'.ling, Id, 6d. The rates of exclmnge is 50 per cent., or, in other 
 word.-, when we wish to change sterlin" into currency, we add ona 
 hiill ; w hen, on the contrary, we would ascertain the vahie in sterlin^; 
 of a certain 8urn in currency, wo deduct one third. '1 hu:*, if your 
 income be jC3U0 ir»teilin«», it i^ equal to €450 — n:iade so by adding 
 X 150 (the half of i300) to itself; on ihe other hand, when you arc; 
 told that the income of the; Treasurer, or of the Asisis'ant Judge ol' 
 the Supreme Ct)urt, h £500 currency, }ou deduct £166 13s. 4d., 
 which leavt>.s £833 6si. 8d. ; von will also find that £\66 13s. 4d. m 
 the half of X333 fis. 8d., which, being added together, makes iiSOO. 
 And this piece of knowledge may serve you in this wise: £350 sig. 
 gives you a larger income than any Odicer of the Colonial (Jovern- 
 luent, with the exception of ihe Chief .lustice — who has now i:600 
 sterling peranium, but svhose successor will have, h is thought, but 
 X'400 sterling, or £600 currency. A person, therefore, who hasth« 
 last mentioned income, will be able to live with the utiriost comfort, 
 mi.K with the besi society, arvd see his friends as a gentleman vvouKl 
 wish to do. The income of the Collector of Itripo>ts and Kxcise is 
 ,i:2()0 currency, or X'173 6^ 8d sterling; so that you will be per- 
 fectly right' in concluding, that with £200 sterling per annum a man 
 with a wife and live or six in family may live with respectability and 
 eotJifort, and educate his children; whether he v\ ill be able to savo 
 much out of that su(n, will of course depend upon himself — for Cham- 
 pagne, and Madeira, and Shi-rry, and Wri (though not burthened 
 with the same duties as with you, and ofcour.se not costing so mucit) 
 make, if ii^od too *' ely, serious inroads upon income; and frequent 
 dinner parlies are attended with the same consequences everywhere, 
 J lu'lleve. 
 
 i have been laboring to convince you, thai if you determine Co 
 «'0!ije among us, you will not starve. 'J'he next thing is shelter; so 
 you must be provided with a house. I will, therefore, begin whli 
 • •ne that is vacant; it has just been left by the Chief Justice— who 
 has resided there for some lime — for a house of his own, a little out 
 of town. 'J'his house is now to let, and is situated at the western 
 oxtiomiiy of the town, opposite to the Ciovernment House, from 
 which it is separated by a creek. There is a dining-room, drawing- 
 room, and study on the first floor, and five or six bed-rooms on Iho 
 second; beside servants rooms, nursery, &c., (upwards of 20 apart- 
 ments, in all), kichen, out-houses, and stables. It is eituated and 
 IVonts on the harbor, and commands an extensive view of it and tho 
 rivers running into it; has a flower and kitchen garden, and is un- 
 Ci)nnecl4»d with any other building. J\ow the rent of this house — 
 
 •r§ 
 
IViLXCE EUWAKI) ISLAND 
 
 , or, in other 
 we add orio 
 Ine in sterling; 
 I liu:}, if your 
 so by adding 
 IV hen you an; 
 i'aiit Judge of 
 166 13s. 4d., 
 6(i 13s. 4d. M 
 makes £500. 
 5e: £350 sig. 
 iiiiiil (Joveni- 
 9 now £600 
 i thought, hut 
 , who has thti 
 riost conifort, 
 lernan vvoulil 
 and Excise is 
 will be per- 
 innuMi a man 
 ectabilily and 
 } able to savo 
 f — for Chan 1- 
 ot burtheneil 
 :ing so tnuclt) 
 and frequent 
 everywhere, 
 
 determine Co 
 s shelter; so 
 i, begin whh 
 lustice-— who 
 1, a little out 
 
 the western 
 Mouse, from 
 Din, drawing- 
 rooms on I ho 
 s of 20apart- 
 pituated and 
 
 of it and tlu? 
 1, and is un- 
 this liouse — 
 
 11^ 
 
 and 1 think it is the highest of any in town — isX'OO currency, or X60 
 sterling. A very good house, sufficient for a family of 6 o'r 7, may 
 be had fur £20 to £30 sterling, according to the situation and styfe 
 r.f finish. I am, ofcoui-se, now speaking of the town of Clmrlotte- 
 lown. In some other letter I will enter fully into the prospects of 
 tliose who come with the inteniion of settling in the rountrv; fh«; 
 iuforniation with' respect to prices, Arc, will be of service to all uh*! 
 ihiDk of emigraiing. lor the present, farewell. 
 
u 
 
 LETTERS OS 
 
 I 
 
 IJi:TTER IV. 
 
 You feci convinced, I trust, that there will be no want of either 
 food or shelter, if either you or your friends make up your minds to 
 cast in your lot with oui.s. Yo« will of course bring a fair supply 
 of your'usual clothing with you — not too much, however ; for there 
 IS no necessity for it, and might be the occasion of loss rather than 
 •;ain. Wood for fuel is not as yet very scarce, and if it were, we 
 live in such proximity to the inexhaustible coal miiies of Pictou, that 
 there is no cause for apprehension on that score. But m-rin, you will 
 say, has mani-^ and other wants besides food and shelter, tire and 
 raiment. True ! man is a gregarious animal, and as soon as the 
 uppetites he has in common with those of inferior degree, as he is 
 pleased to term them, are satisfied, he looks for society. The inter- 
 course of mind whh mind. Now, previous to making any disclosures 
 on this head, I need not, I am sure, impress upon your mind the 
 necessity of discretion. The character of a communiiy, as well as 
 rltat of 'individuals, is deseivedly dear to. them respectively. Yet 
 v.hat need I fear ? M.y determination is, throughout this correspon- 
 dence, to keep ahvaysin view, and act up to the maxim, *' nothing 
 to extetmate, nor set down aught in malice." Are you anything of 
 a geologist ? — for if you are, you will understand me when I tell 
 vou that as yet, society in Prince Edward Island is in what 
 inay be called the transition state; there are all the elements of 
 dilferent degrees mixed up together, and but few of them exactly 
 delined. Royalty is represented in the person of the Lieutenant 
 (Jovernor, who holds a species of Court, which exercises, on llie 
 whole, a beneficial influence on those who are wilhm its sphere, 
 and it takes a wider range than you would at first be aware ol. 
 Whatever may have been the opinions formed of the political cha- 
 racters of our rulers, their personal habits and demeanour have 
 been those of gentlemen. The force of example has had its usual 
 ellect. From long continued intercourse with the dilleront Gover- 
 nors and their ladies, as well as those connected with then), there 
 has silently arisen and been quietly fostered, a subdued tone and 
 gentleness of manner that in all probability would never have 
 existed had such ssansple been wanting. On entering the drawmg- 
 ,.oam of Government House, on a company night, you will |)ercejve 
 
 f 
 f 
 
PiilNCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 15 
 
 ) want of eilliei 
 ) your minds to 
 ng ii fair supply 
 .ever ; for there 
 loss rather than 
 if it were, we 
 5 of Pictou, that 
 t uitin, you will 
 shelter, tire and 
 as soon as the 
 egree, as he is 
 ty. The inter- 
 ; any disclosures 
 
 your mind the 
 lilv, as well as 
 peetively. let 
 , this correspon- 
 xiiu, *' nothing' 
 you anything of 
 e when I tell 
 iiid is in what 
 tie elements of 
 f them exactly 
 the Lieutenant 
 ercises, on the 
 hm its sphere, 
 
 be aware of 
 B political cha- 
 emeauour have 
 3 had its usual 
 lirteront Govei- 
 ilh them, there 
 idued lone and 
 lid never have 
 ng llie draw ing- 
 5u will perceive 
 
 no marked diflference between the people there assembled, than you 
 would on a similar occa-^ion, in any town in Britain. ! doubt if 
 there are many places of the same population, that could on occa- 
 ffion, turn out u more select party, than could Churlotteiown. In^ 
 dependent of the Governor and liis fairiil}', there are the members 
 of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the Chief Justice, and 
 the other Judges of the Supreme Court, the Treasurer, Secretary, 
 and Ollicers of Government; the Attorney and Solicitor Generals, 
 with the members of the bar; the garrison, the magistrates, mer- 
 c'lants, and others whose wealth, position or influence entitle them 
 to the entree of our Provincial palace, combine to form a society of 
 much greater pretensions to real gentility than larger places without 
 such adjuncts. And though the doors of Government House are not 
 open to all indiscriminately, they are sufficiently easy on their hinges 
 to allow the admission of any one, who, with a proper introduction, 
 can produce the passport of good breeding and manners, with a 
 sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to maintain the port 
 and bearirjg of a gentleman. In fact, this facility of advancing 
 one-self from a lower to a higher station, by means of industry and 
 good conduct, has a more benelicial eflcct than the very parties who 
 are engaged in the strugi^le are aware of ; and as every one may 
 rise from the rank in which he at present may be placed, into that 
 above hint, till he reach the first rank, so every one endeavours to 
 qualify hiriiself for promotion, attended with greater or less indivi- 
 dual success, but with certain general amelioration. You will bear 
 in mind, that the population of the town is about 5000 ; it is how- 
 ever, increasing, and will continue to advance in a more rapid 
 manner than it has hitherto; for to its natural increase must be added 
 that of those emigrants who are not intending to become farmers, 
 prefer remaining here instead ofgoing further into the country. The 
 population of the whole island doubles itself in sixteen years, and 
 this will of course, have a tendency to multiply the numbers of mer- 
 chants, mechanics, tradespeople, in fact, of all descriptions of 
 people. I think, upon the whole, I am warranted in saying, that 
 all classes of emigrants will meet with as good society here, as they 
 have been accustomed to meet in their own country, though not in 
 as great numbers. Although all people in all ranks may be .said to 
 live well, there is little or nothing that may be called dissipation or 
 extravagance. Those of moderate incomes are not seduced into a 
 ruinous style of living by the necessity of doing as other people do. 
 And as this is not the place for acquiring rapid fortunes, so neither 
 is it one which a person with an overgrown one would be likelv 
 to make his place of residence, nor is it desirable that he should'. 
 
'^ 
 
 mm 
 
 i 
 
 15 
 
 LETTFJiS O^ 
 
 The tenilency lo dissipation and extravagrnre is in all societies 
 sufficienlly rapid without its being sicccleratcd by cxanr.ples uhose 
 propensities and styh. cf livingj though perfectly in accordance, it inny 
 be, with their ineans, are not to be imitated with impunity by those 
 upon whom Mammon has not looked uiih so favorable an rye. At 
 the most of those to whom emiyralicn presents itself in its most 
 attraelive form arc persons with families either in possession or ex- 
 peclancy, you will of course require to be instructed us lo what 
 prospects of having their childrnn properly educated you may honestly 
 and fairly hold out to them. Although at first siirjit, judging from the 
 state of the building called the " Central Academy," you would be led 
 lo suppose that the love of learning had not reached across ll.e 
 Atlantic, to this part, at least, of Her Majesty's dominions, 0!i a 
 further acquaintance, you will find that we are belter provided in thin 
 respect than the exterior of tlie said building promises. There are 
 three Masters in the Aacdemy, supported partly by salaries paid out 
 of the Provincial Treasurj , and parUy by tuition fees, through whose 
 means boys may be rendered well qualified to enter upon the duties of 
 the several occupations lo which they may be destined by their 
 parents, or to commence a collegiate life, as many have done, with 
 honor to themselves end credit lo their tutors. There are Colleges 
 both in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which are capable of 
 affording as good an education as is generally required in America to 
 fit its youth for cither of the learned professions. There are nut 
 wanting, also, establishments where the female part of the rising 
 generation may be initiated into those u?tTul or ornamenlal branches 
 of education generally considered essential lo the formation of llie 
 minds and manners of the sex. There is every reason to hope, too, 
 that each succeeding year will be attended with improvements both in 
 nociety and educational acquirements ; there is evidently a beginning 
 of emigration of a class by which boih the society and themselves will 
 be reciprocally benefitted ; of those whose means in densely populated 
 Britain with difficulty enable them to kef p up with those of their owi 
 •landing, but which, when transferred hither, put them beyond all fear 
 of want', either present or prospective, and enable them to indulge in 
 the comforts and amenities of life, and tlie prospect of their children'* 
 future success, which in an overcrowded country, where the numb 
 of aspirants is great and the ccmpelilion eager, is at best pro- 
 blematical. 
 
 While the utmost anxiety is manifested concerning our temporal 
 interests, those »f Religion have not been neglected, and Ihc first 
 i;lance at the town on entering the harbour will convince you of this 
 inci. The calhedrni-iookiiig spire of ihc Cathohe Cuijpei, Bumiounl" 
 ©U with its splendid gold cros«, is ccn^picuo^us from afar. There ar« 
 
 I 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 17 
 
 I all societies 
 inr.ples uhose 
 dance, it inny 
 lily by those 
 an rye. At 
 r in its most 
 ession or ex* 
 i us to whnt 
 may honestly 
 ging from (he 
 I would be led 
 :d across ti.e 
 inions , 0!i a 
 ovidcd in thix 
 r. There are 
 aries paid out 
 iirough whose 
 
 1 the duties of 
 ined by their 
 re (lone, with 
 
 are Colleges 
 e CGpablc of 
 II Aincriea to 
 ["here nre nut 
 of the risin;; 
 nlal branches 
 mation of tlte 
 
 to hope, too, 
 ments both in 
 y a beginning 
 kcmselvcs will 
 ely populated 
 
 2 of their o« ■ 
 eyond all fear 
 to indulge in 
 
 leir children'* 
 c the numb 
 at best pro- 
 
 our temporal 
 
 and the first 
 
 cc you of this 
 -I ... ^....<. 
 
 •. There ar« 
 
 aNo the Churches of England and Scotland, and the Chnpels of the 
 Wcslcyan Methodists and the Bjptisls — all of which arc highly 
 fcspoctable places of worship, and, what is of more imporlance, filled 
 ivilli large and I bcli( vc attentive congiegations. I may as welt clo^e 
 this epis'ile with scmj doscriplian of ihe to^vu itself, before I take you 
 Into the country, whirh it is my intention to do, if noih.in? intervenes 
 tu prevent it, in my noxl letter. Charlolte'own named after the 
 Consoit of George the 3rd, is silmled on the S uth side of the Islund, 
 lind as the site fur a njelropolis has been happily chosen, phiccd on i|i« 
 jNorlh side of as fine a harbour, the Fort Joy of the French, as a 
 ieaman would wish for, on a gentle melivity ; its strtels laid tflat 
 t'v^hl angles to tiuh other, run east and west and north and south, 
 lioih ends of the former terminating in the water, and the southern 
 diid of the latter, — thereby enabling ihc inhibilants at som? future 
 dfay to construct sewers which will drain the whole completely, and 
 J^ilh little comparative expense. There are five fquarcs. one large one 
 |ii the centre, and four smaller at equal distances from it. The 
 .olonial Building, as it is called for want of a more euphonious 
 [ppellation, has bean placed in tlic middle of the centre of Queen 
 Square, whether with a due regard to the laws of taste or not, there 
 k a differcnoc of opinion. In this Luildirg are the chanjbers dedicattU 
 ll> the use ofllie two branches of the l^egislature — the Legislative 
 Council and the House of Assembly. The Supreme Court holds ii^ 
 •Itling in a ro ;m appropriated to that purpose in the basemc'jt story, 
 where also are the ollices of the Treasurer, SecretarVt Judge of Pro- 
 hnle. Collector of Excise, Surveyor General and Tro honoia:" The 
 tiieulenant Governor has al»o a room >\lieie he is always to be seen O'l 
 inatteri tf business on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This edifice is of 
 A light-coloured free-stone, obtained from tlie njain land, Pictou and 
 Wallace, in iNova Scotia, and has a pediment, supported by pillars of 
 th«; Ionic Order, on the north and south fronts. St. Paul'.-, belonging 
 io the Church of England, is at the eastern extremity of this square, 
 #r rather parallogram ; with much woise tjiste, the County Jail is 
 iituated in *' Pownal" another of these squares ; this is a wooden 
 building, however, and may be peihaps got rid of some of these days. 
 Uovcrnmenl House, though not exactly within the town, adjoins it, 
 ftnd is a nther tastefully designed wooden btiilding, facing th« 
 (^Urance to the harbour, and presenting an imposing front; it it 
 Itirrounded by a plantation of various kinds of trees, some indigenous 
 ind others of a foreign growth. Strangers are generally pleased with 
 Ihe place. P'rom the 'situation and aspect of the town, it is both dry 
 |nd airy, and I may add salubrious. It U. ,-urrourded by lots of land, 
 $ to 12 acres each Lot, called respect ivcly Common and Royal'? 
 Lots ; but as these pertains to the country more than to the lowu, I 
 Bill defer all mciitiou of th^m till my nrx». 
 
rs 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 There am too main entrances into Charlottetown, generally 
 known bv the names of the Malpeque ai\d St. Peter's RoadH. The 
 ror!i>er has heeii prolonged as far as the North and West Capes, 
 the h;tter reaches to the East Point, and fronj these are divergent 
 roads, which lead to the different villages and settlements situate on 
 the coast. There is also another main road, called the Tryon River 
 road, which leads along the South Shore of the Island, terminating 
 at Bedeque. In order lo reach Georget'^wn, the County Town ci' 
 King's t-ounty, from Charlottetown, you must cross the llillsbo- 
 rongh, which you are now enabled to do wiih ease and comfort, by 
 a steam ferry boat, which has been lately put on liie line by T. IJ. 
 'JVomain, Esq., and into which you drive your hmse and carriage, 
 and are in a few minute? landed safely on the opposite shore, at a 
 very moderate chari^e. In tiie winter, the river i:* bridged with ice, 
 thd distance is about a mile and a quarter. From the Southern side 
 of tho river, roads lead you to Orwell Bay, Wood Islands, Three 
 Rivers, Souris and East Point, and by settlement roads as they are 
 termed, to every part where there are inhabitants. The Island 
 which contains on llio whole, 1,365,400 acres, is divided into 67 
 Townships or Lots, as they are more frequently termed, containing 
 with a few exceptions, 20,000 acres each. These Townships are 
 in their turn, subdivided into farms of 100 acres, for the conveni- 
 ence of settlers, and as each f;: lUst have a road lo it, the con- 
 sequence is, that there are few \ 3 which present such an ex- 
 tent of road communication as doe. n Island. In going on a parly 
 of pleasure from any part of the JsLnd lo another, you need scarce- 
 ly ever return by the road you went, and not prolong your ride much 
 either. There is no place in America, where so much good land 
 fit for the plough has such facilities for water communication. You 
 cannot place yourself on any one spot iu ihe Island, and be distant 
 
 from nn 
 
 importai 
 
 are for t 
 
 larly ebl 
 
 is somet 
 
 connect( 
 
 of a mih 
 
 look in ^ 
 
 inble piei 
 
 Rivers, 
 
 The W( 
 
 a good (] 
 
 piclures( 
 
 of the n 
 
 J, who are 
 
 ,^ inside, y 
 
 I nules, o 
 
 about ar 
 
 may taU 
 
 .miles, fr 
 
 J the Easi 
 
 town, ar 
 
 •> been fro 
 
 you prcf 
 
 or Mr. C 
 
 . may fan^ 
 
 V my advi 
 
 and one 
 
 having g 
 
 or four p 
 
 ^ this, you 
 
 f if with c 
 
 I 4d. sterli 
 
 j4 Prince C 
 
 I shore yo 
 
 f will mee 
 
 strict tee 
 
 drinking 
 
 I you will 
 
 If as you pi 
 
 • out addit 
 
PRIXCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 19 
 
 , generally 
 )fidH. The 
 est Capes, 
 ! divergent 
 s situate on 
 ryon River 
 lerminating 
 ,' Town ci' 
 le Ilillsbo- 
 lonifort, by 
 ! by T. li. 
 d carriage, 
 bore, at a 
 id with ice, 
 Litbern siile 
 ids, Tiiree 
 IS ibey uro 
 .'lie Island 
 ed into 67 
 
 containing 
 'nships are 
 e conveni- 
 t, the con- 
 ach an gx- 
 ; on a parly 
 eed scarcfc- 
 r ride much 
 
 good land 
 ition. You 
 
 be distant 
 
 from navigable water more than six miles. This is a matter of moro 
 ' importance than many are aware of; what are termed rivers here, 
 are for the most part, large arms of the sea, in which the tide regu- 
 larly ebbs and flows, such as the Hillsbo'-ongh or Ka«5t River, as it 
 
 jia sometimes called, which runs through the Island, and might bo 
 
 J connected with Savage Harbor on the north, by a canal or rail-road 
 of a mile and a half, but from one end of it to the other, you might 
 look in vain for anything resembling a river; it is howover, a valu- 
 able piece of water; as are the North or York and the West or Elliot 
 
 'Rivers, the conjoined waters of which form Charloiletown Harbor. 
 The West River, however, is headed by a fine stieam which nun 
 a good distance into the country, and is perhaps, one of the moat 
 picturesque of our so called rivers. Now you shall have your ch oico 
 of the modes of going down into the country. The mails carriers 
 f who are furnished with covered American waggons which hold six 
 
 ^inside, will take you as far as St. Eleanor's on the one side, 40 
 
 I nules, or to Georgetown on the other, 30 miles, for somewhere 
 about an English crown piece. From either of these places, you 
 may take your chance with the mail carriers and go 'o Tiguish, 54 
 
 miles, from St. Eleanor's, or 94 miles from Charlot'etovvn, and to 
 the East Point, 40 miles from Georgetown, and 60 from Cbarlottc- 
 town, and when these distances have been travelled, you have 
 
 •' been from one extremity of the Island to the other. If however, 
 you prefer it, you may call upon Mr. Mark Butcher, Mr. John Cole.^ 
 or Mr. Cairns, who will furnish you with any kind of turn out you 
 may fancy, from a coach and four to a one-horse fly; if you tako 
 
 ^ my advice, you will order a stout horse, or two if you can aftbrd it, 
 and one of the light Island built waggons, which are at once easy — 
 having good steel springs — and comn, odious; having space for two 
 or four persons as you may wish, and ample room for baggage. Fur 
 
 ^ this, you will pay, if with two horses, 10 shillings sterling per day, 
 
 g if with one, 6s. and 8d. sterling, every additional horse will be Ss. 
 
 v| 4d. sterling, 5s. cuiToncy per diem. [( your route liiis tf wardi* 
 ^1 Prince County, you will do well to make St. Eleanor's or Green's 
 
 I shore your head quarters, were either at Ness's or Green's, you 
 
 " will meet with good accommodations, as the latter, however, is a 
 strict ieetotaller, you must take with you whatever in the way of 
 drinking besides good water, you may require. At both places, 
 
 iyo\i will be able to get the best oysters tho Island aflbrds, as many 
 't as you please — for breakfast, dinner and supper if you like it — with- 
 out additional charge. 
 
 I J 
 
20 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 Travelling is cheap, very cheap; vou seldom pay more for n good 
 nubstiintial meal ihan ii. sleiling, often much iesn. Excepting at 
 Pt, l.lemor's and Georgetown, you must not expect to be furniijhcd 
 with wine; and if, therefore, you are particular in this respect, you 
 must provide accordingly. Horses' provender ij, as you may sup- 
 pose in a country were the average price of oats Is. sterling the 
 bushel, pioportionately low. Yuu will bcablo to lake a good look 
 i^t the country without fear of being fleeced by the way, before you 
 deternii.ie up mi anything, and this I would by all njenns recomnuuid. 
 If your route lies into King's County, Goorgetovvn or the Head cf 
 fcst. Peter's Bav, will be your best stopping places. We will talU 
 over thi't, however, when you come. Your next proceeding rmist 
 altogether depend upon your means and the mode of life you inteud 
 pursuing. You say you have rather upwards of i)3000, and thai 
 your family consists of yourself, a wife, and two childrcri. You 
 may ihererore reasonably calculate upon a pretty large family before 
 you are fifty years old; and if you are prudent, you may with your 
 means, if life be granted, keep them comfortably, educate them 
 respectably, put the boys in the way of getting their iwn livelihood, 
 nnd leave the girls, if they should not get married, a Jovc want. In 
 the first place, 1 nst tell y«.u that money is of much more value 
 in this country th.iu \i is in England; thnt is of real not nonrinal 
 value— the legs ' ' - jf ' itcrer* ia ibis counljy being six per cent.; 
 uo that your £3000 stg., if put out to interest- -which is ea.««ily don«* 
 — will }ield you an income of £270 cy. per annum; see Letter 3. 
 this of itself will enable you to live, even in Charlotte vn.with great 
 comfort and respectability. Those who anticipate . .rge families, 
 aP'Mhev are rather fashionable on the Island, prefer goir^* further 
 in the field. If, therefore, £500 or £600, or even more, of vour 
 f;ipitalbeinves«ed in a farm, you may become the owner of a hun- 
 dred acres of land 28 or 30 of them under plough, a good house, 
 barns, &c., a couple of horses, and other stock in proportion; and 
 you will then have left an income of £200 currency per annum. If 
 von have Irought your own furniture, it is well; if not, you car. 
 jfurchase here with the proceeds of what they sold for as much a« 
 }0U will immediately want. A good fiirm servant will cost you 
 from £24 to £30 currency, £IG to £20 sterling ; women servants 
 for £9 to £12 currency, £6 to £8 sterling. If you are any thing 
 at ull of a farmer, or even a pnideiit man, you ought not only lo 
 
 1!..^ 11 !...• r«r*^M «« Ktili^ «I.*iA irk %xrk nix\t% i i^ I •! ir |i rk <» tt*inA <Kjlii/«ti 
 
 you may either add to the parent stock, or lay out in the purchnse 
 cf land or in the greater Jiii,)rovcmcnt of your farm, or olherwi«e. 
 
 as you pi 
 
 depend u 
 
 I can say 
 
 tage.'*, if 
 
 much for 
 
 you for a 
 
 advice th 
 
 if thoy ar 
 
 for their 
 
 , willing to 
 
 they wci 
 
 economy 
 
 the found 
 
 be enabit 
 
 tenco in t 
 
 The be 
 
 'himself as 
 
 stand upo 
 
 for him tc 
 
 woods an 
 
 every cou 
 
 respects s 
 
 it is abriol 
 
 acquainte 
 
 on his ow 
 
 be unlcnri 
 
 "feorning in 
 
 •pent in t 
 
 looking a I 
 
 down in t 
 
 begin will 
 
 undone. 
 
 too many 
 
 fiireweJI t( 
 
 •n the con 
 
 »eed there 
 
 the same 
 
 first place, 
 
 l»lf ; his ; 
 
 *H acre afi 
 
 d W3 lake 
 
 •tu'o of 6( 
 
PRINCE FD\^ ArtD Iisr.AND. 
 
 21 
 
 iir n good 
 f'ptiiig at 
 furn'uhed 
 pect, you 
 may sup- 
 irliiig tlio 
 jood look 
 il'oTQ you 
 ;oitiiiiond. 
 
 Head (.(' 
 
 will tuIU 
 ding tnnst 
 ou intend 
 
 and that 
 n. You 
 )ily before 
 with your 
 :ntu them 
 ivelihood, 
 ivant. In 
 ore value 
 L nominal 
 per cent.; 
 afily doDK 
 
 Loiter 3. 
 
 with great 
 
 fitniilies, 
 
 ?{; further 
 
 !, of your 
 
 of a hun- 
 od house, 
 rtion; and 
 mum. If 
 , you car. 
 
 much aM 
 
 cost you 
 n servants 
 
 any thing 
 '>t only to 
 
 S»^' I TT SI »V!9 
 
 » purchase 
 olherwi«e. 
 
 lis you please. I can now d > no moio Air you, every thing must 
 depend upon your own prudi.Mice ard ytuir own exuriions. All thil 
 1 can say id, tli;il if with surli a fit out and such pecuniary nd^ir ■ 
 trtge.'*, if you do not " j^o ahead," it will be your own fault! fco 
 much for yourself ; as to your friends, or thoso who may apply to 
 you for advice, 3 0U^))aysily to them, if ihey are well ofT, '* tl:o 
 advice that my friend has given to me is ecpjally appli' il)Ie lu you;'' 
 if thoy are in a lower station of life, and depend upon their labour 
 for their subsistence, they may bo well assured that if they arc 
 willing to work as hard, or pcrh;ips harder for a few years, than 
 they were accustomed to at home, they may, with prudence and 
 ieconomy, cou[)1p<1 with sobriety and industry, in a little time lay 
 the foundation of an iiidopcr.dei.ce for theii:se!vc8 and families, and 
 be enabled to dismiss all fears of goii'.g upon the parish for subsia- 
 tenco ia their old age. 
 
 The best plan for a single man who comes out, is at once to hiru 
 
 'himself as a servant to some farmer, and if he is wise he will net 
 
 stand upon the question of wages; nay, more, it would be better 
 
 for him to go for nothing than do a:^ some do, take a farm in tlio 
 
 woods and begin cutting down on iheir own account. There is ia 
 
 every country something new, something peculiiir to it, either as 
 
 .respects soil, climate, mode of culture, iiianagement, &.c., which 
 
 it is absolutely necessary that a stranger should be made thoroughly 
 
 acquainted with, before he can aarcesEfuIIy commence busiiieA', 
 
 on his own account. There is much to be learned, and ujuch to 
 
 be unlearned by the agricultural labourer of an old country, on hii 
 
 doming into one covered with primeval forest. A year or two 
 
 ^pent in this way is sure to tell to advantage in future; he can lo 
 
 looking about him in the mean time, and when he at last sellbs 
 
 liown in the woods he knows what to go about first, and does not 
 
 *|egin with doing that which probably had better have been left 
 
 indone. Above all things, do not encourage them in the idea, as 
 
 k)o many have done, that by crossing the Atlantic the emigrant bidi 
 
 lirewell to the necessity of exerting his industrial energies; do you, 
 
 in the contrary endeavour to impress upon their 'ninds the greater 
 
 feed there will be for taxing them to the utmost, assuring them at 
 
 mo same time that they will be sure to reap a full reward. In the 
 
 »st place, after laboring aw liile for others, ho will labor for him- 
 
 plf ; his progress in the beginning will not seem verv rapid, but 
 
 facre after acre of the forest disappears, and corn-fields and mea- 
 _ ws take their place, he bOgins to find tipt he has risen in lbs 
 |ta'o of society, has advanced i:i his ovvi» cslinuuion and in thj 
 
22 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 t>stirijation of those around liim, Jiiid this will add vigour to his ex- 
 ertions. In the next place, instead of looking upon his little family 
 as an incuudirance, he views them with a pleased and satisfied air, 
 and rejoicos to think th:'t in the course of a year or two he will be 
 able to avail himself of their aid, both for his own and their advan- 
 tage. If he is a man oigood sense and reflection, he vvi\l soon per- 
 ceive that there is no fear of their not being able to do well for 
 tho.iselves. All that he has to do is to work hard and gl*'e them, 
 as he will easily be able, a good education, and he may then, if he 
 pleases, throw them off as a hen her chickens, nothing doubting 
 but that they will do well, provided he has brought them up to 
 habits of industry and sobriety. He will not have been here long 
 before many will be pointed out to him as having arrived in the 
 Colony without a shilling in their pockets, but whose ready hand:^ 
 and willing hearts have achieved a glorious independence, and se- 
 cared for their possessors respect and esteem. 
 
 
 
 :c. jjfe .i^-oij^wisiftii^ 
 
PRLXCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 23 
 
 -%-: 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 Tii aiisvvor to your enquiries respecting those desirous of emigrating 
 and vviio, brought up to hibor, have accumuUited a little properly, 
 and who, when tliey land in the Island, may be expected to have 
 iVom £100 to JE300 sterling in their pockets — I cannot, you will 
 easily see, lay down any one course of proceeding that will exactly 
 fit every individual ciiso. Some general rules of conduct, however, 
 both previous to leaving their old homes and after they have arrived 
 at those destined to be their new ones, may prove useful. I would 
 in all cases advise the l)ringing as little baggage as possible; it will, 
 as a general rule, be better to part with furniture, carriages, ploughs, 
 &c., and bring over the money, and furnish oneself with what is 
 wanted here. There are many reasons for this. The expense of 
 packing, carriage to the place of shipment, freight across the Atlan- 
 tic, and the damage which necessarily attends removals, packings 
 and unpaf.kings, will be found to have added so much to the price, 
 as well as lessened the value of the property, as to make them, in 
 most instances, far more expensive on their arrival than better article! 
 new from the workshop. It is true that costly pieces of furniture, 
 which must, if parted with, be sold at a consiflerable sacrifxe, will 
 prove, as may some other things, exceptions. Above all things, do 
 not advise, or rattier endeavour to prevent, the bringing of agricultu- 
 ral implements; they almost invarialdy turn out f'ihires. Wlifi^l 
 carriages, of all kinds, are too heavily built in the Mother ^'ounlry 
 to suit us; all our roads are free from stone, and the heavj res to 
 the wheels and the loads of iron with which they are encuuibered, 
 are so much useless weight. The soil of the Island may be said to 
 be homogeneous, or light friable loam, (you shall have an analysis 
 of it some day) ; and experience has proved that the iron mould-board 
 — Wilkie's — Scotch plough is best suited to its general purposes. 
 One of these, full mountodnvith whipple-trees, &c., complete, may 
 1)0 had for lOs. to 453. sterling; Harrows, from 30s. to 3os. sterling. 
 'I'hc cart commonly made use of, costs from £6 to £7 sterling; cart 
 bainess, 30s. to 35s. sfg. ; a horse hay-rnkc, 20s. ; wheelbarrow, 13s. 
 
 j^.\^- 
 
 ,4'. 
 
 i-.' 
 
 !? 
 
24 
 
 I.ETrERS ON 
 
 st„'. The ahov'o nre not bv any moans ttie lowest prKJO.^ and tliere- 
 {•ji-j a ciiloul;i!i>n niiv b(j' e.isily made as to \vhothi?r the mtendmz 
 OMiijnnt will bo a giincr or loser by selling or rot:jii:ing similar arli- 
 c!ei of dead stocic. All tool- of j^oneral ur^a, th:it arc easy of carri.ig j 
 iin.l not bulky, it may bo s;ifj to bring. A good carpenter's broad- 
 HX3, an adze, a fjw (•.hi.^ols, an augfir or two of the screw land, ono 
 or two plano:^ a hunmcr and a siw, and such liko, arc always use- 
 ful, and, as tliovmiv b;; iricludad in the baggage, cost no freight. 
 .Mojiianios should bring with then their tools; the^jr will always cost 
 rn )re bore than there. Books are always worth bringing, if they are 
 worih keeping; bed? and bedding, I would say, ought never to Ui 
 puled with, unless t'lo distance from tlie place of residence to that 
 of ombarknlion shoald nuik3 it necess;n7 or advis;iblo. Persons of 
 th 5 dosr;ri;)lion yon hiive mentioned, will soon hiive a variety of olferi 
 in:nle to th.jm, as wjII by tenants who are anxious to dispose of their 
 leases, as proprietors who are equally anxious either to sell or lease. 
 And as this is a matter of th:j utmost consequence to the future wel- 
 fire of the advent!Tr(?r, wo will give it a c•5rro^ponding degree of 
 Cv>nsiiioration. And in t!ie first place, I would romar!;, that no man 
 with capital vvlio couk^s from Europe sliould go i.ito tlie forest; and 
 i 1 tills Islaiid tliere is not the least noces^^ity for him so to do; there 
 .ire plenty of p irti illy chiared firms at all ti.nes to be disponed of, 
 and at pri^js to suit almost every customer; and t'lis arises from ;i 
 variety of causes. There i.^ all over America, j.iined to a great pro- 
 pen-iily to trade, a spcjies of resllessunss — or great dissatisfaction 
 with what is our own, and a groat cupiAity for what is our neig'i- 
 b )r's, all ia an honest way, that leads to a continual buyin.^, selling 
 nnd bartering; hence it happens that a man wlio really is as well 
 located (to use an Americanism) as he well can be, is perfectly wil- 
 ling, if lie gets w!iit ho considers his clearance worth, to pull up 
 stakes and bri o''f somowhore else; by this means, many a ono comes 
 i ito tlie possession of property which it would have cost him three 
 times as much to have taken from tlie wood and put in ll;e samo 
 Htate of cultivation, in lopoadontly of the time that must have elapsed 
 before this could be accomplislicd. Again, there arc others who have 
 Siitferod the rent of their land to accamulate, till ihoy mu3tsell either 
 the fiirm or the stock; and they most generally prefer parlirg witli 
 lh3 form M', aiiil l)3;fi.ining with the aid of the latter upon a now plac<» 
 — as we c.ill a fir.n in t'le w)ol.?; and if lie gets any tiling lilvo .\ 
 fair price for bis p'W.^i'y';i.):i, hi i^ very ofien a gainer. The Califor- 
 nia fever has caused soiiio very pretly places to change hands, to 
 vvhoSv3 ulterior benolil time niono can tell. Thus, in ono way or 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 25 
 
 inoller plenty of cleared fand .« m the market-and this is either 
 leasehold or freehold. The usual term of lease in the Island is, fo 
 999 years; a few years connnonly free, then al 6d. for a year o? 
 
 wo and eventually at 1. sterling the acre. This seems a very low 
 
 ate; but when you consider that land is almost valueless until ca,I 
 tal ,s bestowed upon .t, ,n the shape of either one's own or hfred 
 labor, your view of the case is alte.'ed; it is. in fact the snmp S 
 as paying £100 sterling for iOO acres/ upo;. money borrred at I 
 per cen .; and the misfortune is. that you are payVnot only for 
 
 he productive acres, but the unproductive; and this °is oneof th' 
 reasons why there a^e so many small clearances in the marked' 
 Ihere are some persons abandoned enough to offer land at a for^y 
 years' lease ; tell your friends to steer clear^of these worse than Jews^ 
 r would advise the emigrant to be upon his guard when places of 
 any kind are offered, and to be by' no means in a hurry ^o settle 
 himself. Let h.m look well to the condition of the land^both that 
 
 parltlLt'lh^'hu'e/'n; t/"' \' '' ' ''''' ^^ ^^"^^^-^ -^ --« 
 pariicuia ly the latter. If there be a vigorous growth of hard wood 
 
 -as we term it-such as rock-maple, black-birch and beech he r^av 
 he tolerably sure that the soil is good; if, on the contraTy, 'the nre^ 
 vaih.,g wood IS white-birch, spruce (or fir, more prope l/)'. o hi m. 
 lock (a species of fir you know nothing about), the soiui question 
 S -M ti ' ["'^••^^^«'-'. "f 'n'PO'-tance to have a good lot of fire wood 
 which these last mentioned trees are unfit for. If there be teror a 
 dozen acres cleared-that is, cut down and burnt over-from whTch 
 four or hve crops have been taken (the stumps still remainir in the 
 ground), he will probably be able to get it by payi,r?rom £15 to 
 
 haul r^ ''"' " ^'"•"'''^^ '^' ^''' •^•»*^ «^ purchase he°can make the 
 house he must contrive to make do, for the first year or two Th! 
 
 great advantage of purchasing land of this kind isf that byiakin. ou! 
 
 t'l^T f'^'r """ "•' '""'■^ "^•■^^- ^"^ levelling the land, e Inay 
 reap a couple of crops without requiring any minure and thenTv 
 
 protr anf^Ul;: "if ^^"' ''' ""'' beyn^^rwUh'tSam^ 
 process, and perhaps add an acre or two of burnt woorl npnn..^;„„ 
 
 LTartJ.L \ u""' ^^^e^^"-' ^^'^at he Will have to pay for vari- 
 
 E'wiirh^^^ ""^ which are difficul to 
 
 unn- With hun. Ihe pri«e of the Island cows are from £2 to £4 
 
 I " 
 
26 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 •f 
 
 - '"" ' ^,, «,;i! qav. cannot be 
 
 ,t.rr,„g. according to qu.Vur. ^ 4»- ^^^^ "'.;/»[ if she b. 
 
 .um, more f^qo^'^^'yj j, eontinually ''''P'"'''"^' S, hai some day 
 
 appreciated, one snou ^^^^ ^y fwVa dozen, at 
 
 «^'"^r'"v\^rTt would hcve taken the coats o lul a do-^^^ >^^^ 
 them fleecy, lor it wu present race, ^^^%^'^f.^ sterling; 
 
 not say, ^^^''P^P'jVldness of the porcine race, ^'^^f^ed to become 
 vise, however. vNheneve f^ ^.^^^^^ ^r'"'''\^?H. mtster willing. 
 
VRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 27 
 
 may have recour«c to ym for advice or information^ and that i«, 
 uotio b« io too great haste to draw conclusiona from first appear- 
 incee. 
 
 The cultivated parts of the country seem to resemble those of sonie 
 parts of England so much, that many are apt to be led away with 
 the notion, that one has only to pursue the same course here to attam 
 the same results. Accustomed in their own country to see the won- 
 derful effects brought about by the outlay of capital, they are all agog 
 to improve according to the true old English fashion, and conse- 
 quently set about building, draining, pulling down and setting up 
 before they are well aware what they a^ j about, and consequently, 
 having spent a good deal of money to little purpose, begin to abuse 
 the country, the climate, and the people. Festina UnU (don't be 
 in too great a hurry) should be the motto of every man who comes 
 into a young country. If they would only enquire after, and wait 
 upon those who have preceded them, and be guided by theu- expe- 
 rience, tliey would do well. But, somehow or other, most people 
 have great faith in ine proverb of bought wit being the best, and 
 therefore take care to lay in a large stock of the article— paying, of 
 course, the highest price for it. 
 
 
m 
 
 23 
 
 LETTERS OX 
 
 LETTER vrr. 
 
 Your intention of coming direct to Cimrlottetown, I much approve 
 of- a week's residence in town, ifilie time be iudicioualy spent^ will 
 enable you to determine whether it will best comport with your inte- 
 rest or inclination to remain there, go further into the country, or 
 quit the Island altogether. When the Town was tirst laid out, it 
 comprised 500 Town Lots; to each of these town lots was appended 
 what was called a Royalty Lot, and a certain number of acres lying 
 between the Town and Royalty were set apart as a Common. Ihis 
 Common was, hewever, afterwards divided into ten acre lots, and 
 cranted to various individuals, in fee simple, and are now the lands 
 of difl^rent proprietors, and form, with the Royalty Lots, a good 
 epitome of the whole Island. In the course of a day 's ride you will 
 sie the land ia every possible variety of phase, from that of primevat 
 wilderness to the highest state of cultivation tlwt the Island can 
 boist of The humble log hut, with its few acres ot stump, to Iha 
 Ms-,irin- mansion with its fields, gardens and pleasure grounds, are 
 Oiere, accompanied by edifices and e^^tublishment* of every interme. 
 d hte dp-ree. Nor is there any part of the Island that affords a finer 
 series of views or over mjre extensive ranges of country, than do 
 the hei-iits around Charlottetown. Thero are good roads leading to 
 eterv individnal lot, both in Common and Royalty ; so that you may 
 either walk or ri Jo through every part of them. Should any of your 
 f ends visit the Island in my absence, you may dnect them- for 
 vvantof a more intelligent guide-to enquire for Mr, Henry Long, 
 wo h" louse in the Royalty-any one will , pomt it out whom he 
 m 1 v V ppon to meet on 'the St. Peter's or main post road to the Eas - 
 vv^fd ourof which the Royalty rond that leads past Jr. Longwor h s 
 dive .'^es On arriving at the top ofnho hill where Mr. Longwor h's 
 hous^issitu'ited, formerly called PaulJones's H.U-why called 
 Xrthi worth; I have not, in my antiquarian researches, been as 
 vltib^ to asce. tain-he will have an extensive prospect spread be- 
 ^eVhVH fee the Straits of Northumberland, the entiance of ho 
 llar'bo. the country for some miles round, a bird's eye view of th» 
 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 2d 
 
 much approve 
 isly spent^ will 
 ivith your inte- 
 e country, or 
 •St laid out, it 
 was appended 
 ' of .teres lying 
 >ommon. Thia 
 acre lots, and 
 now the lands 
 ^ Lots, a good 
 s ride.y^ou will 
 hilt of primeval 
 the Island can 
 f stump, to tha 
 re grounds, are 
 evary interme-^ 
 X affords a finer 
 ountry, than do 
 •oads leading to 
 30 that you may 
 luld any of your 
 lirect them — for 
 [r, llcnry Long- 
 it out whom he 
 road to the East- 
 \\t^ Longworth's 
 dr. Longworth's 
 ill — why called 
 earchcs, been as 
 spect spread be- 
 entiance of the 
 eye view of th» 
 
 Town, and the high lands of Nova Scotia in the back ground; alto- 
 gether forming a picture well worthy of the admiration which all 
 classes of people have agreed to bestow upon it. Turning round and 
 pursuing his course towards the end of the Royalty, a few rods fur- 
 ther he gains a most extensive inland view, not only pleasing in itself, 
 but indicative of what the whole Island is likely to be in the course 
 of time. He will at a glance perceive that the surface of the land is 
 undulated^ that while there is nothing startling grand or sublime to 
 arrest the attention, there is at the same time nothing of that tame- 
 ness and monotony that wearies the eye and fatigues the mind. The 
 whole aspect of the scene is tranquil and soothing. As the traveller 
 pursues his journey, portions of the country open out, and in such 
 different variety, that he will be hard to please, indeed, if there be 
 not some of them to his taste. But, what is of equal and perhaps 
 greater importance to the intending emigrant, he can, from a careful 
 study of the different farms in the vicinity of Charlottetown, arrive 
 at as correct a conclusion of what the country is able to produce, as 
 if he had gone much further inla»d. There are several excellent far- 
 mers both in the Common and Royalty, and the spirit of exertion 
 and of rivalry is not confined to those who are agriculturists by pro- 
 fession. Judge Peters, who commenced but a few years since as 
 an amateur, is deservedly reckoned a good practical, and will soon 
 be, I think, an equally good scientific farmer. Hon, George Good- 
 man, Collector of Her Majesty's Customs, has a very pretty and 
 valuable place of his own making. Mr. Peake, a merchantof Char- 
 lottetown^ is showing the effects of a judicious outlay of capital, and 
 giving practical proofs of the possibility of raising the soil of the Island 
 to a deg' 30 of fertility equal to that of the most favored parts of the 
 5Iother Country. Mr. George Beer, sen., was among the first to 
 practically illustrate the benefits of liming the land, and the adoption 
 of a judicious rotation of crops. There are many others who are 
 equally as well entitled to praise as the abovenamed, but it would 
 fiwell the bulk of this letter beyond the proper dimensions to notice 
 them all. There are some gentlemen's seats worthy of a passing 
 glance, amongst several others, Mount Edward, a substantial brick 
 edifice, is tenanted by the Hon. Capt. Swabey; it is owned by the 
 Chief Justice, who resides at Spring Park — which almost adjoins the 
 town, and is a very beautiful place naturally, but capable of being 
 rendered much more so; it derives its name from a copious spring 
 of remarkably pure water, which gushes out of the bank and forma 
 a considerable stream, which will probably at some future time, be 
 brought into the town for the use of the inhubitantSf and supersede 
 
 y 
 
 I 
 
II ■'. 
 
 I 
 
 30 
 
 LETTERS OIV 
 
 the pumps, whieh afford the only supply at present. — — — Walk- 
 inshuw, Esq., is completing a brick mansion begun by the late John 
 Grubb, Esq., at Falcon Wood, on the Hillsborough. " William For- 
 gan, Esq., has a house prettily situated on the road, which lead^ 
 to Mount Edward. 1 had forgotten to enumerate among the pubii^ 
 buildings, in a former letter, the Catholic College, which is nearly 
 completed, and is an imposing structure three stories high, with a 
 cupola, intended for an observatory, and is situated in the Royalty, 
 on the Malpeque or Princetown road, about a mile and a half from 
 Charlottetown. The rooms are lofty and spacious, and from tlie 
 size and number of the dormitories, are capable of accommodating 
 many students. There is a most extensive view from the observa- 
 tory, and the building itself is a conspicuous object in the landscape 
 for many miles in the interbr. A number of neat cottages^ generally 
 of wood, and painted white, give a liveliness^ and aniniaik)n to the 
 scene quite American, it is true, but not without a peculiar apposite- 
 ness and congruity with a country just rescued from the wilderness. 
 It will enable the person who pays attention to the matter to see, 
 almost at a glance, the method of clearing and cultivating land pur- 
 sued all over the Island, as well as the economy of farm management 
 as it is practised by men in their different stages of progress, fronv 
 the bush to the clearance. The agents tor tb» different proprietors- 
 have mostly their residence in town, and this enables the emigrant 
 to confer with any or all of them without being put to the expense 
 of journeys into the interior, which to some ir:iy be matter of incon- 
 venience. 
 
 A description of one of the townships, and the manner in which 
 it is laid out into farms for intending purchasers, may be useful, and 
 the description of one will serve for nearly the whole. You may 
 see by the map, that most of the townships take the form of paral- 
 lellograms, and when the propriefor's agent sliovvs you the plan, 
 you will find that loads parallel to the longest sides liave been made, 
 on either side of which are laid out 'larms, having fronts of 10 chains, 
 and extending into the rear 100, a most inconvenient and awkward 
 shape, as it is a mile and a quartet in length, while it is only 220 
 yards in breadth; and yet very little, if any, practical evil has 
 hitherto resulted from this, to an uninitiated eye, unaccountable ar- 
 rangement. The fact was, that the early settlers were all desirous 
 of having fronts on the sea-coast, the only highway then in existence, 
 and as that almost invariably constituted one of the shorter sides of 
 the parallellograni, it became necessary to divide it iato tha greatest 
 
PRINCB EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 SI 
 
 — Walk-' 
 late John 
 liam For- 
 hich lead? 
 the publi^ 
 I ia nearly 
 ;h, with a 
 > Royalty, 
 half from 
 J from tiie 
 [imodatiug 
 3 observa- 
 landscape 
 ^ generally 
 Lion to the 
 ' apposite- 
 wilderness, 
 ter to see, 
 land pur- 
 nagcnient 
 ress, from 
 >roprietor* 
 '. emigrant 
 e expense 
 of incon- 
 
 in which 
 
 seful,and 
 
 You may 
 
 of paral- 
 
 the plan, 
 
 len made, 
 
 lO chains, 
 
 awkward 
 
 only 220 
 
 evil haa 
 
 ntable ar- 
 
 I desirous 
 
 existence, 
 
 (r sides of 
 
 a greatest 
 
 possible number of fronts, and ten chains was pitciied upon, I sup- 
 pose, as the least number that would be accepted, or that it was 
 decent to offer; and, in fact, when the settler reflected that by the 
 time he had penetrated tvventy chains he would have cleared twenty 
 acres, it gave him little trouble about what became of the rest, so 
 that there remained a sufficient quantity of fuel for himself and his 
 descendants; and tl.e same feeling subsists to this day in most parts 
 of the country; and a man takes and pays for 100 acres of land, 
 while he cultivates from five to twenty only. And this because he 
 does not wish to leave himself without the means of obtaining fuel, 
 and likewise because he knows that when his 20 acres in the front 
 are fit for the plough, the adjoining lands become of more value in 
 proportion. And when a man wishes to have a large farm, if he 
 purchases 3, 4, or 5 of these 100 acre lots, his farm becomes accord- 
 ingly more conveniently shaped for the purposes of agriculture, as it 
 approaches the more nearly the form of the square. When a set- 
 tler, or rather an intending settler, goes to a proprietor or his agent, 
 the plnn is consulted, and the situation of the vacant lots, as they 
 stand upon the plan, is shown; of their real advantages or capabili- 
 ties nothing can be ascertained until the party goes to the spot, 
 where some of the other tenants will point out the exact location — 
 as the Yankees term it — (a word coined expressly for the purpose) ; 
 and here comes the difficulty that first besets ihe emigrant. It is 
 next to impossible for him to judge of the quality of the land from 
 those of the p.djacont half cleared lots, if there be any; land while 
 under the first process of being converted into meadow, presenting 
 much the same appearance that many other manufactured articles 
 do, in the first stpge of manipulation. The half burnt and bh^k^ned 
 stumps have a melancholy look in the spring and autumn, wh. i con- 
 trasted with the bright verdure in the one, and variegated hues of the 
 forest in the oiher season of the year; and it is with some difficulty 
 his mind admits the fact, that the whole Island was once in the same 
 cheerless state; nor can he well turn to the neighboring settlers for 
 correct adv'ce in his difficulty; if they wish him to become one of 
 themselves (and this they will be sure to wish if they think he has 
 money,) no limit will be set to the praise of the place and its va.ious 
 advantages; if, on the contrary, they wish to discourage others, 
 that they may themselves cull out the best of the ship and other 
 timber on the unlocated part of the lot; or if they wish to reserve it 
 for expected friend^ or relations, which i^ soiiaetimes th« case, there 
 
 % 
 
 wm 
 
 li 
 
 :j 1 
 
 1- 
 
 \m 
 
 
32 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 HI 
 
 will be no end to the narratives of the badness of the land, the dis- 
 aL f om Irket, the villainous characters o the propr^ or or 
 \Zni and those n numerable and hitherto unheard of obsta.iea 
 Sh elf.i erest or knavery can always interpose to sm its own 
 mZ's if the emigrant must settle in the woods, let hnn Uc 
 
 ^^2^\o look at the appearance of ^'j Vn'TreTh^^i^rnf "".«' ^ 
 will soon be able to see whether the mhabitants are thi vmg, or ike 
 to thrive. There is always about the honest n.dustnous set ler « 
 aomethin- which shows tl.at, though laboring under present hard- 
 Ss and toiling almost incessantly, he seos hts way clearly ; and 
 tSthere will, in the course of a few years, be a n^»»'f ^>«"5>fy^^«« 
 nece ary evils, and. in a few n.ore, independence and comfor will 
 ^ve amply repaid lim for his forn.er exertions. The stack or wo 
 
 ?yrZ'tL c!)w or cows, pigs, or ^J-^P' ^I^^^V^'^wbirnnd b n 
 the aPDendaaes of the log hut, that does duty for a stable and bain, 
 are perhaps the best evidences he can wish; and the plent). or want 
 of them.The best indications, whether their neighborhood is a desi- 
 rable one or not. A word or two, by the way. on the subject of log 
 [mses To the ears of most people, even in America vvho have 
 been brought up in towns, the word -log house." or "log Imt 
 convevs t"re idea of all that is cold, wretched, miserable, and deso- 
 h te 7nd the outward appearance does oftentimes just, y the inj^^^^^^ 
 Mon Lar'^e logs, with the bark on, or rudely hewr^, and placea one 
 Xe another.^cinnectod at the corners; covered, as to the roof 
 withsheet of birch bark, the interstices between the logs stopped 
 whh trs and clay, one door .md one window^^and a waU ed c i^^ 
 nev does not present, it must be confessed, the most tlatteiing inai 
 "Sn of comfort with n. But in this, as in many other case, m life 
 - apnel^^^^^^ deceitful," as the copy-book says; and when you 
 
 com'eCslde.. of a winter's day. if );ou have to --P -//.^y;^; ^ 
 it will be the lieat of the atmosphere, and not the cold, and you 
 will oftner than not be pleased at the appearance of content and 
 cheerfulness wLch reignl within. If it were to be the permanen 
 Senceof the inmate^nd his family, he might be to be pitied; but 
 ifeknoTs and presumes that you likewise know.that he has already 
 c^ot out^he bgs^or a new edifice, and that they are m the process of 
 Ee ng o ar dfand that in the course of a year or two at the farthest 
 he wil be the inmate of a more respectable t«"^"^«" J and that the 
 one in which you are so comfortably warming yoursell will be in lie- 
 rued by the clttle, now in the Icaa-to at the back^to be promoted 
 
 in time, pe 
 duty for a 
 been enabl 
 fainted. 
 
 Before I 
 Ipoke of i 
 "ilage of cle 
 0nly, wher 
 Yalue of u 
 
 4 
 4 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 ts 
 
 !ii time, perhaps, to the contemplated one, when it shall havt, done 
 duty for a few years as a dwelling house, and its owner shall have 
 been enabled to build a frame house, weather-boarded, shingled and 
 painted. 
 
 Before I close this letter, 1 would mention, that when in my last I 
 ipoke of c£ 15 or X'iO, sterling, being the pricd of a farm in the first 
 •flage of clearance, I meant to speak of the price of llie improvements 
 only, when the land is leasehold. It would also form the increased 
 talue of a freehold farm. 
 
 ffl 
 
 tr 
 f\ 
 
 
 M 
 
4! , 
 
 3i 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 I would not, for a moment, have you to suppose that I mean to 
 confine jou to Charlottetown and its vicinity ; on the contrary, I will, 
 if you choose to accompany me, make an excursion to the East 
 Point, and retur.a by the way of Georgetown, the county town of 
 King's County. Prince Edward Island was originally called St. 
 John's Island, and is -aid to have been discovered by Cabot on the 
 24th day of June, 149V (St. John's Day), wl ence its former name. 
 /^ Although claimed by ihe Crown of England, it was until the year 
 /""^ 1758 in the possession of the French, and by them surrendered to 
 the English at the capitulation of Louisburg, in that year. By tha 
 Treaty of Paris, in 1763, the Island, together with Cape Breton, 
 were finally ceded to the Crown of England, and by it annexed to 
 the Government of Nova Scotia. In 1770, it was formed into a 
 seperate Government; but previously to this, it had been surveyed 
 and dividcu into Counties, Parishes and Townships. There are three 
 counties, Queen's, ^King's and Prince Counties ; fourteen parishes, 
 and sixty-seven townships. The parishes have names, but they are 
 seldom alluded to, except in a bili of indictment; the townships are 
 not named, but are numbered, from No. 1 to No. 67, and are gene- 
 rally termed Lot 1, See. I mention this in the outset, because in 
 alluding to the diiTcr'»nt parts through which we may have occasion to 
 pass, I shall so term them. Allons ! The first township we enter, 
 After leaving the Royalty, is Lot 34 ; this belongs to the Montgomery 
 family, of Scotland. I ought, before conducting you into the interior, 
 to have mentioned that, previous to and after the survey of the Island, 
 which was completed in 1765, various schemes were proposed for the 
 cultivation of the Island ; " among others," according to Stewart*; 
 " the late Earl of Egmont proposed settling it on a feudal plan, his 
 Lojdship to be Lord Paramount of the Island, which was to be 
 divided into a certain number of Baronies, to be held of him ; every 
 Baron to erect a stronghold or castle, to maintain so many men at 
 arms, and with their under-tenants to perform suit and service, 
 according to the custom of ancient feudal tenants in Europe." 
 
 *An Account of Prince Edward Island, in the Gulf of St. Lawreiico, 
 North America: by John Stewart, Esquire. Printed by William 
 Winchester & Son, Strand London, 1806. 
 
 /'••»^. t^". 
 
 ^.'o^ 
 
 • \ 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 zi 
 
 What a pity it did not aurcecd. The sixty-seven Knights of St. 
 John, or perhaps the Knights of the Island, as they miglit have been 
 termed to distinguish them from their brethren of the same name in 
 Palestine, might have been equally famous ; and tournaments, real 
 to'irnaments — as they wof'.ld have been real feudal knights — might 
 have attracted more spectators thin the sham one of the Earl of Eg- 
 lington. But it is ofuo use crying for sp.jt milk, as Col. Crockelt 
 say* J the Earl's plan fell to ihe ground, or, in the graceless lanuguage 
 of the present day, was •' no go." After this, the whole of thfl 
 to.vnships, with two exceptions — which shortly after shared the rime 
 fate— w'.re drawn for, by way of lottery, by various persons who 
 had or were supposed to have claiirs upon the Government, and by 
 omcers of ihe army and navy who had served in the preceding war. 
 There are many ivho are of opinion, that it would have been as well 
 if this scheme had shared the fate of its predecessor. Among others 
 who obtained townships in this way, was the late Sir James Mont- 
 g«nery, Chief Baron of Scotland ; and it must be fairly conceded that 
 if all the grantees had taken equal pains to mlfil the condition* of the 
 grant as he did, the plan would not have been so injurious as it 
 afterwards turned out. Lot 34, then, is one of the oldest settled lot* 
 in the Island, it having begun to be so in 1770. I much doubt whe- 
 ther there is an acre belonging to it that has not been sold leased ; 
 its population at the taking of the last census, in 1848, was 1477 — 
 males 762, females 715 ; it is not, however, the most populous town- 
 ship in the Island, thf)ugh it is perhaps the waalthiest. It had at the 
 same time (1848) 9762 acres under plough, that is half the township 
 V this time ; and the rest of the returns give a simitar superiority. 
 We have not time to go off the road now, but I would recommend to 
 all who can afford it (time I mean) to visit Stanhope, Little York, and 
 the Suffolk Settlement. The first is composed chiefly of the descen- 
 dants of the Scotch, who came out under the auspices of the Chief 
 Baron himself; the names of the two latter sufriciently indicate the 
 former residence of the inhabitants. Before we come to the turn of 
 the road, howeve*-. to Little York, we shall have passed some very 
 excellent country seats, and highly cultivated farms, part of the 
 Royalty. Belmont was the propert;; of the Hon. George Wright, 
 Surveyor General, and is in the possession of his widow, •/ very fine 
 house and beautifully situated, commanding an extensive view of the 
 Hillsborough and the adjacent country; Binstead the property of R. 
 A. Fellows, Esq , is also pleasantly situated, and shows well from 
 the river. 
 
 At thft turn nC tho rnnrl Jnln T.iffli* Vni-lr. fii 
 
 .:i 
 
 va mitaa Irnm 
 
 
 town, resides Mr. James Miller — better known as Miller of French 
 Fort, where he formerly resided j he is one of those men in whom 
 
d6 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 ill 
 
 I take an especial interest. He early in life left his native Scotland, 
 bringing wilh-him stout arms and a willing heart ; and after some 
 years of hard work* t have no doubt, has settled down in a green old 
 age, surrounded by his children, enjoying the respect and esteem of 
 those above and below him, ^ywing no man any thing, on the 
 contrary, enabled out of his abundance, to assist those who Avish to 
 borrow; but gi/ing himself no undue airs on account of his wealth. 
 Miller is a living instance of what industry, frugality and honesty 
 will enable a man to do in Prince Edward Island as well as elsewhere. 
 There are several excellent farms hereabouts ; those good looking cot- 
 tages belonging to my friends the Robertsons — they add the trade of 
 boot and shoemakers to the occupation of farmers, and they seem to 
 harmonize very well together. When you shall be in want of grafted 
 fruit trees, black thorn, or ornamental shrubbery, Cairns (who lives 
 at Dunstaffnage), will be able to supply you with them ; he will give 
 you ocular dt nonslration and positive proof, that ac good fruit may 
 be raised here as in Scotland, if you take equal pains. The neat 
 looking house a little off the road, belongs to Dr. Boswell ; it is I 
 have understood for sale. Tracadie House, the seat of the Hon. D. 
 Macdonald, member of the Legislative Council, lies off the road, and 
 cannot be seen unless by going to it, as, by the way, does that of the 
 Hon. Mr. Haylhorne,of the Council also. Mr. Worthy possesses a 
 cottage on this road, more to my taste than any I know of. We next 
 come to St. Andrew's, where there is a Roman Catholic Chapel ; the 
 house on the hill was built by the Right Rev. xEneas M'Eachern, late 
 Roman Catholic Bishop of Charlottetown ; his remains lie interred in 
 the Chapel, his memory lives in the breast of all who knew him, whe- 
 ther of the same faith or not ; he fended a college here, which will 
 be transferred to the building mentioned in my last, when it shall be 
 finished. At a little distance on, and on the other side of the river, 
 is Mount Stewart ; it is the property of Major-General Sir John Lit- 
 tler, who married the grand daughter of the late John Stewart, Esq., 
 the former proprietor ; it would be worth going over *o see, on ac- 
 count of the prospect it affords of the Hillsborough. It was originally 
 cultivated by the French ; the ridges left by the plough are quite 
 easily to be seen, though the land is covered with good large timber, 
 and Very ornamental too. It might probably be purchased from Sir 
 John Littler, and is alto^hcr a place well worthy the residence of a 
 gentleman farmer, as Mr. Stewart was ; the house is old and worth- 
 less. The road for some distance after this is dull and uninteresting, 
 nor is the land of the best quality ; it is gradually, however, getting 
 into cultivation. As you approach St. Peter's House, the seat of 
 Mr. Worrell, the aspect of the country is more beautiful, and the land 
 
 of better 
 
 capital tc 
 
 through I 
 
 it was so 
 
 however 
 
 bar harht 
 
 been bui 
 
 remembc 
 
 for a mo I 
 
 the mark 
 
 but go uf 
 
 as splend 
 
 There ar 
 
 ble rate; 
 
 It is neai 
 
 There ai 
 
 ihing we 
 
 Midgell, 
 
 summer, 
 
 making; 
 
 streams a 
 
 After cro 
 
 as all alo 
 
 Harbour, 
 
 shelter. 
 
 gales, it i 
 
 There an 
 
 Shore, w 
 
 reverse, : 
 
 and harb( 
 
 As you w 
 
 stead of s 
 
 is the cas 
 
 ungainly ; 
 
 their attrjj 
 
 East Poin 
 
 skilful sp( 
 
 geese, bn 
 
 apace of I 
 
 this side ( 
 
 sails, spec 
 
 Wsa save 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 37 
 
 Gotland, 
 r some 
 ;en old 
 :eem of 
 on the 
 wish to 
 wealth, 
 honesty 
 ewhere. 
 ;ing cot- 
 rade of 
 leem to 
 'grafted 
 10 lives 
 \\\\ give 
 uit may 
 le neat 
 it is I 
 [on. D. 
 >ad, and 
 at of the 
 scsses a 
 We next 
 pel ; the 
 ern, late 
 Lerred in 
 m, whe- 
 ich will 
 shall be 
 le river, 
 ohn Lil- 
 t, Esq., 
 
 on ac- 
 riginally 
 ire quite 
 
 timber, 
 roni Sir 
 ice of a 
 d vvorth- 
 eresting, 
 , getting 
 
 seat of 
 
 the land 
 
 of better quality ; it 'vvas near to this house that the French ha.l .r.«;. 
 capUa town ot the sa.ne name. Thesites of theLses are stm v^^^^^^^^ 
 hrough the green sward, for the plough has passed over it vhp.hi! 
 It was sown with salt, history dL n^ot mentll^L tt.e waVno ne^ 
 however, as no otlier town will ever rise on its ruins St p!»^° • 
 
 b^In'h'';:';"'.,'""^^^ '''' fi^^''».-essels Jsuspeeuhe town m«sVhi;e 
 been bu.lt for the purpose of fi.hing. and wholly of wood I do „at 
 remember whether there is any fortification neJr it. w; will Jl 
 for a moment at St. Poter's house, and for this reason th.t ' -^ 
 the market. The building is not worth a moL rc^n^le ItioV *? 
 but go up further on the hill, and under the lee of that fine w^ii 
 as sple„a.d a s.te for a mansion as you will find almos any vrhere 
 There are upwards of 80,000 acres, which may be bad at a relsona* 
 be rate; much of u is tenanted, but much more in a state 0^1^; 
 U_is nearly all comprised within one pari.h, that of St PaS 
 There a. e three n vers now to pass, the most like ive 'a of an J 
 
 Ml f T ^"Y f'Tr "•'* ^''^ ^'^'^^y ''''^^' ^h««« a^-e the Morell th^ 
 Midgell, and the Mane. The first has a floating bridV during L 
 sunrimer, which m the winter is deserted for one of natnr/'T^n 
 makmg; the others have common wooden hrfd4s Th. .r" 
 streams abound with the sea trout, of ffreat s ze •Ind^'v..,: • fl^*"'^ 
 After crossing the last of these rivers tiP rn^^ i ^•^'I"'^"^ flavor, 
 as all along tSe north si^TtlZZntf^^^^^^ 
 
 Uarboor. there is one ahnost unbrckei line of coast l«^^^t """"l 
 shelter. Shipwreck Point and Cove serve to si ew tl v.t ?n ' ^^ 
 ga es u »s dangerous to have this side of the IsCd / r 'a ^e 71" 
 1 here are roads at no very great intervals, leading, to the Snmh 
 fchore, which, as we shall see, presents an innpnr^.nL *! ^" 
 reverse it being an unbroken s'erfes of l^^iy's" XTc^eeks riv?/^ 
 and harbours, to the West Cape, the othe? extremUv of thJ l.I i' 
 As you near the East Point, the .nd grows more ?br2.'-'^ * 
 stead of shelving down to the tide wash wTtli a surfice of .r '"" 
 IS the case on most parts of the sea coa.Ton ih" so«th ftT ' T 
 ungamly aspect, from its cliffs of red olay. These hlwPvJ h ^^ 
 their attractions : early in the snrin^ ind |..f « :? /», ^'^' ^^"^^ 
 
 East Point is one of the b st' Knrsta^^^^^ '^' 
 
 skilful sportsman may fill his ligrtraveZ'^ 
 geese, brant, and blue winged ducks, in an ilirf^fn.. Tm T^"^ 
 -pace of time. Numbers of Ameri^an'^^rmr maT bf'te^ef^Ir 
 h side of the Island, conspicuous from their while /uck or cotton 
 sails, specking the expanse of waters which here meet the evfi h- ^ 
 Wsa ^ve where the Island of Cape Breton sLTa at ti'Li 'uko ." 
 
 I 
 
^»'* 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 dark cloud in the horizon. Rounding the East Point, you come to 
 a very different description of land than any you have yet been made 
 acquainted with; the hills are really worthy of the name, and are in 
 many instances inconveniently steep; this, however, is easily goi 
 over, from the nature of the soil, and, as the country gets cleared, 
 from changing the course of the roads. ^ . r i j ivv- 
 
 This will eventually be the most valuable part of the Island, lor, 
 in addition to good safe harbours, and plenty of them, the most con ; 
 Biderable are open for a longer period in the beginning of winter than 
 those furher west. A is in this part of the Island, too, where a 
 fishery, of whatever nature it may be— seal, cod, mackerel, or snore 
 —can be carried on with the greatest facility, and the best prospects 
 of success. The harbour of Souris, and those m Rollo, J^ortune, 
 Howe, and Boughton Bays, are easy of access, and may be made 
 when those lying within the Straits of Northumberland cannot. Ihis 
 even now, is no small advantage, and will be more appreciated ai 
 the Island becomes more densely inhabited. After haying crossed 
 a good many rivers, some by bridges and others by ferries, we are 
 at Georgetown, lying oh a noble harbour, easy of access, and com- 
 pletely land-locked. We will, however, postpone any description 
 of it until my next. 
 
 
i^UNCE EDWARD ISLANt). 
 
 33 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Georgetown, like Charlottetown, is regularly laid out with wid0 
 streets, at right an<;les to each other. The town lots are parallelo* 
 grams of ahout half an acre each, and also, like Charlottetown, were 
 granted originally with a royalty lot of ten acres attached to each. 
 The town and royalty occupy a peninsula, formed by the Cardigan 
 and Brudenell rivers. The Montague— another fine rivtr — in con- 
 nected with the harbour, which has from that circumstance the name 
 of Three Rivers, which has hitherto been its most usual appellation. 
 The town, like Charlottetown also, is finely situated upon the face oC 
 a gentle ascent; but there is this tl Terence between them, that 
 tieorgetown has but one square, which is in the centre, and is twice 
 the she of that of Charlottetown. /There is a Courl House and Jail, 
 built in a reserve off the square. The places of worship are, one 
 belonging to the Church of England, another to that of Rome, a 
 Presbyterian Kirk, and Methodist Chapel. There is, beside, a School 
 House, a very neat building, as is the Episcopal Church. There is 
 also a neat Market House, which is on the square. At the termi- 
 nation of the main street, which leads through the centre of the 
 square, and is part of the road to Charlottetown, there is a public 
 quay, or wharf. The harbour is confessedly one of the best in North 
 America, and is bordered by land in a high state of cultivation, which 
 gives it a most agreeable appearance. It is a common resort for the 
 American fishermen, and wlien in anticipation of a gale of wind,they 
 avail themsehos of its secure position. As many a. 200 sail have 
 been seen to enter at the same time, and, after a graceful sweep, 
 come to anchor in tiers, with the regularity of ships of war. If ever 
 a fishery is carried on to any extent in the Island, Georgetown will 
 be Its head quarters. You may possibly be surprised at my express- 
 ing any thing like a doubt upon a subject of this importance. If it 
 will answer the inhabitants of the neighbouring Union to fit out ves- 
 sels, which must cruise at such a distance from their native shores 
 as to be compelled to resort to the Island harbours for safety and 
 shelter; in other words, if it will pay the Yankees to take fish at the 
 mout If of your harbours, why will it not pay you to fit out vessels 
 and catch thein yourselves ? In the first place, want of capital. We 
 have not near as much capital at command as will suffice for our 
 agricultural necessities. In the next place, we have not men to spare 
 On the coasts of the United States and the Province of Nova Silniin' 
 tho country \a rocky and barren, and the population increasin<T "in a 
 ratio that makes it necessary that tho youth should go further^for a 
 living than their fathers wore accustomed to go. Men whoso earliest 
 associations arc connected with the sea , contract a fondness for the 
 
 d 
 
 If? - 
 
 I 
 
u 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 I 
 
 Jifu ofaavoulurc aud excitement which it nmxW, and they vvilhdit- 
 ticulty can he made to undergo the cahn, and to tlicm "'^"[^l^";;"-^ 
 lahour:* of t!»c agriculturist or n.echanic. Of such men arc the nduth- 
 itants of these coasts; and a hold, adventurous huRly race they are. 
 Let men he hrought up, however, on a soil that yields ^■:i, •"' /^ "" 
 forthelahourhestoweduponil;and it is with equaUbihcuity tha 
 YOU can induce them to undergo the severe pnv^iiUons, accompanied 
 by the uncertain returns to which the life of a lisherman is necessa- 
 rUy suhiect. The lands on the coast of Prince Edward Is and eom- 
 n L thi hest of its soil, and the American - old salts" i\^-^fj?^ 
 Ly, that - men possessed of such farms hadn't o"f ^er take tofi h- 
 innr for a livelihood." The time is not, however, tar distant, vyh.n 
 fisheries wHl he estahlished, and on an extensive scale, P-y^'^'^'^rly 
 if the A.rericans are allowed to make and cure their hsh on the shores 
 of the Island; many of them will settle down, and »Vi.*'7 f "T ,7^ 
 as they most likely will-others will follow; and as he Inland youth 
 are not wanting in spirit and enterprise, many vyiU ^^^ »'*l"f ;;^^^ 
 join them, and capital wih then soon he forlhcDmitig. In the mean 
 iime, the hest preparation for that stale of things is to ^on m«e to 
 improve our agricultural resources-lhe surest means of wealth, and 
 least liahle to fluctuation. Georgetown is still m its infancy, blew- 
 art (quoted in my last) describes it, in 1806 as a town m embryo; 
 in 1-ict 20 vears a'TO, it had not half a dozen houses m it. In 184»,. 
 thepopidation of Ih^ town and royally was 678. There are soir^ 
 handsome houses in the town, and well furnished stores. A lau 
 In-hming has been made, and there is no doubt that it will go ahead 
 At the entrance of the harbour is Panmure Island a very valuable 
 property; it is to be disposed of. and would suit c'^l^^^^ M>"v^te gen- 
 lleman for a residence, or a speculator lor the purj^oses of a h.hm^ 
 cslahlishment-for which it is well suited. Opposite to the tovvn is 
 Brudenell Point, belonging, I believe, to a Mr. Watson oj L wj 
 pool; it is tenanted by Capt. Byrne,ahalf.pay officer who is mairiU 
 to a dauglUer of Sir Amos Norcott, C. B. It iscapahle of being made 
 into a beautiful place, as nature has done much font. St. Andrew s 
 Point is owned by Joseph Wightman, Esquire, formerly II gh 
 Sheriff of the Couniy. I must not forget [^ '^^^ and remaniably 
 nLt cottusc ornc/belonging to Doctor ^aye, in Georgetown 
 Rovaltv. The Collector of Customs and Exci.e, ilugli 
 M'Donald, Esq., has a large and convenient house in the town. 1 he 
 itv. Mr. LuU: the llect?r, is a gentleman of refined taste, amiable 
 manner, and classical attainments. TUere are many uui«.=, vv..ti 
 whom I am not personally acquainted. I was on the point of om t- 
 ting the name of one who ill deserves neglect, •'^"^.'^^^^^«^^;" ^^^^^ 
 Hie" Should 1 happen to be with you when you -» it Georgetown 
 1 will not fail to introduce you to John Llcvvelhn Llewullin, Lbq d 
 11^11 who has done mure f Jr the ugricultura interests of ^IW ^^^^^ 
 ward Island than any other, he he whom he may. Ue, howtvu, 
 
 like many 
 full half ( 
 Ardent an 
 and addin 
 tensive ih 
 o}* no com 
 s'cnse of tl 
 even t!>?it 
 the sons o 
 spirit, and 
 ing much 
 Island Le^ 
 fiome fair 
 live of sue 
 
 On leav 
 nearly lev 
 Charlottet 
 meet the ( 
 the countr 
 be made t 
 of life. C 
 been done 
 manual in 
 Island, an 
 rage, I i\n 
 pounds in 
 very poor 
 little has I 
 me to con 
 verance tl 
 
 On com 
 character 
 quently er 
 measure c 
 to time cla 
 while to p 
 from the f 
 ard varied 
 favorite sli 
 the praise 
 I see that 
 the accom 
 going to m 
 case with 
 de rose — t 
 you vvouM 
 
■PL 
 
 VRLNCE EDWAUl) ISl-AND. 
 
 S8 
 
 like many ollior men of talent ;mtl goniuf!, wa.?, wlinn he bngan, a 
 full half century hcfoT-o the age, in Trincc Edward Island at least. 
 Ardent and enthusiastic, though possessed of sound practical views, 
 and adding personal experience with the details of agriculture to ox- 
 Jensive theoretical kn vA'ledge, ho exerted the whole force of a niind 
 oj'no common cast ' n tho farmoj-g of Prince Edward Island to a 
 s'onse of their real ^Uv. v, and though suflered to toil on without 
 even [\mt cordial f mp • y which is so cheering and exhilirating to 
 the sons of genius i. ' ^dlent, he still persevered with indomitable 
 spirit, and has been the means of enriching the Island, without add- 
 ing much to his own coffers. It is to be hoped, that, though lale,the 
 Island Legislatare will open their eyes to the propriety of granting 
 fiome fair remuneration for services so freely bestowed, and produc-^ 
 live of such benefit. 
 
 On leaving (jcorgetown, you pursue your course on a good and 
 nearly level road, until you come within about 15 or 16 miles of tho 
 Charlottetown ferry. Fine farms, and well cultivated, continually 
 meet the eye, and force upon the reflective mind the conclusion. tha'^t 
 the country through which he has been travelling abounds, or may 
 be made U ibound in all that is necessary to the rational enjoyment 
 of life. One thing should also bo borne in mind, that ail that has 
 been done has been effected by the force of individual unassisted 
 manual industry. Out of every 50 men who have landed in the 
 Island, and commenced the subjugation of the forest, upon an ave- 
 rage, I lyn convinced that there were not two who had a hundred 
 pounds in their pockets. The pioneers were in almost all cases poor, 
 very poor; and when at times I get impatient, and complain that so 
 little has been eflected, the knowledge and recollection of this forces 
 me to confess, that I ought raihcr to admire the firmness and perse- 
 verance that has accomplished so much. 
 
 On coming near to Vernon River, the nature of the ground and the 
 character of the scenery undergoes a complete change, and you fre- 
 quently encounter steep hills and deep ravines; but you are in a great 
 measure compensated for this, by the extensive views that from time 
 to time claim your attention and compel admiration. It is well worth 
 while to pause at the summit of Tea Hill, which is about three miles 
 from the ferry, and look around you. One of th% most extensive 
 ard varied views that the Island affords, here meets the eye. It is a 
 favorite show place of the Charlottetonians, and is deserving of all 
 the praise that has been bestowed upon it. We are now at the ferry. 
 I see that in this imaginary journey, I havft not snid a word about 
 the accommodation that you will meet with on the road. I am not 
 going to mislead you on this i^ubiect, by telling you— as is often tho 
 case with those who are anxious to make every thing appear coleur 
 de rose— that you can travel as much at your ease and comfort as 
 you would m any part of America ; for, in fact, travelling for mere 
 
 ^i 
 
 ' 
 
36 
 
 LETTERH ON 
 
 i 
 
 pleasure is not . i. iVcquent in the Island, aa yet, as to make hotels 
 plenty, and of the first rate ; but of this I will assure you, that neither 
 you nor your horse will starve, or be left without shelter or bods. 
 You must not expect luxuries or dainties, however. At Georgetown 
 you may be well and comfortably accommodated; Mrs. Wick wire 
 18 my landlady, and a capital good one she is too — every thing clean 
 and comfortable. Sixteen years ago, I woke one morning in what 
 was then called Georgetown — about half a dozen houses ; and on en- 
 quiring for breakfast, was told there was nothing in the house, nor 
 anything to be had in the town, for love or money. I managed, by 
 dint of much foraging, to get four eggs, which cost as much as four 
 dozen in Charlotletown. Times are, however, altered; there is now 
 plenty of entertainment for both man and beast. 
 
 i 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 37 
 
 er 
 \s. 
 
 re 
 an 
 lat 
 n- 
 or 
 by 
 ur 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 In coming frcni Georaretovvii to CImilottetovvn, wo n)i;ci»t ha 
 
 taken another and 
 
 more 
 
 vc 
 
 interesting, though not so diiect a route. 
 
 "Murray Harbour," a flourishing rieltleiiient early peopled by enii- 
 grants from Guernsey and Jersey j is the first you meet — it is to the 
 southward of Georgetown. You will be able, on l)aying them a visit, 
 to satisfy yourself that, if Prince Edward Island wants fruit, the 
 blame rests on the inhabitants, and not on the soil or climate. I am 
 of opinion, that ere long there will be no need of stimulating the 
 farmers to turn their attention to the planting of orchards. They 
 are beginning of themselves to see that the doing so will prove a 
 source both of pleasure and profit. I have seen apples from Murray 
 Harbour that would do credit to any country. As you round the 
 coast, you meet with the Settlements of Wood Islaads, Belfast — 
 settled by the late Lord Selkirk, of North West celebrity; Orwell 
 Bay, Pownal Bay — both famous for oysters; Pinette, Cherry Valley, 
 and various other Settlements. At Point Prim is Light House, 
 erected in 1845, the only one in the Island at pre • as our com- 
 merce increases, there will doubtless be others bunt. IMuch has 
 been accomplished of late years, in placing buoys, and erecting bea- 
 cons; and whatever more is required will, I doubt not, be done 
 cheerfully, it being self evident that money expended on objects of 
 such acknowledged public utility, is capital well laid out. We will 
 now take another dirP"tion, and point our steps towards the North 
 aide of the Island ; and here your best plan will be to •visit Little 
 York and Covehead, with which you cannot, I think, fail lo be 
 ploased; from thence you will proceed to Brackley Point, an old 
 settled country, and bearing the marks of its age in neat, clean, well 
 built farm houses, with large bains and convenient out-buildings. It 
 is inhabited by a worthy and industrious race of men, chiefly from 
 Scotland. The fi her of James M'Callum, Esquire, who died some 
 few years since, at a very advanced age, was one of the first British 
 settlers. It was extremely pleasant to heariiim detail the diflicultics 
 that presented themselves on their first attempting to ettect a Settle- 
 ment, and their modes of meeting and surmounting them. He little 
 dreamed, as he has often told me, that when he was carrying on his 
 back fifteen or twenty miles a singio bushel of potatoes, around the 
 margin of the shore, he should live to see the day when he would be 
 able to drive in his carriage from one end of the Island to the other. 
 There is a wonderful diflerence between the hardships — if they be 
 hardships — that are to be encountered by the settlers of the present 
 
 
 «?i 
 
 J 
 
 L' 
 
 i 
 
.18 
 
 LETTERvS ON 
 
 
 day, and those in tlio timo of thn good old man my anthorily. From 
 thence an excellent road loads you to Ruslico, which is iidiahited by 
 many of the descendants of those French who were in the Island at 
 the time of its capture and frnal cession to the British Crown. 1 hoy 
 seem to have lost all knowledge, as fur as I could ascertain, of the 
 iiart of France from which their ancestors originally emigrated; nor 
 am I sufficiently conversant with the patois they speak, to be able 
 to afford any clue from that source, nor indeed is it of much conse- 
 quence: the- lavo become completely English, or rather Prince Ed- 
 ward Islanaera, as far as count.-y is concerned; and take little or no 
 interest in the changes that liave taken place in their parent land, if 
 indeed thev are cognizant of them. They are a simple, ha. d working, 
 honest people, marry very early, ana bring up large families virtu- 
 ously upon a very little. The costume of the men differs not at all 
 from that of others in the same class of life; not so, however, with 
 the females: they still cleave to the usages of their great-great-grand- 
 mothers. The use of the bonnet is unknown; instead thereof, the 
 head is covered with a close-fitting scull cap, made of cloth or print- 
 ed calico, and bound with red or blue worsted tape; a short jacket 
 of woollen cloth in winter, and of cotton in summer, with a petticoat 
 of homespun cloth composed of cotton and woollen, of a striped pat- 
 tern invariably. A few years since, moccasins, made of undressed 
 hide, was the sole covering for the feet of both sexes; these are now 
 rare, having been superseded by the shoe. A white muslin kerchief, 
 stiffly starched, forms the usual covering for the head going to Chapel 
 —on which, to their credit be it said, they arc constant attendants. 
 It is pleasing to add, also, that they have become within the last ten 
 or twelve years steady and consistent disciples of Father Mathew, 
 which has addM not a little to then- respectability and comfort. In 
 speaking oPthe character, habits and manners of the French of Rus- 
 tico, I include the whole of those on the Island, and they 
 constitute a great portion of the population ; how many I cannot 
 say, for there was very properly no distinction ever made between 
 them and the other natives of the Island, in taking the census. They 
 may be described as a hard working, inoffensive race, extremely at- 
 tached to their own ways in general, though a spirit of improvement 
 is gaining ground very rapidly. You will hardly believe that, within 
 not very many years, tUb old one-handed French plough was still in 
 use — yet such was the case; the superior utility of the Scotch plough 
 with the cast-iron mouldboard is now, however, acknowledged; and 
 there are to be found among them very respectable ploughmen. 
 They arc excellent mechanics, where great neatness is not required 
 — hence the shipyards abound with French shipwrights. It is not, 
 however, as either farmers or mechanics that thoy appear to me to 
 he, after a few years, likely to exert their energio?. Their ancestors 
 
 were lishi 
 
 <;raft. Ev 
 
 he could; 
 
 fishermen I 
 
 that they i 
 
 tented wit 
 
 pat ion — a 
 
 to a man < 
 
 these peo[ 
 
 to be supp 
 
 shall have 
 
 subsistenc 
 
 regarded 2 
 
 this is the 
 
 attached i 
 
 most trivia 
 
 their prese 
 
 home of hi 
 
 drink, and 
 
 had (thouj 
 
 in consequ 
 
 gone on in 
 
 They man 
 
 vtp large fa 
 
 man to sut 
 
 a cripple is 
 
 tioned Lot 
 
 ships, thou 
 
 is situated, 
 
 lot in the v 
 
 number of 
 
 Lot 2^ 
 *' 3. 
 
 And yet, L 
 who arc eq 
 few Frencl 
 them. In 
 population 
 labour at a 
 probably tr 
 lations oil t 
 dissertation 
 increase; I 
 is the seat 1 
 whose ami! 
 
I'UiNCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 39 
 
 vvt'iu lishorinen, and tlioy liavu evklciilly iiihoiiled a love for tho 
 c;raft. Every Fiencliiiiau uiihur does or would own a fishing boat if 
 he could; the consequence is, that they are a tnongtel race— half 
 fishermen, half farmers; and though thuy are themselves sensible 
 that they are rather uicompatible vocationa. yet, as they are con- 
 tented with little, and as— independent of Iheii fondness for the occu- 
 pation — a quantity of lish is indispensably necessary tolhem, asbei'ng 
 to a man Calholics, they still continue to fish. I look, therefore, to 
 these people, as forming the materiel from whence the fisheries are 
 to be supplied, when, in tho course of tinje, increase of population 
 shall have rendered it necessary for them to look to other means of 
 subsistence, and increase of capital will cause tho fisheries to ba 
 regarded as affording an eligible means of hivesting its surplus. And 
 this is the more probable, because they are of all people most strongly 
 attached t, the soil. While those of British descent aro upon tho 
 most trivial prospects of success in another place ready to sacrifice 
 Iheir present advantages, the Frenchman sticks contentedly by the 
 home of his youth, perfectly satisfied if he has enough to''eat and 
 drink, and wherewithal to be clothed; and as this is gener y to be 
 had (though some of them have suffered great extremes of hardship, 
 in consequence of the failure of the potato and other crops ) they have 
 gone on increasing in a ratio that would har^Uy be credited with you. 
 They marry at the very earliest possible age, and contrive to bring 
 ttt> Jarge farriilios upon means which would hardly suffice an English- 
 man to subsist upon alone. Yet they are vigorous and healthy, and 
 a cripple is seldom seen among them. I have in a former letter mer>- 
 tioned Lot 34 as being one of the best cultivated and wealthiest town- 
 ships, though not the most populous. Now Lot 24, in which Rustico' 
 is situated, contains a greater number of inhabitants than any othesf 
 lot in the whole Island. Let us compare the population with the 
 number of acres cultivated: — 
 
 Lot 24— population in 1848, 1938; acres cultivated, 6085. 
 *' 34— *• 1477; «* 9762. 
 
 And yet. Lot 24 has a great number of English, Irish and Seotclr,. 
 who arc equally as good farmers as those of Lot 34; but there aro 
 few French residing there, while Lot 24 is principally inhabited by 
 them. In a politico-economical point of view, I consider the French 
 population as an acquisition, who will continue to furnish a supply of 
 labour at a cheaper rate than can be expected elsewhere. I shall 
 probably trouble you with a few more observations and some calcu- 
 lations oil ihid head, when i come to inflict upon you to a learned 
 dissertation upon the population of the Island and its comparative 
 increase; I will, therefore, spare your feelings at present. Kustico 
 is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Charlottetown, a man 
 whose amiable manners, strict attention to tho arduous duties of his 
 
 il 
 
 ^i 
 
\l 
 
 
 hi.h calling, and total freedom from political or rel.g.ous anunos.ty 
 Tdcse^^^^^^^ caused him to stand high in the ostjmat.on of he 
 m hit and la^^er still in the opinions and regard of those who, like 
 f^v elf ax onoredvvith his private friendship and «••« hetter ac 
 mnh 'ted vvilh his claims to esteem. There .s a very fi"e ^^ape* 
 her? as vcumay snppose, already a conspicuous feature m the land, 
 here, as >cu may i i '. ^ ^ -^^ ^ ^^^^ of its greatest ornaments. 
 
 Thi;re is"a n a cUht" helongfng to the Church of ^gland with aa 
 
 increasing "ongregation; service is P-" -«-jf^ -f.^^^ y/," f ^^Tf 
 hvacler°vmanofthe Establishment, the l^ey. L. Uoyd, A. «., oi 
 Camb id°e U versity, who has the care of this and a ^ma Church 
 about ei'ht m les nearer .own, on the Malpeque Road, called Mill- 
 aooui e. lu 1 11 Townships on which the 
 
 p;:,^rfetoro^ny^^^^^^^^^^^ resident; WiUiaii Hodges Esq 
 
 UeCsW^!and^ Messrs. Alfred and John Wmsloe, the sons ot John 
 Hod'es W nsloe, Esq., who are also his Attqrneys, l>v-e here, and 
 "a7matm- ally assist y'ou if you should agree with any of the tenants 
 foJthTrr improvements. The distance from Wheatley Bridge to 
 New G as" ow Bridge, is about 3^ or 4 miles. The SetMement of 
 llnrnamefs^ituated in a river, which they are now very properly 
 denomTating the Clyde. It is one of those places to which I a«i 
 nartiS y fond of calling the attention of strangers Pause for a 
 Few moSts on the sumnTit of the high hill wh ch overlooks the nver 
 and TrZands an extensive view of the well cultured fields and 
 comfortable homesteads of the village (though it is hardly an appro- 
 pr ate term) on the other side of the splendid urm of the sea which, 
 for wa ft of a more expressive word, we are forced to call I wer. 
 - '?he view itself is a fine one, and would be so termed m any cou. ^ry ; 
 but when yoareflect that about thirty years since it vvas as dens, a 
 foVest as tM^hich you sec in the distance, and that its present civ- 
 li-od ai nising appearance is the work of men who, unaided by 
 
 nv or ve., kittle capital, save that which I mentioned m my former 
 Se'rs had been the common one of all the first settlers-- thews 
 and sinews," and minds determined not to allow themselves to bo 
 overcome by difficulties, but on the contrary, to leave none unsur- 
 mounted-your reason will be convinced (whatever may be ho 
 srem'th of your own prejudices, or the eftects of other mens instilled 
 nito Your mind) that {his is not an unfavorable country for an enter- 
 H^in^Ynd resolute man. You will, on further reflection, be also 
 furthe°r convinced, that the country is just in that state whenits ener- 
 gies, if assisted by a judicious outlay ol capital, may be developed to 
 an extent hitherto uul ureameu of. i^v^y ^m=s"^- '- "7 ^''^r'Z "" 
 men whoso names will be sufficient to indicate the place of their 
 birth-* Samples,' ' Lairds,' * Arthurs,; Orrs, ' Stevcnsons ' and 
 others whom I cannot at the moment call to muid; Alexander Laird, 
 
rilLNCE EDWARD ISLA? D. 
 
 41 
 
 t 
 
 Esq., a nieiuber of the Proviiiciul Purlianient, has a splendid farm 
 of his own making, and is consideredjone r''our best farmers. You 
 will have to pass through the village on your road to Cavendish, an 
 older Settlement, settled precisely under the same auspices. I will 
 venture to say that you will be pleased also with the appearance of 
 this place; it is below New Glasgow in point of situation, as the lat- 
 ter has the advantage of a sheltered site and an excellent harbour. 
 I have not time in this to go to New London, though I should not 
 wonder if you were already sufficiently tired with these journeys on 
 paper; and indeed I would stop here, did I not wish to show both 
 you and your friends that, in coming to Prince Edward Island, 
 wherever either you or they may choose to pitch your tents, you will 
 find a certain extent of civilization and circles of society that, though 
 at present sr^all in diameter, will, in the course of a very few years, 
 make this country, all things considered, a desirable place of abode 
 for those whose aim is, to live comfortably, though not luxuiiously, 
 and who are anxious to leave their children with a fair prospect be- 
 fore them of doing well for themselves. It is with this view that I 
 have been more particular in mentioning names than I olherwi«o 
 would. 
 
 t!^ • 
 
 '■} 
 
X2 
 
 LETTERS OS 
 
 •i 
 
 
 LETTER XL 
 
 Oh leaving vJavcndish, you proceed by a not very iutcrcsluig road 
 of a few miles, to Fyfte's Ferry; and from this, and all through the 
 New London Cettlement, the chaiacter of the scenery and appear- 
 ance of the coast is totally different from any other part, whether en 
 the North or South side of the Island. The South-west river— or. 
 (is ft is more usually termed, the ♦* Sou'-wesf'—meets the Gulph 
 of St. Lavvre- CO a little below the narrows, where the feiry is sitn- 
 ute. The whole place is remarkable, and is, in my humble opinion, 
 well worthy of a short pause. Seaward, high hills of drifted sand 
 form a barrier against the waves of the Gulph, which, when agitated 
 by the storms from the north, sends its billow^ with a rapidity and 
 grandeur little inferior to those of the ocean with which it is so 
 closely connected. The South-west penetrates, in .a serpentine 
 manner, far into the interior, and is curtained at intervals between 
 high lands on either side, offering a more picturesque oppearanco 
 than any other of these noble arms of the sea. It is not exactly fed 
 by tributary streams, but it branches off, as the tide runs further 
 inland, into Mill, and Trout, and Long Rivers, as they are called. 
 The whole of the New London Settlement will, at some future day, 
 bo a more attractive place for strangers than it is at present. The 
 hilly nature of the icad, and its leading nowhere but to itself, pre- 
 vents it from receiving that justice to which its fertility and beauty 
 entitles it. Most of the people in this, as in all new countries, have 
 little or no idea of the pleasure derived from the contemplation of 
 Hue scenery I was pointing out to a young and, in his way, a very 
 intelligent man the beautiful, as it appeared to me, alternation of 
 wood and water, f -st and meadow, hill and valley, which are so 
 ' conspicuous and si, varied at every turn. What a splendid place! 
 I exclaimed. It is not amiss, said my comp nion; but it would be 
 much better if it were not for these confouaded hills, and these 
 cursed ciooks in the river. To this view of the matter I could make 
 no reply; but turning to contemplate the scow, or lighter, I was 
 struck with the clever contrivance for getting horses and carriages in 
 and vvSt of the scow, without the least trouble to the ferryman or the 
 passengers. A bridge, or platform on hinges, is fixed at each end 
 ^f the boat, which are square, and are made in the form of an in- 
 
 l2;luea piUnc; auu WiH^i* luc tuai icaCsica M..U sijuicj -.sjc iuti jxiiiln) 
 
 without leaving the boat, dibo.igages with his foot a lever, which 
 oauses one end of the platform to fall on the shore; he then beckons 
 the traveller to ride or drive in, and wlicn he has so done the ferr^*- 
 nian, by a touch of the hand and foot, brings the platform to its 
 liorlzontnl position— and lhn« tinj« and trouble are saved to both 
 
 parlies, a { 
 
 uging thing 
 
 men, and \ 
 
 tions as to 
 
 place, for t 
 
 attractive. 
 
 bhed, and 
 
 clearances 
 
 idle during 
 
 — Campbel 
 
 tiious, thriA 
 
 called Barr 
 
 or Princeto 
 
 told you, hi 
 
 fo. ,that the 
 
 have been 
 
 Presbyteria 
 
 the Kirk, a 
 
 by the Rev 
 
 where he r( 
 
 whether I s 
 
 mon with ii 
 
 name, signi 
 
 am not cert 
 
 Silas T. Ra 
 
 Cape Breto 
 
 town, I wil 
 
 other Indiai 
 
 to tell you t 
 
 blind guides 
 
 and its Roy 
 
 •0 its Royal 
 
 (speaking ii 
 
 highly respe 
 
 and one of i 
 
 the M'Nutt' 
 
 Bt'ush. 71 
 
 Esq., M. . 
 
 famous for \ 
 
 nor's, onth 
 
 veller's Res 
 St. Eleanor" 
 the North, 
 incrd^ting v 
 
rRI\CE EDWARD l!*LAND. 
 
 A'* 
 
 parties, a great improvement upon the old fashioned vvuy of mon- 
 uging things. Fyffe and hi^ onb are highly I'espectoble and obliging 
 men, and when they have f^ ied you across, will give you direc- 
 tions as to the nearest road ^ are to take to reach any particulni 
 place, for these are numero^ and all in one ^ay o<* other equally 
 attractive. The wiiole of tht; Nr.v London Settlement is well inha- 
 bited, and their good substantia! vrooden houses, with extensiva 
 clearances and well stocked, give testimony that they have not been 
 idle during their «ojourn. They are principally Lowland Scotch 
 — Campbell's, Cousins', M'Ewens, Johnstons, &c., &c. — anindus- 
 liious, thriving race. Passing through thwse, we come to what i:« 
 called Barrett's Corner, and here the roads branch off to Malpeque 
 or Princetown, St. Eleanor's, and Charlottetown. I should hnv« 
 toM you, howover, but that I hope you would have given them credit 
 fo. jthat there is no want of places of worship thrcagh all the route wa 
 have been travelling. At New Glasgow arul Cavendish there are 
 Presbyterian Meeting Houses; and at NewLt. idon there is, beside 
 the Kirk, a Church belonging to the Episcopalians, which is served 
 by the Rev Dr Wiggins^ {n common with his own at St. Eleanor's, 
 v.here he rtcides. We are now at Barrett's, and I am in doubt 
 whether I s' ^11 venture to take you to Princetown, or, as 1 in corat 
 mon with many others rather prefer to call it, Malpeque— the Indian 
 name, signifying, as 1 think I have heard, " Large Bay;" of this 1 
 am not certain, but when my intelligent and ami;ible friend the Rev. 
 Silas T. Rand, Minister of the Baptist persuasion (who is absent at 
 Cape Breton, on a pious visit to the Indians), returns to Charlotte- 
 town, I will endeavour to get from him ihe true meaning of this and 
 other Indian names. I am in doubt, I say, whether to go ornot, lor 
 to tell you the truth, it is many years since I was there myself, and 
 blind guides, you k»^ . w — however, 8 miles lead you to Princetown 
 and its Royalty; Princetown, however, is but a name as yet; not 
 •o its Royalty and the lots adjacent: this is an old settled Country 
 (speaking in the language of P. E. Inland), and contains many very 
 highly respectable families. The He . Mr, Kier is a man of learning 
 and one of the leaders in the Presbyterian Church. The family of 
 the M'Nutt's is coeval villh the settlement of the Island by tho 
 Bt'ush. 7J ear to it, is Darnley, tho residence of William Clark, 
 Esq , M. . P. (Member of the Provincial Parliament;; Parnley i^ 
 famous for Us cheese. >om Barrett's, you also go to St. E' - 
 nor's, on tho 'vay to which you paPS through n little cluster of uuout 
 
 -.-. tjivxi-jiz livrsisva SlUSItlCl, & SU^UUSv:, JfVU V.'VUiU Villi il^^ViUCU .f ktk- 
 
 veller's Rest, from the only house it biu a (ew years since boasted, 
 St. Eleanor's is situated on an i ,bmu8, formedby Richmond K.v on 
 the North, and Halifax or Bedeque Bay on the Souti.. it is an 
 increasing villa|f«. The buildinj; containing the County Jail 004 
 
 ■Ik^r. 
 

 u 
 
 I.KTTEKS ON 
 
 Court House, me ts you at ihe end of the Cliarlottetovvn Road; jt 
 has a rather imposing appearance. There is also a handsome Church 
 of England close by, ihe> have just received from England an organ 
 for its use; a neat School House, xNess' St. Eleanor's Hotel, a small 
 place of worship belonging, I believe, to the Bible Christum Metho- 
 dists; these, together with some good stores and private houses-- 
 among the-, those of the Rector (the Rev. Dr Wiggins), Dr. Bell 
 (the surgeon and medical man). The house in which the Post Ofhce 
 is kept by a Mr. Eraser, is a neat and well finished building; and 
 many others. I need say little more of St. Eleanor's: you cannot 
 fuil to be pleased with it. A good inn, with an obligmg landlord and 
 landlady, plenty of oysters just out of their beds^ and ready for you 
 just before you turn into yours, and good viands and kind treatment 
 of all sorts, are a great recommendation to any place. There are a 
 cood number of fine ell cultivated farms in the neighbourhood ; Ur. 
 Wiggins has set a .y good example, and is considered as among 
 their first farmers— and where there are so many good, this is no 
 mnall praise. 1 hope, one of these days, to give you something like 
 a sketch of the state of farming in the Island ; and I know of no riian 
 upon whom I could more confidently call for information to be relied 
 ubon than the Doctor. The village of St. Eleanor's is on a perfect 
 flat,and contains nothing of a view,at but a very few rods distance on 
 either side; the country becomes very pretty, totally different, how- 
 ever, from the scenery of New London. St. Eleanor's is generally 
 the terminus for strangers travelling for mere pleasure; you will, 
 however, J hope, try and get as far at least as Port Hnl. which you 
 can easilv accomplish in time to return to Ness' in the evening, the 
 distance being in the whole 10 miles. Port Hill is owned and occu- 
 pied by Jame" Yeo. Esq , M. P. P.-another of the many instances 
 of what industry, prudence and determuiation will effect. Mr. Yeo 
 is a native of Dideford, in England, and came to this country in a 
 subordinate capacity, «ome 25 or 30 years smce, and he has to hii 
 credit been the architect of his own fortune-and a very pre ty one, 
 by all accounts, it is. There is a Church of England here, the offi- 
 ciating Minister of which is the Rev. Mr. Cooper. Near to Port 
 Hill. 18 Lennox Island, nc t otherwise remarkable than as being inha- 
 bited wholly by Indians -of whose habits and manners I will endea- 
 vour to give you an idea, at some future period. Richmond , or Mai- 
 peque Bay, is a noble piece of water, as is Cascumpeque or Holland 
 feay. in which the water is so deep, and the shore so bold, tha. a 
 largo vessel can load with timber a few yards from the bank. Aftsr 
 ihi?, there is no harbour of any note the whole .^oast .rom r-ascum- 
 pequetoLotl. and from thence round to the West Capo, LotJ^. 
 i« one unbroken line of coast, save a lew crcnus 7-^"!^^;;* t"' '>;{;; 
 |.ot 1 i« lolpvably well settled, hut the other Lots horn 1 tol3,mrlH^ 
 
 sive, had 
 Townshi] 
 in others, 
 of value ( 
 There I. a 
 about Ri( 
 goes of ti 
 been a ro 
 of a fine ( 
 ket, and 
 cipaliy ir. 
 Lot 1, vvl 
 more or 1 
 Settlemer 
 and not fi 
 a neat C\ 
 St. Elean 
 will be to 
 where I t 
 country. 
 
 Richmi 
 and I dou 
 thosfl Ton 
 
 01 
 
PRLNCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 4ft 
 
 slve, had not at tho last census, 1848, 500 souls in any one of tho 
 Townships respectively. In some, the land is swampy and stony; 
 in others, there are large tracts of peat; these, however, will bo 
 of value at some future day, when wood shall have become scarce. 
 There lave been, and are a number of fine vessels building in and 
 about Richmond and Cascumpeque Bays, and there are large car- 
 goes of timber and lumber shipped from them yearly. There has 
 been a road within the last 15 or 18 years to Lot 7; the land, though 
 of a fine quality, is not much sought after, as being so far from mar- 
 ket, and the want of a harbour is a sad drawback. Lot 15 is prin- 
 cipally ir.habited by French, who have a Church there; as is also 
 Lot 1, where also is a Church. There are various other places 
 more or less worthy of attention; I must not, however, forget tho 
 Settlement of Miscouche, inhabited by French; it is part of Lot 17, 
 and not far from St. Eleanors; it is well worth tho ride to it; it has 
 a neat Chapel. I will now leave you to recruit from your fatigues at 
 St. Eleanor's. Our next and last journey (be we thankful, say you) 
 will be to Town, by the way of Bedeque, Tryon, De Sable, &c., 
 whore I think i may promise you riiore variety, and a more settled 
 country. 
 
 Richmond and Cascumpec Bays are well situated for the fishery, 
 and I doubt not but at some future day will be the occasion of making 
 thosfi Townships situated on these shores populous. 
 
 W 
 
4« 
 
 LETTERS on 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 Since writing to you, I met with a friend who thoroughly knew 
 that part of Prince County with which I told you I was not person- 
 ally 80 well acquainted as with the rest of the Island, and I in con- 
 fidence showed him the draft of the letter I had last sent. Blind 
 guides, indeed! said he; I am sorry you sent such a description of 
 that part of the Island which lies to tha Northward of Port Hill, and 
 the more so, as there is no part of the Island where land of good qua- 
 lity can be had in such extensive tr?icts— a matter of some import- 
 ance, where a number of people from the same parish or neighbour- 
 hood are anxious to emigrate in a body, so as to be able to keep up 
 the same social relatio.is in the country of their adoption as they had 
 maintained in that of their birth. Cascumpeque harbour, he added, 
 deserves a rather more minute dnscripiion. The entrance to it m 
 over a bar, which has sixteen feet of water upon it at high tide. 
 Leaving the Sand hills at the entrance, you pass the mouth of the 
 Kildare River on the North, and the commencement of the narrows, 
 a sort of shallow lagoon of various width, from one mile to three, 
 between the Sand hills and the main land. Here are extensive 
 marshes, on which, as well as on the Kildare Sand hills, a large 
 quantity of hay is cut. The Harbour takes a sweep to the South- 
 ward, having on the one side good improved farms, terminating in 
 what is called the *' Point Farm"— the property of Samuel Cunard, 
 Esq., in front of which large vessels may load, by means of a plank 
 from their side to the shore— and on the other, Savage Island, which 
 13 covered with pine wood, and forms a perfect shelter for the har- 
 bour, which from the front stretches out into an extensive bay, six 
 or seven miles wide. On the South is the " Black Bank," a large 
 tract of land, part of Lot 11, composed entirely— to the extent of 
 some thousand acres, and having a depth of at least ten feet — of 
 peat moss, excellent for fuel; with the exception of this, from Lot 6 
 northward the land is not, as you have been misinformed, swampy 
 and stony\ but, on the contrary, of a good quality, and the iwattopi 
 of any extent few. At the head of the Bay, there are two arms, th« 
 one leading past ** the Village" towards Lot 11, where it terminaiet 
 a short distance past the residence of James Warburton, Esq., 
 M. P. P. ; the other, called Mill River, crossing the western road at 
 Yeo's Mills, an excellent establishment, comprising both grist and 
 saw mills. The farms on both these rivers and their branches con- 
 tain land of excellent quaUty, and for beauty of situation wiii bear 
 •oinparison with any in the Country. 
 
 The i 
 pec, is ij 
 Creek. 
 Scotchni 
 gence. 
 its congi 
 Man Cht 
 Cascumj 
 still in a 
 beauty c 
 crossed 1 
 here als( 
 Settleme 
 handson 
 but othe 
 them, w 
 immense 
 ness, fro 
 break gr 
 South to 
 be sprinl 
 does not 
 Cape, so 
 /requentl 
 Tignish, 
 Cascurn] 
 bait, too 
 table fan 
 &c., to 1 
 formerly 
 
 I am I 
 which I 
 which fa 
 account 
 
 We w 
 On the r 
 bys, higl 
 cendants 
 good sub 
 been bui 
 merside 
 nor'a — w 
 «pace air 
 diac—arl 
 Dr litis wi( 
 
It.. 
 
 f7 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 47 
 
 1 he Cross Roads, or what might be termed the village of Cascum- 
 jiec, 13 about a mile North of the harbour, at the head of the DocU 
 Creek. The Dock , ad Kildare Settlements are chiefly inhabited by 
 Scotchmen, whose farms at once attest their industry and intelli- 
 gence. There is a Presbyterian Kirk here, but much too small for 
 Us congregation, who contemplate building a new one; an Episcopa- 
 han Church is about being erected near the Cross Roads. From 
 Cascumpeque to Tignish, the road passes through a great deal of land 
 still m a wilderness state; but you cannot fail to be struck with the 
 beauty of the Settlement at the head of the Kildare; this river is 
 crossed by a bridge of upwards of 200 yards in length; the settlers 
 here also are mostly Scotch. You next arrive at Little Tignish, a 
 Settlement entirely French; and next, at Tignish, where is^a very 
 handsome Catholic Chapel. This Ljt (1) is also settled bv French 
 but others, natives of Britain or the Colonies, have been 'added to 
 them, whose good example begins to be already felt. There is an 
 immense quantity of the very best land still lying in a state of wilder- 
 ness, from no other reason than that no one likes to be the first to 
 break ground; the winter road, however— which traverses it from 
 bouth to Norlh, a distance of about 30 miles— is row beginninf' to 
 be sprmkled with a few houses. As a fishing station, the Island 
 does not possess its equal. The best ground is round the North 
 Cape, sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other, and boats 
 ■frequently fish within hail of the shore; there is a boat harbour at 
 lignish, and a good beach at Little Tignish; while the harbour of 
 Cascurnpeque aftbrds excellent shelter for schooners from all winds; 
 bait, too, may be had in abundance. There are a number of respec- 
 table families in Cascurnpeque, said he; Gordons, Forsyths, Wells' 
 kc.,tovvhomI njay add, Nicholas Conroy, Esq., ex-SheiiflT, and 
 formerly M. P. P. ^ , 
 
 I am happy in being able to do justice to this part of the country, 
 which I have never seen, and to derive my information from a snurco 
 which for correctness I can rely upon. I have given my friend's 
 account of the place, as far as I have been able, in his own words 
 
 We will now resume our journey from St. Eleanor's towards town, 
 t u- "Li ^° ^'■^^"'s Shore, you will pass the farms of the Dar- 
 bys. highly respectable people and old settlers, or, rather, the des- 
 cendants of old settlers. On the Shore you find the Greens, with 
 good substantial well-built two story houses. A public wharf has 
 been built hero, and, as I mentioned before, a village called Sum- 
 merside has arisen, and will, I think, soon extend itself to St. Elea- 
 nor a— which is but a mile and a half distant, and the intervenin.* 
 space almost as level as a railway. The nackot fron, h«nc« ♦« sj,«! 
 diac-afFordaig a communication weekly with Nova Scotia and New 
 Bnuiswick, and ihonco to tho Umted Staten— is now. .nid will be in 
 
 L# 
 
48 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 „ ^ „ .v^nttpr nf no small consequence to Sum- 
 
 the course of a few years a '^"^^^ ^^ ''^^ ,,^ railway succeed, 
 merside and St. Eleanor s. f»«"^^ "^f ^ ^ J ^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 it will increase both i\n"rBav is a noble piece of water, a 
 power of calculation. K^deque Bay is a nob a^ P ^^ ^^.^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 Splendid roadstead of which W^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ built 
 
 harbours. At the head of ^'V»j "^^ C^^^^ ^f ^he Island, and now 
 by Alexander Canipbell. formerly rreasur^ o^ ^ ^ 
 
 oJvned and inhabited by Evan 1 ^orn. s bsq i^^^^^ ^^^.^^ ^^ ^^^^ 
 over the Creek, and the lands ;^' ^ '''^'^ly^ ^ proper, if I may use 
 sides. After leaving this, f^^X^^^ .*^'^X ^famber of excellent 
 the term; there is here, independe^^^^^^^ .nechanics and 
 
 farm houses, a collection of.^"'^t.vfhat expectable body of Chris- 
 others; the ^neeting house bu It by^hat respect J^ ^ 
 tians the Wesleyan 'Method stswi^^^ g ac ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 confers at once beauty on he s^;"^J^^Yf,.i3„d Mrs. Hooper, who 
 is a snug little cottage near i . ^hei^ m^ ^'^^^ ^f tea, a dinner 
 keeps the Post Office, will also giv^^^^^^^^ P^^^,.^ ^^^^^j, .^ 
 
 or a bed, as you may be ^"9^!"«f '/?J^:''/a town, and, by and by. 
 short, there are ^^^^rnTpa" ty tC^s'ta^^Lm of Joseph, 
 a populous one. ^ ^^fJ'^^;'],J,, Speaker of the Assembly; it 
 Pope, Esq., M. r. 1 •• ^oi ™'*"J'f J^ . , \ a ^^^ jn the market. You 
 is a'desirable place ^<>V^ "^.^f^^^^^ilhe"^^^^^^^ which Mr. Pope 
 may see a full description of this f"^ °"';;f ^.^^^g/fg, of Charlotte- 
 it sLms, wishes to dispose of, in the f^yf^^^/^^.^charged, I have 
 town; and. as the advantages are by no ii . -^ ^^^^^ 
 
 rvuch pleasure in referring you o it ^u^ J*^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^re kept 
 
 and to go over all its "^I'^tn^ ^lelk Pope is «^^^ «»tit!ed ta 
 ia the best order, for which ^^i^ ^an^e Mi ^o^^^^ ind advantages, 
 due credit-so as to point out its vanous beaut^^s a ^^^ ^ 
 
 would take me more ^»"^«,/^f^"J,^^?;^^^^^ s^earch of a pro- 
 
 will say is, that if I were i^'^^I^/l^^^^regTnt ^ofit. but increase in 
 perty which would not only y^^^ P/^^'/^fer Bedeque to any part tf 
 val/e with the lapse of years, 1 would PJ^*«^ ^.^^.'^^ ^f the^arious 
 
 the Island. I dure not J^oj"'"^"^^,^^. /"""^iltio^^^ Many of them 
 respectable families wluch compose U^^^^^^^ stlt-uggle for 
 
 came from the now Unitedj^^ate^. ^» ^^^ U^e ^^^^ ^een tdded 
 iadooendence, and were called Loyah^^^ ^ ^^^^^ 
 
 oil. s, from various parts ot the woj^<]; ^^^ i,^^,\\\Lni yeomanry, 
 Ii« residence of a numerous. reBpectaUe^^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 the best staple for any society > ^^e f egant ana ^^^^^^ 
 
 easily be added lo it, with ^^"^^^^^^^.""'fe^^^^^^^ a continually 
 
 ally Les the conibination of good roads^ ±'/. a cheerfulness to the 
 
 pearance ( 
 Bedeque a 
 pearing th( 
 commence 
 way to we 
 you may ti 
 sensations, 
 now pictur 
 the more s 
 tie ; and if 
 story and i 
 door, and f 
 apartment 
 you vv ill fii 
 projection 
 frame hous 
 effort. He 
 eyo at the i 
 or stone ad 
 incongruiti( 
 from the pi 
 woods, yoi 
 here, u)ide 
 feet from tl 
 sign board, 
 were forme 
 the sign be 
 out to be tl 
 live, I pros 
 painted the 
 oftho cott; 
 board, sign 
 had within 
 dainty pro\ 
 hind, some 
 the long lis 
 letters of ci 
 exhibitor v\ 
 can well lb 
 or arc youi 
 Hero is a [ 
 Mr. Read, 
 of which tl 
 help saying 
 Btato of ad^ 
 tule a socic 
 
 / 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 49' 
 
 
 pearance of the beginnings of wealth and accumulation. Both ul 
 Bedeque and hero, and in faci all along to town, we see fast disap- 
 pearing the unsightly make-shifts that are always attendant upon the 
 commencement of civilization. The log house and barn have given 
 way to well built and well painted frame buildings. In many places 
 you may trace, and the oct is accompanied by peculiarly gratefu. 
 fl.insations, at least to me, the progressive steps. The first rude hut, 
 now picturesque in decay, but still propped up as a shelter for sheep; 
 the more substantial one that followed, doing duty as a byre for cat- 
 tle; and if you take some pains to examine the respec^,able looking 
 story and a half edifice, with its green or mahogany painted front 
 door, and four windows, two on each side, and the pediment shaped 
 apartment in the centre of the roof, with its ornamental window, 
 you v^ ill find that its architecture is not all of the same age; that the 
 projection at the back was the first essay of the owners toward a 
 frame house, and which was in its day, no doubt, considered as an 
 effort. Here, then, you have four eras in house -building under your 
 eyo at the same moment; in the next generation we shall have brick 
 or stone added to it. But wc must be getting on. It is curious what 
 incongruities you do meet with in a new country. About a mile 
 from the place where you stop to bait in Tryon, in the midst of the 
 woods, you come across an old dead tree (rampikes we call them 
 here, unde derivalur I know not), upon which, at about 15 or 20 
 feet from the ground, you see projecting from it, on the one side, a 
 sign board, and on the other something like the old brass drums that 
 were formerly used in the army; upon a nearer inspection, however, 
 the sign bears the name of " Webster," and the '>rass drum turns 
 out to be the sign of the golden cheese; the blue ends being indica- 
 tive, I presume, of the richness of the article within, on which is 
 painted the address of the owner, and the weight, &c. Ou the side 
 of the cottage, near to this "hollow beech tree," is a long black 
 board, signifying that all sorts of ham, bacon and cheese are to be 
 had within, together with reindeer's tongues; on applying for the 
 dainty provocative last mentioned, I was told they had been left be- 
 hind, somewhere in Lincolnshire, I believe; the golden cheese and 
 the long list of tempting relishes were brought out and di.splayed as 
 letters of credit and recommendation, I suppose, testifying that the 
 exhibitor was a man of substance in his own country. Before you 
 can well think of it, if you have a pleasant companion by your side, 
 or arc yourself of a contemplative disposition, you are in Crapaud. 
 Merc is a pretty little Church, and near to it is the house of thu Rev. 
 Ml. Read, the Episcopal clergyman; this is also ono uf those places 
 of which there are many to bo found in the Island, that one can't 
 help saying to oneself, here is now a Settlement that is iii such a 
 state of advancoment that two or threo more families would consti- 
 tute a society that uuuld leave lillle to be wished for; ihcit bcEt 
 
 ^'1 
 
 / 
 
50 
 
 LETTER?* ON 
 
 f Mar S tr oTS; siL^f (he road; they are rathe^ too 
 
 rra'^aCoi^e 'T^^ ^^^^ 
 
 the Bridge, on the rising ground, turn ^^'^".^/"^^f^^^Z ' ^se of 
 nation a little scope, and you may conceive that n tiw co^^^e oi 
 
 called) , would complete the picture. I have been told, that our ate 
 Lmenkd Governor,'sir Donf Campbell, Bart was ^^^J^lf^ 
 with this view, as, indeed, how could a man of ^^^^"JXad of 
 S fail to be ? Continuing our journey, we come to/^-^. rw 
 the West orEUioc River, which, you will recollect leads mto Char 
 otte^wn harbour, and I should b'e pleased we had ^o des^^^^^^^^^ 
 river which affords in a short space the most varied, and at the same 
 
 SShTr;Vea7tLtia^i'^^^^ 
 
 ?h™Vh n coriroe o?no^ h^Ving been resided m for so»e u«.e. 
 
 the house has suffered severely, the place is fP^'^'^f ]";'"?"£ 
 » most aareeable residence. We next come to Dog River, of which 
 I hive uftle to say! than, like the others, the place and scenery are 
 
 ngh^ pleasing after passing through a "«' «.»>'f 'f X/e'that 
 N^rth River Brid«e attracts your attention: this is one ol those tnat 
 ^s^Ldln Charlottelown^Harbour; there are several very pretty 
 • ea"ts1n its vicinity. The Hon. Capt. ^-e -oinber of the Legis- 
 Intivp Council, has a very attractive seat called Upton, ivir. vaii^e 
 haTalso rti'en but I sL it is time to make some apology for the 
 len.'th of this letter-the best I know of is, Farewell. 
 
 The lir; 
 
 impressioi 
 
 sence of I 
 
 town, in j 
 
 of vice or 
 
 that you i 
 
 shoes or s 
 
 or the me 
 
 submit th 
 
 left, exce 
 
 and their 
 
 church, 
 
 a inultitu( 
 
 the remai 
 
 to the nu: 
 
 when we 
 
 then bein 
 
 noticing t 
 
 from the 
 
 with labo 
 
 tant refle 
 
 are able , 
 
 '^uch abui 
 
 around n 
 
 land and 
 
 manner t 
 
 fiir from 
 
 habit of I 
 
 And then 
 
 science, i 
 
 will be p 
 
 Islanders 
 
 and I stil 
 
 account ( 
 
 and of Ci 
 
 differentl 
 
 I have ai 
 
PRINCE tDWARO ISLAM). 
 
 51 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 Tlic lirst circumstance tluit will be likely to make the liveliest 
 impression during the tour we have been making, is the total ab- 
 sence of beggars. Mendicity is not to be met with out of Charlotte- 
 town, in any of its numerous phases, and even there it is the result 
 of vice or imprudence, and in no great degree. It is perfectly true 
 that you will meet with the children almost every where without 
 shoes or stockings; but this arises, not from the want of the articles, 
 or the means of obtaining them, but because they are not wilhng to 
 submit their feet to the confinement. These articles are generally 
 left, excent when going to Church, at home. The size of the men, 
 and their freedom from personal defeats, will also strike you. At 
 church, or market, at a public meeting, election, or any place whv?re 
 a multitude is collected together, observant strangers make usually 
 the remark, «' what a number of tall men you have, in proportion 
 to the number assembled." This shewed itself moi-o conspicuously 
 when we were in the habit of attending militia musters; the men 
 then being formed into rank and file, gave a better opportunity of 
 noticing the fact. This, I take it, arises from the people haying 
 from the hour of their birth a sufficiency of healthy food, combined 
 with labor, without being overworked. Another and more impor- 
 tant reflection will, 1 think, arise: how is it possible that these people 
 are able .o keep themselves from starving, let alone having food in 
 such abundance as to nourish the stalwart fellows I see everj; where 
 around me ? You will say to yourself, and truly, if our lands in Eng- 
 land and Scotland were to be tilled in the imperfect and slovenly 
 manner thai the lands are, as I perceive, tilled her6, our farmers, so 
 lar from being enabled to pay the enormous rents they are in the 
 habit of paying, would be bankrupt in the course of the first year. 
 And then, again, you will come to the obvious conclusion, that if 
 science, skill and capital are superadded to labor, that the returns 
 will be proportionably greater. I used formerly to think. that thji 
 Islanders were the laziest people under the sun — of North America, 
 and I still sai/ so; though sinoi^ I have read Professor^ Johnston's 
 account of the state of Agriculture in the Eastern States of the Union, 
 and of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, I begin to think 
 differently. I wish the Professor had been induced to pay us a visit, 
 I have au idea that he would have given an impulse to the growing 
 
 .1 
 
 ■r.,j 
 
 vn 
 
 t* 
 
52 
 
 LE'lTERS ON 
 
 spirit of agricultural enterprise, by assuring our fiirmers that at all 
 events they were no worse than their neighbourg, and that the aoil 
 under their management was, on the average, far better; that their 
 insular situation, the numerous creeks, abounding with muscle and 
 oyster beds, the quantity of sea weed and mud, rich in all that tends 
 to fertilize land, are so much more within reach than similar advan- 
 tagess within the reach of their neighbours, that thoy really ought to 
 be much superior farmers to any of those in these less favored regions. 
 ShaUspeare says, that man has seven ages; I will not say that coun- 
 tries have so many, but they most unquestionably have their periods 
 of infancy, adolesence, maturity and old age. We are in the second 
 of these categories. We are young and healthy, full of strength and 
 vigour, if we knew well how to exert these energ" s with mojt ad- 
 vantage to ourselves, and consequently to the general benefit. Wo 
 have long wanted the schoolmaster among us, and now we have got 
 him, we go " unwillingly to school;" still, necessity is a severe old 
 dame, and will not fail to accomplish that which unassisted reason 
 might be unable to manage. We will not suffer ourselves to doubt 
 but that the good sense of the natives, stimulated by the example of 
 better educated strangers, will point out the necessity of concen- 
 trating all their faculties and energies, and bringing them to bear 
 upon the hitherto generally neglected but noble art of Agriculture. 
 As to want of market — the usual cry — they must be taught and con- 
 vinced of this unquestionable truth: that wherever the necessaries 
 oflifecanbe produced in great cheapness and great abundance, 
 they will make a market for themselves. We want capital, that is 
 true; but then, labor is capital; manure is capital, and the very sea 
 that surrounds us, and the portions of it that wash the very shores 
 of our farnjs, are all capital, and all, if rightly used, will beget other 
 capiial, and it, in its turn, be productive of riches. '* Whoah! stop! 
 now you are on your hobby-horse, and if you don't get off, I'll bid 
 you good bye.'' Well, I will ; but apropos of horses, that is another 
 %thmg that will astonish you — rather. There are more horses in P. 
 E. Island, than in any other part of equal extent and population, I 
 am sure, in America. The males, in 1848, from the age of 16 to 
 that of 45 years, were returned at 12,318; and in the same year the 
 number of horses are stated as 12,845, that is to say, that every man 
 compellable to turn out on activa service in the Militia, might bring 
 his horse ; and then there WQuld be upwards of 500 to spare. Time, 
 however, and time alone, wih bring the remedy; so long as every 
 man is a master faiuier, and culiivaies iiis own few aciej, ho must 
 himself keep the cattle to do the vvorlj. with— as there is no getting 
 others to do it for him, for love or money, as the saying is. The 
 same number of horses, better bred, and better kept, and of course 
 stronger, would unquestionably be enabled to perform twice the 
 quuutity of labour, and of consequence support twice the number of 
 
 populatioi 
 ably one 
 a proof c 
 Another, 
 Edward i 
 parently i 
 visiting tl 
 our Islam 
 through t! 
 cumstanc 
 sity of pu 
 has prodi: 
 fact, and 
 season; a 
 be impas: 
 for travel 
 ing all th 
 oxen and 
 ciently br 
 conseque 
 effected ; 
 there is n 
 mercial ii 
 are much 
 know the 
 true in th 
 ou rejoi( 
 ealthy i 
 Near t( 
 verge, an 
 portion si 
 fall. Th 
 The incr( 
 duce, wil 
 trances ir 
 more dur 
 ply US wi 
 There 
 good maf 
 one, publ 
 of iho pri 
 Holland, 
 has been 
 plate pub 
 existing i 
 CouDties, 
 
 I 
 n 
 
PRINCE EDWARD iSLAND. 
 
 63 
 
 population, nnd thus in eflfecl reduce their own numbers proportion- 
 ivbiy one half. The circumstance of their being so many horses, is 
 a proof of wealth, whatever it may bo of prudence or economy. 
 Another, and a very great diffbrence betwesn the travelling in Prince 
 Edward Island and the adjacent Colonies, is, the want of those ap- 
 parently interminable forests that are so complained of by travellers 
 visiting the latter. It is true that a great, by far the greatest part of 
 our Island is still in a state of wilderness; but the' roads that lead 
 through these are cultivated, moro or less, on both sides. The cir- 
 cumstance 01 its having been divided into Townships, and the neces- 
 sity of putting inhabitants upon the land to save them from escheat, 
 has produced this — a small good out of a great evil ; but such is the 
 fact, and a very important consequence results from it in the winter 
 season; after a great fall of snow, the roads, which would otherwise 
 be impassable, are immediately it is practicable, put into a state fit 
 for travelling. This is effected by the overseer of the district warn- 
 ing all the people within his charge to turn out with their horses, 
 oxen and sleighs, and go repeatedly over the road until it is sufli- 
 ciently broke to allow of a safe passage for the casual travellers. In 
 consequence of the number of people on the high roads, this is easily 
 effected; it is, in fact, more of a frolic than any thing else; so that 
 there is no fear of any very lengthened interruption to social or com- 
 mercial intercourse. You will have observed, also, that our roads 
 are much better than the nature of the soil at first promises. Yoa 
 know the old adage, •* Foul way shews fair land." This, however 
 true in the moist, or, as Sam Slick would say, juicy climate, in which 
 vou rejoice, is totally inapplicable to the warmer, drier, and more 
 healthy atmosphere that surrounds us. 
 
 Near to Charlottetown, it is true, where the different roads con- 
 verge, and where the travelling becomes increased, the roads in pro- 
 portion shew the effects of wear and tear, especially in the spring & 
 fall. This is, however, an evil that brings with it its own remedy. 
 The increase of wealth consequent npon the greater increase of pro- 
 dace, will enable the good people of Charlottetown to make the en- 
 trances into their city — as, I suppose, it will soon be termed — of a 
 more durable material. The opposite shore of Nova Scotia will sup- 
 ply U3 with rock for centuries of centuries. 
 
 There is one thing I most sincerely regret, and that is, there is no 
 good map of the Island now to be purchased. I have seen, it is true, 
 one, published by James V/yld Charing Cross, East London, dated 
 of iho preseni year, 1350, said to ba "Originally surveyed by Major 
 Holland, with additions, to 1850." Mr. Wyld, 1 in sorry to say, 
 has been imposed upon. The map alluded to is from the original 
 plate published by Holland, and does not contain a tenth part of the 
 existing roads. The County line between Queen's and King's 
 CouDties, remains in this map as it origiaally stood; whereas there 
 
 <^ 
 
54 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 JM. 
 
 has been a considemblo nlteralion in it. It gives, itis true the form 
 of the coast, and the subdivision into townships and parishes arcl 
 so fa?,Ts of use ; but the names of the places laid dovvn ei her not 
 exis 01 have b^en changed; independent' of which, tl>ere I ave 
 :o.«e hundred Settlements and Villages started up ^^^^^^ 
 the bears, foxes, and loupcerv-irs were wont to considei as liieir 
 exclusW; propei'ty. This, however, will, I trust soon be remedied. 
 GeorrWr^^^^^^ the Surveyor General, has one mprepa- 
 
 ration and will it is probable, publish it. A map of the Island 
 CO Z^^^^ s'^rveys of the different townships and 
 
 hvT down carefully and accurately the different hues of road, toge- 
 KitlTI e t rn^s and situations of the different Settlements, is a 
 I eatXideratum, and would, I doubt not, rccompenso the outlay 
 ffskil aid labor to anyone who should undertake the publication. 
 
 An ac( 
 iher imp( 
 tion — sor 
 result of 
 the wishi 
 trust thai 
 thing wil 
 
 Mr. St 
 
 referred- 
 
 ships wh 
 
 Grant, a 
 
 come at 
 
 the inLal 
 
 documen 
 
 1797, th 
 
 resident 
 
 ing that 
 
 very low 
 
 years pn 
 
 was inte 
 
 been tha 
 
 other da 
 
 period ol 
 
 populatii 
 
 the popu 
 
 females : 
 
 a Censui 
 
 which, ] 
 
 In the y 
 
 gives as 
 
 the ratio 
 
 Eight y 
 
 females. 
 
 3-8ths f 
 
 32,065 I 
 
 the sevc 
 
 2134 an 
 
PRLNCF. EDWARD IHLAND. 
 
 55 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 An account of any country is, in the eyes of some people, altoge- 
 ther imperfect, unless it contains something like statistical informa- 
 tion — something solid — sonjething whereon to ground conclusions.the 
 result of calculation. I am happy that it is in my power to gratify 
 the wishes of yourself, or any of your friends, in this respect, and 
 trust that, in so doing, I shall be as little tedious as the nature of the 
 thing will admit of. 
 
 Mr. Stewart, in his account of the Island — to which I have before 
 referred — published in 1806, although he gives the number of town- 
 ships which were settled according to his idea of the terms of the 
 Grant, and those which were not, has not enabled his readers to 
 come at any thing like a certainty as to what were the numbers of 
 the inhabitants at any given period. By referring, however, to the 
 documents mentioned by him, I have ascertained that, in the year 
 1797, there were but 3,567 persons of all ages and both sexes then 
 resident in the whole Island : a very small number indeed, consider- 
 ing that if the terms of the Grant had been complied with, at the 
 very lowest scale of computation, there ought to have been twenty 
 years previous— in 1777 — 6,700 inhabitants; if by the word settler, 
 was intended to be meant a man of full age, there ought to have 
 been that number of male adults. Be that as it may, 1 can find no 
 other data whereon to form any calculation, until the year 1827 — a 
 period of 29 years — during which time, the natural increase of the 
 population, combined with the addition made by immigration, raised 
 the population to 23,266 — of which, 11,976 were males, and 11,290 
 females; at least, such is the return given by those appointed to lako 
 a Census of the Island, under an Act ©f the Colonial Assembly, and 
 which, I am persuaded, is as correct as these things generally are. 
 In the year 1833, six years after, another Census was taker, which 
 gives as its results, 16,840 males, and 15,452 females — total, 32,292; 
 the ratio of increase during that time being 1504 and l-3d per annum. 
 Eight years after that, 1841, the returns are: — Males, 24,063; 
 females, 22,970: total, 47,033 — the ratio of increase being 1842 and 
 3-8ths per annum. The last Census was taken in 1848, which gives 
 32,065 males, 30,569 females— total, 62,678. The increase during 
 the seven years from 1841 to 1848, was 15,644; being at the rate of 
 2134 and 6-7ths per annum. You will sec by the above, that from 
 
 \4 
 
i>0 
 
 l.ETTERS ON 
 
 1827 to 1841, a period of 14 years, the population had somewhat, 
 more than doubled; but during thid time there had been considerabUi 
 immigration. From 1833 to 1848 (15 years), during which the 
 omi^ration was equal to the immigration, the population had increas- 
 ed from 32,292 to G2,678, making a difference i* these 15 years of 
 30,386; if to these be added 2234 a.id G-Tths, the average yearly in- 
 crease, as shewn above, it will makethe increase 32,602 and 6-7th8, 
 or something more than doubled in 16 years. Tho immigration during 
 the last seven years, has been fis ''ollows: — 
 
 England, 847 
 
 Scotland, 1055 
 
 Ireland, 1214 
 
 British Colonies, 831 
 
 Other Countries, 66 
 
 Divided by 7, 3013 
 
 4303-7thsperann. 
 I think I am fairly justified in asserting, that the emigrations to 
 Canada, the United State?:, and different other places, are fully equal 
 to the above, and that we may therefore conclude, the natural popu- 
 lation has doubled within the last 16 years. I might convince you 
 of the correctness of this conclusion by a variety of ways, which, 
 however, you would, I doubt not, be rather spared. There if? one 
 thin*' which I will observe, and I do it with not a little pride and 
 satis1ac*ioii— that the total of the public money found necessary to 
 bestow on the poor, was, in 1849— and that i*' the highest sum ever 
 paid— £350 cur ency, or £223 6s, 8d. sterling; this gives a tax of 
 somethin*' more Jian Id. currer.cy, or ?jd. sterling, per heiid; and if 
 a simi|ar°sum of £350 currency, which was voted in the same year 
 for the support of tho Lunatic Asylum, be added, it vyill only double 
 tho tax, 2d. currency, or l«^d. sterling, I mention this, to show that 
 we are free from what seems to be an ever increasing and almost 
 intolerable »'ivthen in the old countries, a poor law. This tax is 
 paid, too, outoi the general revenue, which makes it literally unfelt. 
 I will now call your attention to some particulars connected with 
 the increase of the population, at these different periods. In these 
 new countries, one, perhaps, of the best critcrions of the real increase 
 of wealth, is tho comparative increase of cultivated land. In your 
 ^r>„n»-" t«h«i-o nil thn 1.. i1 in cultiviitcd. no such distinctive mark 
 can be afforded; here, however, every acre of land redeemed trom 
 its wilderness state and subduod by the plough, may be computed 
 ut ttu additiou of £3 sterling, at ieuat, to its sunk^jn capital. 
 
 There v 
 In 1827, 
 
 1833, 
 1841, 1 
 
 1848, 2 
 
 This gradu 
 to my inin( 
 prosperity 
 of the seasi 
 to shew yo 
 pital — inde 
 the space c 
 bled to add 
 support hir 
 ncre goes t 
 houses, bai 
 luxuries, 
 taken plac< 
 the year 1^ 
 effects of u 
 evr name 
 an.,. aev( 
 the prospe 
 crease of ti- 
 the differen 
 The follow 
 and the inc 
 
 II 
 
 3 
 
 22, 
 
 39, 
 
 21, 
 
 Nor* 
 
 * 
 
ns 
 
 There were computed lo ue — 
 In 1827, 59,909 cultivated acres, or 2 2-5th9 to each individual. 
 
 1833, 94,631 
 
 do. 
 
 1841, 141,5^0 
 1848, 215,389 
 
 do. 
 do. 
 
 upwards of 2 9-10tii8, or nearly 
 3, to each individual. 
 
 a . ttle upwards of 3 to each in- 
 dividual. 
 
 upwarjs of 3 2-5th3 io each in"] 
 dividual. 
 
 This gradual but steady increase in the acqui*''ticn of arable land \b 
 to my mind, one of the moat convincing proofs of the increasing 
 prosperity of the Island; it is a fund which no other failure than that 
 of the seasons can ever effec* It is also— as I will, 1 think, be able 
 to shew you— *a continually increasing fund; I mean, as sunken ca- 
 pital — independent of the annual returns. Yo^ have seen that, In 
 the space of 21 years, each individual in the Colony has been ena- 
 bled to add an acre of land to his capital; low, if in 1827 he could 
 support himself upon 2 2-5ths acres, the produce of the additional 
 acre goes towards profit, expended eithei in the shape of st :.ck, 
 houses, barns, implements of h'.sbandry, or additional comforts and 
 luxuries. The same proportional increase will be found to have 
 taken place in the stock and annual produce, with the exception of 
 the year 1848, when the count'-y was suffering from the conjoined 
 effects of unfavorable seasons and the Potato murrain- or by whnt- 
 evr name this dreadful scourge is most correcJy indicated — when 
 a n.i. severe but, thank God, only temporary blow was given to 
 the prosperity of the Island. The produce of ihe acre, and the in- 
 crease of b ock, however, are given as nearly the same throughout 
 the different periods at which the different Censuses were taken. 
 The following is a table, shewing the produce of the respective years, 
 and the increase or decrease: — 
 
 1827. 
 
 1833. 
 
 1841. 
 
 1848. 
 
 3977 
 
 HORSISS: 
 
 6299 9871 
 
 12,845 
 
 22,925 
 
 NEAT CATTLE : 
 
 30,428 42,414 
 
 49,310 
 
 39,859 
 
 SHEFI : 
 
 50,510 73,642 
 
 92,785 
 
 2 1. .53 1 
 
 SWINE : 
 20,:02 35,522 
 
 19-863 
 
 ' - y - - - 
 
 No return. 
 
 WHEAT— bushels : 
 128,350 153,570 
 
 219»7Sr 
 
 r<^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
07 
 
 LETTERS 0.\ 
 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 
 BAHLEY : 
 
 38,850 83,299 
 
 OATS : 
 
 261,664 611,844 
 
 75,521 
 746,383 
 
 POTATOES : 
 
 Do. 1,310,053 2,230,114 731,575 
 
 1 am well aware of the obje^'ions that may be made to the accu 
 racy of these returns, and there are several among ourselvea quite 
 ready to prove, as they assert— and I doubt not, with some ahovv oi 
 truth— their msorrectness in some particulars; but these are y 1 be^ 
 lieve, cotnmon to all statistical returns. There will m all communi- 
 ties exist men who, from some motive or other, gjve false an- 
 swers, making themselves to be either richer or poorer, as they may 
 conceive it may tend to their supposed advantage or otherwise; stril 
 they pfford good ground? whence to form a conclusion, that the 
 people of the Island are not going backward; and the face Qf the 
 Country bears testimony to the truta of the correctness of 
 the returns, in their most important particulars, the increased ciw- 
 tiration of the soil; and I will myself vouch th-» the mcrease is. 
 if any thing, underrated, than otherwise. «, . , xi . . 
 
 You will readily perceive the lamentable falling off m the Potato 
 crop, and the conf^equent decrease in the number of swine, which al 
 that time depended on ibis crop or subsistence almost entirely; the 
 grain crops are also nothing equal to what, considering the improve- 
 ment beginning then to be felt and the increase of population, would 
 have warranted. We must not, however, arraign the decrees ot an 
 all-wise Providence, but endeavour to extract good oui of seerning 
 evil. And this has, I hope, in some measure been effected. Uur 
 farmers, or the majority of them, are, I think, fully aware that ho 
 potato is not now to be relied upon, as it used to be, as one of the 
 staple productions of the Island, for export or for the sustentation of 
 caUle during the Winter-and have rccordmgly betaken themselves 
 to the raising of Turnios, particularly Swedes, which stand keeping 
 over the Winter best-carrots, parsnips, and beets; with what suc- 
 cess 1 will afterwards shew, when the returns of the Royal Agricul- 
 tural Society are publishea. 
 
 There are 
 
 mere ur« a number of other particulars, all of which are 
 enuallv indicative of the increasing wealth and prosperity of the Co- 
 W derivable from these returns, lo 1341, there were 75 churches ; 
 in 1848, 109— being an addition of 34 in eight years; and these, 1 
 am happy to say, are contmually increasing: so in school housea- 
 in 1841 116; m 1848, 182; being an increase ol 66. 
 
 ' ' 16. 
 
 '^— "' '. . -04. '"••' -— 104JB fid inriKQ'it 
 
 Grist MiUs — Ui iS4i, o<-, lu ioia, x^^, — aic.t.. 
 
 Carding Mills, 
 Saw MilN, 
 
 (( 
 
 11; 
 
 83 J 
 
 
 27, 
 130, 
 
 
 How many t 
 existed in tl 
 nscertaining 
 should have 
 This lastcir 
 wealth of tl 
 and a deter 
 mizing labo 
 tries. The 
 called here- 
 nianufactur 
 rows, horse 
 I grieve i 
 perhaps, ha 
 to be taken 
 — when th( 
 would tell I 
 HOt yet wh( 
 had crops a 
 you, a inel; 
 a barrel of 
 description, 
 however gr 
 •ever, that t 
 new settleii 
 tries. Ano 
 years will I 
 
 56. 
 
"■Il 
 
 PRINX'E EDWARD I?«LAND. 
 
 59 
 
 How many threshing machines, moveil by cither liofiio or water power, 
 existed in the Island previous to 184 1, I have no means of accurately 
 ascertaining; but I should think that if I put them down at 100, I 
 should have exceeded the '••lie number; there were in 1813, 246* 
 This last circumstance afloiJs testimony not only of the increasmg 
 wealth of the farming population, but of the increase of knowledge 
 and a determination to avail themselves of those facilities for econo- 
 mizing labour which so abound in older and further advanced coun- 
 tries. The us of winnowing machines — or fanners, as they are 
 called here — has become almost universal, so much so, that they are 
 manufactured ih almost every district in the Island; as are drill bar- 
 rows, horse rakes, and various other labour-savuig instruments. 
 
 I grieve much that our last Census was taken at a l-iine which, 
 perhaps, has been the darkest in our annals. If the account were 
 to be taken — as I trust it will be — in the course of next year f 1851) 
 — when there Is to be one universally for the British Empire — it 
 would tell a different tale fr«m that of 1848 ; although the Island has 
 HOt yet wholly rpcovered from the years of distress, arising out of 
 had crops and the almost total failure of the potato. It was, I assume 
 you, a melancholy sight, to see every cart geing to the country with 
 a barrel of foreign flour, to be paid for, not in produce of a diilerent 
 description, but in hard cash — come from whence it might, and at 
 however great a sacrifice. It is matter of great thankfulness, how- 
 ever, that there is no instance on record, howcv^er poor some of the 
 new settleis may be, of any lives ha' '• been lost, as in other coun- 
 tries. Another season or two of avc .^e haryesis, and the black 
 years will be pia.itcr of history only. 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 fJ: 
 
 
60 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 The Commerco of the Island has increased, as a matter of course, 
 in a ratio corresponding with its increase of population. It \a to bo 
 regretted, however, that our public documents are not as full in 
 these particulars a few years since as they are at the present day. 
 I am, therefore, unable to give you any account of the amount of 
 exports and imports for the year 1827. The revenue, however, col- 
 lectcid that year, amounted to j£5456 16s. ll:|d. I cannot, either, 
 easily ascertain the number of vessels, with their amount of tonnage, 
 built in that year. We must, therefore, be content to begin at 1833, 
 of which year, together with those of IStl and 1848, the following 
 table will present you with tne c nparaiive increase in vessels built, 
 goods imported and exported, anv^ the amount of public revenue: — 
 
 Year. 
 
 Vessels built 
 Tons. 
 
 No. 
 
 1833 
 1841 
 
 1843 
 
 41 
 64 
 73 
 
 Value of Goods 
 
 Imported. 
 British Sterling. 
 
 4749 
 10,670 
 10.634 
 
 Value of Goods 
 
 Exported. 
 British Sterling. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 35,128 18 1 
 
 68,823 
 40,222 
 
 8 6 
 8 9 
 
 Amount of 
 Ilevenue. 
 C urrency. 
 
 £, B. d. 
 
 7656 17 10 
 
 13,690 3 2 
 
 17,792 
 
 6 I 
 
 £ s. d. 
 93,338 1 
 127,164 19 6i 
 129,532 5 8 
 
 But you have here the results of the year 
 1847 j 95 1 18,445! 143,647 3 6| 71,228 14 2 125,264 19^ 
 
 Making a dillbrencc in favor of 
 1847 1 22 1 78111 14,114 17 10] 31,006 5 5 | 7,471 18 8.i 
 
 whicn will enable you to form some idea of how severe the blow 
 was which was inflicted upon the inhibitants during that year. I 
 therefore '>nter my j)rotest against taking the Census of the year 
 1848, as giving a fair average of the increase of the commercial 
 prosperity of the Colony. 
 
 You will doubtless be astonished at seeing the vast difference that 
 exists between our imports and our exports, and perhaps be inclined, 
 with niMHv of the ffood nco'ilc of the Island, to think that a country 
 
 the impo 
 reverse o 
 calculatic 
 place, yo 
 valued at 
 imported 
 here. Ii 
 the value 
 with one 
 bulky dii 
 value of 
 that artic 
 a high pi 
 mark. ' 
 to 43s. 4 
 Fence be 
 amount ( 
 of £32,(1 
 the amoi 
 But ship 
 (1847)6' 
 to other 
 and they 
 alone, w 
 
 The/ 
 
 1 
 E 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 I iUn no 
 but this 
 appears 
 number 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 61 
 
 the imports of which amount to double the exports, must be the 
 reverse of prosperous. A little reflaction, accompanied by a little 
 calculation, will serve to set the mutter in its true light. In the first 
 place, you will he pleased to bear in mind that the imports are 
 valued at the (invoice) prices in the countries from whence they are 
 imported; whereas the exports are valued at the prices they bear 
 here. In the next place, the imports are all manufactured articles, 
 the value of which bear no proportion to the freight; the exports, 
 with one exception, in the raw or nearly raw state, and of such 
 bulky dimensions that flie freight is often greater than the original 
 value of the article. Take timber, for instance: tho olficial value of 
 that article is, I find, from I63. to 16s. 8d. sterling per ton— rather 
 u high price too; I suspect currency would have been nearer the 
 mark. The price in England is about Is. to Is. Id. per foot, or 4()s. 
 to 43s. 4d. per ton; take the lowest marks, 16s. and 40s., the difie- 
 rence between them is 24s., or 1 2s. in the pound. The whole 
 amount of exports to Great Britain i.-: in that year, something upwards 
 of £32,000; add to that 12s. in the pound, and you will find that 
 the amount paid to the British merchant for his goods is £41,200. 
 But ships are likewise an article of export; and in that same year 
 (1847)60 vessels, whose tonnage amounted to 9608, were transferred 
 to other parts; let these be calculated at £4^12s. sierling per ton, 
 and they will amount to upwards of £40,000. Hei-e are two items 
 alone, which make upwards of £90,000. 
 
 The Accounts for 1847, might fairly enough stand thus: — 
 
 Dr. 
 
 To Imports, 
 
 Balance in favor of the Island, 
 
 Cr. 
 
 By Exports, 
 
 60 per cent, advance on the above, 
 
 9608 Tons of Shipping, at £i 123., 
 
 Xl43,r 7 
 14,513 
 
 Jt 158, 160 
 
 £71,228 
 42,736 
 44,196 
 
 £158,160 
 
 I Alii not going to say, that the above is strictly correct, far from it; 
 but this I do say, that it is more like the true state of the case than 
 appears by the Custom House books. There is also a considerable 
 number of exports that do not find their way into the entries at the 
 
 I 
 
62 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 Customs: gold and silver, bills of exchange drawn by men of pro- 
 perty whose incomes are derived from the Mother Country, inde- 
 pendently of the Lieutenant Governor, naval and military ofticers, 
 pensioners, the subsistence of the troops, &c.; so that it is easy 
 e;iough to be seen that the balance must be on the side of the Island. 
 But the best of all proofs is, that the importations go on increasing 
 not only comprising the necessary but the luxurious articles of life. 
 The increase in the lieivuiiue is also another proof of the increase of 
 the wealth of the Islanti. The population in 1827 amounted, as we 
 U:ive seen, to 23,266; in 1848, to 62,673 — not quite three times as 
 many in the latter year as in the former; the revenue in 1827, is 
 j65456; while in 1847, it is £25,264 — that is, upwards of 4^ times 
 that of 1827. I do not^ remember, lay any particular stress upon 
 these rough calculations; they will serve, however, as some sort of 
 answer to those who it may be, will point out the great difference 
 between our exports and imports, and endeavour to derive from 
 thence one of those convincing knock-me-down sort of arguments 
 which men over-fond of statistics are apt to assail you with.. All 
 1 can say, is, that if all the balances found against us in the Custom 
 House books in every year were to be added together, they would,- 
 without reckoning the interest, amount to a greater number of pounds 
 than we have acres in the Island; and I think that the conclusion 
 that the Island is upwards of a million pounds sterling in debt, may 
 be fairly set down as a reduciio ad absurduni, as the logicians say. 
 
 I will weary your patience no further vyith statistics. As respects 
 the increase of con merce, however, I will venture on a few more 
 facts. Twenty-five years ago, and there were but two wharfs in 
 Charlottelown; ojie of these — a public one^ called then the King's, 
 but now, of course, the Queen's — not above 40 yards in length, at 
 the utmost; and another at the other extremity of ihe town, much 
 smaller. There are now several, and the Q,ueen's wharf is extend- 
 ed upwa ds 700 ■feei to the channel ; a sjcond public wharf has been 
 built of e(ju.il length, and, being a prolongation of OuH of the main 
 streets, is theice called Pownal-atreet wharf. Several large ware- 
 houses have be n built; in fact, the town has kept pace with the 
 couitiy. 
 
 I confess, when I look round and see the number of articles to bo 
 disposed of, and the tone of increased luxury irjanlfosted every 
 where, I am at a loss to find out upon what promises they ground 
 their conchisions, who fell us that the Island is going backward 
 instead of forward. I do, however, trust that our merchants wili 
 persevere in findi ig new outlets for our produce, and that our fir- 
 mers wii exert themselves to supply the merchants with something 
 besides the raw unmanufactured article. Talking of inanufuctur^ii* 
 
 puts me in 
 of fiour; o 
 in operatic 
 entirely cc 
 and the to 
 trades and 
 have not c 
 are the m< 
 supplies tl 
 good man; 
 Gas, for o 
 next to no 
 doubt but 
 coinplish < 
 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 63 
 
 nuts n.e in miud that we have two steam mills for the manufacture 
 ,f flour; one. helonging to (ieorge Coles, Esq., has been some years 
 in operation; the other, by T. B, Tremam Esq., '^/»»r,^^^' * ";,^. 
 enti ely completed, and bids fair to be an advantage both to himself 
 Ti d the town If there were any thing like a hst of the professions, 
 trade and callings within reach, I would send it to you; but we 
 have not come to^he length of a Directory yet. You can guess ^v ha 
 ue the most prevalent occupations in a sea-port town, which also 
 sum lies the whole agricultural population. We want, it is true, a 
 Too many things, to^bring us on%' par with towns .n yo«r country 
 Gas. for one thing; this, however, we are told, we sh.* 11 get for 
 npxt to nothing, by Dr. Gesner's invention of Kerosene, x do not 
 doult but t&n the course of a few years, we shall be able to uc 
 compUsh this, and many other matters equally aa requisite. 
 
 r<f. 
 
 P 
 
 t I 
 
B4 
 
 LETTERS ON 
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 
 I would have written to vou last week, had the Royal AgrlcuUu- 
 I'al Society's report on the adjudication of the prizes heen published. 
 In giving you an account of the progress made in Agriculture, I wish 
 to avail myself of the beat and latest information, derived from 
 sources which I know to be pure and to be relied upon. But as 
 that is not yet forthcoming, 1 will in.the mean time endeavor to give 
 you some idea of the progress already made, and what may be rea- 
 sonably expected to be made in the sister art of gardening. During 
 the months of December, January, February and March, there is 
 nothing to be done; it will be all the better, for insuring the fertility 
 of the ensuing crop and the preservation of the different perennials, 
 that the ground should during these months be kept warm by a blan ^ 
 ket of snow two or even three feet thick. It is a wonderful preser- 
 vative. The operations of the gardener commence generally in 
 April, either earlier or later, as the season may turn out; and the 
 work to be then done, is that which is performed by you in the pre 
 ceding months of February and March, Hot-beds are made, 
 trees pruned, and the seeds of a few of the early and hardier sorta 
 of vegetables are sown. I have already told you, that all the com- 
 mon kinds of vegetables will grow here as well as they do in Eng- 
 land. Many things which stnnd the utmost severity of your Winters, 
 are not proof against that of ours; and yet I am not so much inclined 
 f.o lay it to the account of either the greater duration or intensity of 
 the cold. I rather think that the heat of the sun in the Spring of 
 the year, operating upon the stems of the plants while the roots are 
 fust bound in ice, and the al ^.nate freezings and thawings which 
 they undergo at that season, vro productive of a more deleterious 
 effect than continued cold. 'r*;at the warmth of the solar rays has 
 the effect of setting the sap in motion, is well known to our makeri 
 of maple sugar. About the middle, or toward the latter end of 
 March, when a powerfully warm sun has succeeded the sharp frost 
 of the preceding night, those who are anxious to collect maple sap 
 
 r.x» *U« »i.>..«r>a/-> .-vT Knilin^^ rfmirn tnfo uUffaT ""> ofirlu intrt tno wnrkda 
 
 and tap the trees, which U done by making a slanting cut with an 
 
 axe upon 
 .1 small w 
 a spile, bt 
 to act as s 
 placed un( 
 tops of th€ 
 obstruct h 
 ble differe 
 conlinuuus 
 ed eight-d 
 every suc( 
 forest and 
 heat and c 
 gin to mor 
 Mialy mix( 
 tion of vef 
 or holly, t 
 in the cou 
 It is true, 
 favorite ht 
 common h 
 guelder ro 
 can be wi 
 If our V 
 are more j 
 the open g 
 I believe, 
 at a very ] 
 time, and 
 common vi 
 half ripe e 
 roasted, ai 
 passionate 
 lady to ind 
 only way 
 in the wor 
 per 'em w 
 away at tl 
 for a weel- 
 now am, 
 not think t 
 deal may 
 
1m 
 
 7 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 65 
 
 axe upon the butt of the tree, to the lower end of which is inserted 
 ri small wooden spile — as they call that which is just the reverse of 
 u spile, being a piece of grooved maple, or other soft wood, intended 
 to act as a spout or conductor of the sap into the troughs or buckets 
 placed under them. So long as the sun continues to shine upon the 
 tops of the trees, so long the sap runs freely; let a passing cloud 
 obstruct hi^ rays, even for half an hour, and you will see a percepti- 
 ble difference: where it a little while before trickled in an altnost 
 coniinuous s*' lam, the sap now imitates the ticking of an old fashion- 
 ed eight-da^ clock, the intervals, however, growing longer between 
 every successive drop. Now, though the hardy denizen of the 
 forest and native of the soil may stand these sudden alternations of 
 heat and cold, it proves generally fatal to those which trace their ori- 
 gin to more moderate climes. And yet there is a great deal of ano- 
 maly mixed up with the thing. The ivy, which is the personifica- 
 tion of vegetable hardihood with you, will not, neither will the box 
 or holly, thrive with us; some few remain for a season or two, but 
 in the course of a few years dwindle and die like their predecessors. 
 It is true, we have no old castles or ruins — which seem to be their 
 favorite habitats', but then, how comes it that the woodbine, the 
 common honeysuckle, the trumpet honeysuckle, the mezereon, the 
 guelder rose, the acacia, and various others, thrive as luxuriantly as 
 can be wished. 
 
 If our Winters are something more severe than your3,our Summers 
 are more genial. The cucumber perfects its seed though sown in 
 the open ground, a circumstance not often to be met with you, 
 I believe. In the Autumn, they are to be had of the country people 
 at a very low rate, from 6d. to Is. sterling the dozen. At the same 
 time, and from the satne people, may be purchased what we, in 
 common with our more Southern neighbours, call ' green corn' — the 
 half ripe ears of maize, or Indian corn — these are either boiled or 
 roasted, and eaten with salt and butter; young people are generally 
 passionately fond of them. They are not quite the thing for a young 
 lady to indulge her appetite with in the presence of'her lover, as the 
 only way to enjoy them is, as I once heard one of the finest 'pisantry' 
 in the world say: * You must first plaster 'em vvid butter, and pep- 
 per 'em wid salt, and take 'em in your two paws, and thin gnaw 
 away at thini for all the world like a dog that hadn't had a dinner 
 for a week.' I recollect when I was a few years younger than I 
 now am, I was a jnd of gnawing as any one, but somehow I do 
 not think them now quite as light of digestion as I did then. A ". .»at 
 deal may bo, and is eflfected by curly forcing and then transplanting 
 
 \y 
 
 'd'. 
 
 S 
 
 I 
 
 ^ituLrf 
 
(6 
 
 LETTERS O.^ 
 
 into the open air; in this way we have early cauliflowers, loniatocs, 
 cajwicutris, and U'uch more rniglil be done; but I am constrained to 
 confeaa, that the taste for gardening is of slow growth. There are 
 but two conservatories in the whole Island, and the success of the 
 proprietor of one of these — n)y friend the Hon. T. II. Ilaviland, the 
 Colonial Secretary — would have i>rompted others of his clasf, one 
 would have thought, to have followed his example. Independently 
 t)f keeping a number of very beautiful exotics through the VV^intcr, 
 Mr. Haviland has had grapes ripen very early in the season; he 
 has also ripened oranges; and there is nothing in this world to hinder 
 any person from having all the luxuries of the vegetable world that 
 are enjoyed by persons of twice the income in the British Isles. 
 
 You will bear in mind, that we have no tax upon windows, that 
 glass is subject tmly to the low import duty of six per cent, ad 
 valorem^ and, as all duties of Excise are drawn back, that value is 
 extremely low : it may be imported also from the United States al a 
 cheaper rate even than from England; wood is not a very e-.pensive 
 article, and alihough Carpenters' wages are compared with those 
 ♦»f your own country, a little higher, yet it is but a little, so that there 
 does not exist one-half of the impediment to this so rational species 
 of luxury on this side of the Atlantic as ihere does on the other. 
 There is one obstacle, it is true, want of taste, and foriemoving, this 
 I look for the assistance of yourself, and others who may follow you, 
 who have se a how much these appliances tend to promote and en- 
 hance the pleasures of domestic life. I shall be delighted when I 
 see some man of taste — of true taste — build a house with a spacious 
 conservatory and grapery, nor do I the least doubt, when a few ex- 
 amples arc set, and the advantages known, that, in the course of a 
 half dozen or so of years, to see them almost universal. I well re- 
 member that, about 20 years since, a few Horse-shoe Geraniums, a 
 Myrtle or two, and perhaps an Artemesia, gave the possessors a 
 consequence and a reputation for a taste for the elegancies of life, 
 that was quite gratif-ing to the favored few. The first Fuschia 
 created ; sensation. * Now we have Arineas, and Aloes Cactus, 
 and Camelias, Bignonias, Bigonians, and the whole alphabet of 
 flowers in the windows of every house. So that you see you must 
 lell your good lady not to part with any thing of that kind she may 
 be possessed of ; that '\<,, provided that the 'portalion of them wont 
 cost juore than they will come to. Tell her to bring seeds of every 
 |K)ssible variety of Summer flowers, they thrive as well, and bloom 
 as tolerably with us, as in their native climes, and when contrasted 
 with the dark green of the indigenous Fir, or placed in juxta posi- 
 tion, with the red berried Sunmch, the s.pionUid Tree Cranberry, tho 
 delicate, lovely, ludy-like Messilus, the blushing Alodera, th^ 
 Kalmica Ledum, and a number whose numc» 1 cannot call to mind 
 
 — all nati 
 garden as 
 with yon 
 and all ot 
 ever, to 
 would re( 
 them; bu 
 early in C 
 varieties 
 as in any 
 We are 
 easily ra 
 bringing 
 you have 
 here, th; 
 Asparagi 
 us boast 
 to perfe( 
 that Asp 
 posure tc 
 while oil 
 
 way. 
 
 I V 
 
 London 
 lips — do 
 though I 
 them, so 
 deal bo. 
 ground < 
 ihemseb 
 consciou 
 beauties 
 ftpades, 
 natives ( 
 straw h 
 TMi.j cul 
 time, as 
 own cIk 
 
PRTNCF. EDWARD 1SLA>JD. 
 
 67 
 
 —nil natives -will form for her aa pretty a sln-.bbory and flower 
 garden as she will leave behind. You will take some pa.ns lo brm-; 
 with vou frrafled trees of the Apple, I'ear. Cherry Plum (lu.nrf«, 
 and all other tiee^? con)mon to your own garden:?. Ue caretul, mo\n - 
 ever, to have these apples early leaves than otherwise, not that I 
 would recommend merely Summer fruit, on the contrary, a ew ol 
 them; but the principal should be keeping fruit, and those that npe.i 
 early in October. We want some -ood Cherries sadly, as we 1 as 
 varieties of Plums; the Green Gage grow, and ripens as we I her.' 
 as in any part of America, and belter than in most parts of britaui. 
 We arc already getting a reputation for that mo.t excellent anl 
 easily raised fruit, the (ioo.eherry; this need not prevent you 
 brin^ring with you some of the best of the thousand and o.ie va.ief.e. 
 you lmv"e in Lancashire; 1 promise you tint they w.U "O de.enera e 
 here, that is in good huuis. liring some seeds of the (..ganl..^_ 
 Asparagu.% you will hardly beli.ve what splendid specimens some (v 
 us boas! of. ^ It does not cost us half the labor or trouble to brmg . 
 to perfection, that it does you. This is another anomaly, how is U. 
 that Asparagus, Rhubarb,'Sea Kale. &c., will stand the « ';;<;^ «J;- 
 posure to the severest of our winters, and not be in the least n m d 
 while olher things considered with you equally hardy fad . Uy I e 
 «.ay, 1 was on t°he point of forgetting the p.ule ol the f!^'^^^-^^' 
 London pride, but-Tulips; tell Mrs. M thai ihey-thal is he 1 u- 
 lips-do^ not fear the severhy of our Northern winters a whit, fo , 
 though they are frozen ia common with the ground that surround. 
 hem° so hard that, if fired from a musket, they would penetrate a 
 deal board at a 100 yards, no sooner does the snow leave le 
 ground exposed to the i..lluence of the sun's rays than they push 
 fhemselve into notice modestly enou..h at hrst; but ^« ^rvvards as . 
 conscious of their claims, as proudly as the proules t)t I'loral 
 beauties. Tell your sisters to bring their gaidening gloves, ho. 
 «pades, rakes, &c.; and when they come, to set =•.» example to the 
 n t ves of the r own sex here; the sun is hot, but d.awn bonne s,... 
 straw hats are not didicult to nmk., or expensive to purd.ase 
 The cullivatiou of a flower garden has been accou.ited, since Lvt. 
 l r.;, as a truly ladv-like employment, and tends to bring out he r 
 own charms, while'lhey are assisting nature m the display of heas. 
 
 .4 
 
 w>.lO^.' 
 
 * 
 
68 
 
 LETTERS OxN 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 I could have wished that it had been in my power to send you a 
 more accurate and detailed account of the present state of our 
 agriculture, than I am about to attempt. The truth is, that we 
 have no public data, nor can I have access to any private calcula- 
 tions, although many have promised to furnish me with the latter — 
 whereas, to form any thing like conclusions that would be satisfac- 
 tory, either to myself or others. Vou are sulFiciently aware from 
 my former letters, that the agricultural operations of those who are 
 engaged in the tillage of ihe soil, have been hitherto of the simplest 
 description, and the least calculuted to exhaust the fertile properties 
 of the most naturally rich soil. 
 
 In all new countries, the crops taken out of the wood, as it is 
 termed, are vthe most profitable; cutting down, rolling and burning, 
 and taking crop after crop without adding any thing to tlie soil, in 
 return, has been and is the invariable practice all over America, 
 and it is not until poor mother earth, like the overloaded camel, 
 refuses to bear any longer, that they think of supplying food for the 
 plants, it is their wish to raise off her bosom ; and even then the great 
 proportion of the cultivators are without capital, for those who 
 had been so fortunate as to put their surplus earnings by, had been 
 tempted to invest them in what gave a quicker, though perhaps in 
 the end, a less profitable return for their money. Matters are now 
 upon a somewhat different footing, there is no want of capital either 
 for trade or shipbuilding, in fact the competition is so great, moderate 
 profits only are to be looked for, and men have begun to set, that 
 taking the increased value of the land, as well as that of the respec- 
 tive crops, into consideration, capital may be invested in agricultural 
 pursuits to advantage. And eve.y year will make this plainer and 
 clearer, but as I am not writing a treatise on Agriculture, but a 
 letter to a friend, I will abstain from bestowing my tediousnesa 
 upon him. 
 
 From the best authorities, I have been able to consult, I should 
 reckon the average crop of wheat to be somewhere about 15 Win- 
 chester bushels per acre, rather under perhaps than over, worth 
 when properly clean,— which is not always the case,— about 6s. 
 currency the bushel, or 49. sterling, and reckoning nine Winchester 
 bushels equal to eight imperial, makes it 36s. sterling the nnnjter= 
 Oats are considered as giving, upon an average, abo'ut 30 bushels 
 to tho acre, worth Is. sterling per bushel, though the price is, I 
 bo|icve, on the increase. 
 
 \ 
 
 * 
 
 I can ha 
 
 call) barle 
 growi; hns 
 
 I turn w 
 done, and 
 you a mor 
 soil than n 
 Gesner, Ej 
 made by o 
 (of tho Isla 
 British An 
 and other 
 of Prince 
 varieties ol 
 Island: th( 
 presence ( 
 chocolate c 
 been broug 
 The soils 
 loam; but ; 
 equal size 
 V r-ere the} 
 
 So much 
 cing under 
 
 In the !a 
 the first pri 
 taining thre 
 turnips and 
 bushels pel 
 Mr. Benja 
 field of red 
 of decompc 
 field prodi 
 pounds per 
 as having 
 
 greater 
 
 coi 
 
 passmg vie 
 those we w 
 nie, wheat 
 wheat ever 
 of wheat, i, 
 When tl 
 
 '''Journals 
 
PRINCE RDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 69 
 
 
 T can hardly tell what the average of barley is, nor has (what you 
 call) barley been a common crop with us: what has hitherto been 
 growii hns been for the most part bear or bigg. 
 
 I turn with more pleasure from what has been, to what may bo 
 done, and in the first place, it will not. perhaps, be amiss to give 
 you a more scientific opinion upon the retained properties of the 
 soil than my own. The following;, is from the report of Abraham 
 Gesner, Esq., M. I)., F. G. S., &c. «&c., of a geological survey 
 made by order of Government in 1846. " *Almost the whole area 
 (of the Island) is capable of successful cultivation, and in no part of 
 British America can a soil be found that is more congenial to wheat 
 and other kinds of grain." In another place he says, '« The soils 
 
 of Prince Edward Island may be divided into two classes the 
 
 varieties of the first class have been derived from the rocks of the 
 Island: they occupy the greater part of the surface, and, from the 
 presence of oxide of iron, they are almost invariably red, or of a 
 chocolate colour. The other is of foreign origin, having evidently 
 been brought in during the boulder formation already adverted to. 
 The soils are almost universally of that description called sandy 
 loam; but probably \n no part of British America can a district of 
 equal size be found where the soils are *="> similar to each other and 
 V r.ere they are so generally fertile." 
 
 So much for the land, I now turn to what it is capable of produ- 
 inff under good culture. 
 
 ^ 
 
 cm 
 
 In the last year (1850) H. N. Hope, Esq., of St. Eleanor's, took 
 the first prize, in Prince County," for a field of red bald wheat, con- 
 taining three acres — (2 of which had been cropped with Sweedish 
 turnips and contained the prize half acre the previous year,) thirty 
 bushels per acre, weighing sixty-four pounds" and the second to 
 Mr. Benjamin Bearisto, junr., of Prince Town Royalty, *' for a 
 field of red bearded, containing 7 acres manured from the deposits 
 ^ of decomposed oyster shells, which abound in that quarter. This 
 field produced twenty-nine bushels to the acre, weighing sixty 
 pounds per bushel." They speak of the unsuccessful competitors 
 as having good average crops, and regret that there was not a 
 greater competition "as in our rounds," say they, *' we had a 
 passing view of many fields presenting as good an appearance as 
 those we were called on to inspect. This needs no comment from 
 me, wheat weighing sixty-four pounds the bushel, is reckoned fair 
 wheat every where, and thirty bushe's to the acre is a good earnest 
 of wheat, more iiiay be efiected by careful aiiU scientific exertions. 
 
 When the potato disease had produced such fatal eff*ects it had 
 
 ♦Journals House of Assembly, P. E. Island, for 1847, Appendix. 
 
70 
 
 LKT'rKRS ON 
 
 one good effect, at least-and one, thni, lead, fan- to be prodnrtrve 
 of Wi3tin« Ixmefit— it has coiopolled our farming population to ex.Hl 
 thenselvea in the raising of otlier green crops, that may .n some 
 measure, at least, co.npensate for the Ins. sustan^ed by the fa. uro 
 of that of the potato. Accordingly "^ the ra.su.g of SvvoedHh 
 turnips ihere has been great competition. In the last year prizes 
 
 were awarded to . . ,,. i . i.-»/;« 
 
 Charles llowat ofTrvon, 632 bushels per half-acre, equal to 1264 
 
 husheU per acr-, weighing 31 tons 12 cwt., 1st pr'ze. 
 
 S)rneb -Vllou^ 619 bushels per half-acre, 1238 bushels per 
 acre, weighing 30 tons 19 cwt. 2nd prize. ,,r9i i i 
 
 The llm,. Judge Peter., of Charlottetown Roy, f , 1153 bushels, 
 nor i/TP 2fi tons 16 cwt., 1st nriz^i. 
 '•Tro,«ir?™.!-son:F.sq.,or'Cuvandi»l,, 1078 bushels per ace, 
 
 20 tons 19 cwt., 2nd prize. , , . _, ^ 
 
 Mr Francis M'lNutt, of Oarnley, 1099 bushels per acre, 27 tons 
 
 ^ Rev. Dn^wlggins, St. Eleanor's, 919 bushel, per acre, 22 tons 
 
 '%Ti;'wtealso prizes given for the growth of bullock turnip. 
 440 bushels to the acre, weighing 11 tons, seems to be the h-ghest 
 
 prize. 
 
 Now I leave you to compare with those of the parent country, and 
 draw your own i.iferences, always pre.nising, however, taat you 
 nu'Itake into account, that we are us yet m the extreme youth o 
 Agriculture with cramped means, while she is in full .ge and 
 /rnwned with abundance. ^ . ■ .i 
 
 You may easily suppose, ihat our meadows are not in the same 
 fine order as vouts are, nor indeed as they ought to be. considenng 
 Sie sod bu in this, as in many other things, there is a - better tm.e 
 com n^,'* and all are beginning to see that five-and-tvveny ac.es 
 ofTand well cultivated," will yield far more than fifty tilled m 
 thei efficTent manner that bus' hitherto been in u-se. Ilax was 
 formerly extensively, ' I still is partially, grown by the french; 
 the bw price of cotfJ- >od., however, ha. induced many o them 
 to relTnnuishthe culture of it. but if this same method of boiling 
 Instead of steeping or dew rotting, as is the practice here, shall prove 
 nrontble there is nothing to hinder the ! Jand from becoming cele- 
 Erate^ll'r'a^^^^^^^^^ article, as well as hemp which will 
 
 ^TshS'fi "e^'lold you previously that when the potato crop 
 failed recourse was had, beside, lurni^^s, to carrots, Pa'-;;"'P^|;\V^ 
 . mirel wurtz.-l, uU of which were lounu to agree well with the 
 loiUnd cWe. A friend of mine rai.ed 30 bushel- of carrot* upon 
 
 5.^ perches 
 
 this wji s h( 
 
 ed well u\ 
 
 become an 
 
 hundred bu 
 
 'J'lie parsMi| 
 
 the ground 
 
 in its favor 
 
 1 have m 
 
 will pioduc 
 
 of opinion, 
 
 mation dei 
 
 correct pe 
 
 Province ( 
 
 agricultura 
 
 Canada, N 
 
 needful is i 
 
 thus induct 
 
 few years 
 
 fellow colo 
 
6.^ percliL'S uf land at therato of upwards of 900 budhels per aero, 
 lliis wks however, ia a vac-ant town lot, and cultivated and manur- 
 ed well iiiid cai'fully. They have within the last three \ ears 
 heconie an article ./lield cullure and produce abundantly; «e\eral 
 hundred bushels have been exported to the neighbouring colonies. 
 'J'he parsnip grows ecp'ally well, if not better, and will continue in 
 the ground unhurt by the severity of the weather which is something 
 hi its favor. 
 
 I have now endeavoured to give you some laa of what the sod 
 will produce, if carefully tilled and justice done to it. I am myself 
 of opinion, and that opinion has been fori- 1 by reading and infor- 
 mation derived from various other sources, added to a tolerably 
 correct personal knowledge of tlie capabilities of the neighbouring 
 Province of Nova Scotia — that the If^land is not inferior as an 
 agricultural country to either the New England Slates of America, 
 Canada, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick. The only thing now 
 needful is to convince the farmers of I*, E. Island of this fact, nnd 
 thus induce them to exert their energies. Should they do so a very 
 few years only will have to elapse before the Americans and their 
 fellow colonidls will express themselves of the same opinion. 
 
 L 
 
.YO W P UBLISHIjYG, 
 
 AND WILL BE READY IN JUNE, 1851, 
 
 A NEW MAP OF 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, 
 
 From actual Survey of the «^ oral Townships : all the 
 Roads distinctly laid out, with the Post Roads sepa- 
 rately distinguished, and the Mills, Churches, and 
 School Houses. 
 
 
 CHARLOTTETOWN : 
 
 GEORGE T. HAS2ARD. 
 
 Edinburgh; Oliver and Boyd. Liverpool: Wilmer and Smith. 
 
 London : S. Bagster and Son. 
 
 
 You saj 
 the native 
 i.ig taken 
 from the c 
 that liave 
 very lauc 
 
 Tbo It 
 independe 
 ceive the 
 the times 
 are, and < 
 points ab 
 separate ] 
 own trad 
 lords of i\ 
 is true, bi 
 acknowie< 
 they preft 
 house tha 
 of life tne 
 heard of 
 their chiU 
 "civilizatio: 
 wretched 
 lion upon 
 with more 
 enough of 
 that we 
 the posse 
 Indian is \ 
 will hunt 
 evening ii 
 after the 
 
 / 
 
 — ^^„^A--«»;tML. a ..fe- a »'lW< P>^ |g^ 
 
PRINCE FDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 1i 
 
 $ 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 
 You say that you are extremely anxious to know something about 
 the native Indians, the aborijjinal inhabitants of the Island. Hav- 
 i.ig taken all your ideas of Indians, their virtues and their vices, 
 from the different descriptions (and these so discordant and unlike) 
 that have from time to time been published in England, you will be 
 very much disappointed. 
 
 Tb'j Indian of the maritime parts of America, is as little like his 
 independent brother of the yet unsubdued forest, as you may con- 
 ceive the present Gypsy is to hia Egyptian ancestor, who lived in 
 the times of Cheops orthe Pharoahs. Degraded however, as they 
 are, and debased by the use of intoxicating liquors, there are many 
 points about them which command respect. They are still a 
 «eparate people, they have th -ir own language, and above all, their 
 own traditions; well aware that they are the true and legitimate 
 lords of the soil, they look upon us as usurpers, successful ones it 
 is true, but not the less usurpers; and accordingly, they have never 
 acknowledged our jurif^diction. With a solitary exception or two, 
 they prefer the bark wigwam of their ancestors, to the best built 
 house that could be afforded to them. The unsettled roving kind 
 oflifeiney lead, is a part of their nature, and I hu . never yet 
 heard of any of them settling down permanently, and bringing up 
 their chiU'rcn with those habits that are the necessary results of 
 •civilization. According to our ideas of the thing; their life must ^'e 
 wretched in the extreme ; not such is their view of the matter, I ques- 
 tion upon the whole, whether they do not rather look down upon us 
 with more contempt and pity than we do upon them ; they are fond 
 enough of good eating and drinking, especially the latter, but think 
 that we work harder and undergo more privations to secure 
 the possession of them than they deserve. In one respect the 
 Indian is a true gentleman ; he w ill not work if he can avoid it, He 
 will hunt and shoot and fish, as much as you please, and spend the 
 evening in diinUing, telling stories, and cracking jokes, pretty much 
 after the manner of other Bportsmen; nay, ho will spend wholo 
 
 / 
 
74 
 
 LETTnRS ON 
 
 Mays in gambling: wholher the game of drafts has been learned ot 
 us, or whether they wore in possession of this ancient gam^ before 
 the arrival of Europeans on their coast, certain it is, ti>at the' play 
 it well. 
 
 Th(!y are remarkably well bred: feeling themselves equals thny 
 have no " 7/t«wmi.sr? honio,,'" no dillidence: when sober, they are 
 especially cautious of giving offence, and this not from fear, but 
 from a natural feeling of the iinpropriety of the thing. It would 
 seem, that they have no low vituperative terms in their own lan- 
 gua-re, no slang vocabulary; such is its paucity in this respect, that 
 ior^the simplest mode of invoking evil on the head or person 
 of their opponent, they aro obliged to have recourse to the 
 English language, even when objurgating one another. The Micmac; 
 lan'^ma^e, said a friend of mine, is literally " not worth a curse,'' 
 and, f may add, that the Micmac never thinks of cursnig till 
 prompted by the instigation of the Devil in the shape of alcohol. I 
 Jiave much pleasure in givi'-^ my friend, the Rev. Mr. kand a 
 account of their social habits. 
 
 " In few places are the principles of order, " a place for every 
 ihiLg, and every thing in its place; a time for every thing, and every 
 thin° in its time; a station for every one, and every one m his sta- 
 tionl" more fully carried out than in the Indian's wigwam. One 
 unacquainted with their customs, would not suspect Mus. He looks 
 in upon the beings in human form— and every thing is so ditTerent 
 from his own ideas of order, that he may suppose that all is, i*^ 
 reality, in as much confusion as it appears to him. Little does ho 
 suspect that the tittering and chattering, going on among th(; youth- 
 ful members of the group aro probably at his own y^Jijeuyc, 
 occasioned by his apparent ignorance of good breeding. *' ^ "' ,%' 
 said an Jmdian, who was assisting me in transhiting Luke K, 
 *' Well, I would like to rend that to some Hcotehmen. 1 tn«..k 
 they might learn a little manners from it." lie referred to verse 7 
 — 11, whore Our Saviour give-' direction for the exercise ot humilily 
 and courtesy. Paul's habitation happened to bo in the neighbour- 
 iioodof a Scotch settlement; but mea of any nation would need 
 some knowledge of Indian etiquette, as well as the •' Scotch people 
 ill order to avoid giving oilence, or being laughed at, on visitmg a 
 wi'^wam. *• When they come to our camps,'" said he, •' thoy 
 ncUhcr know wlierc to go, what to do, nor what to say ; and they 
 comincnco asking qucsiions, * what is this ? what is this? what is 
 lliisf' VV't? s,\y nothing t'Mlicrn about it; l)Ut wo speak ol then- 
 igniM-.uire .Tiid" i'.l-inivnncrs nmong ourselves. They think us about 
 n;i a Irvr! With th<) b<'a.si.-t," ho continued, "but m reality i\n 
 
 You sa\ 
 
 the native 
 
 ing taken 
 
 from the ( 
 
 that have 
 
 very muc 
 
 the Ii 
 
 jndependt 
 
 ceive tlie 
 
 the tunes 
 
 are, and ( 
 
 points ab 
 
 Bcparate i 
 
 own tvat 
 
 lords of t 
 
 is true, b 
 
 ncknowk 
 
 they prel 
 
 house tlu 
 
 of life th* 
 
 heard of 
 
 their chil 
 
 civilizali* 
 
 wretcheil 
 
 lion upor 
 
 with moi 
 
 enough c 
 
 that we 
 
 the poss 
 
 Indian is 
 
 will hvn' 
 
 (•veiling 
 
 aft<;r thr 
 
PRINCE RDWAUl) ISLAM>. 
 
 73 
 
 LETTER XVllI. 
 
 y 
 
 i 
 
 %^3 
 
 You .ay Hint you are extremely anxious to know 'Omothms about 
 ,he native Indians, the aborij^nnal inhabitants ot the island. Ilav- 
 
 ' a en all your ideas of Indians, their virtues and their vices 
 
 Vou he dkrent descriptions (and these so discordant and unlike) 
 
 IhTt have froni time to time been published in England, you wil' oe 
 
 ^'^l^'t^n^Z^^nU^n. parts of An.ei-ica. is aslittle like his 
 independent brother of the yet unsubdued forest, as you may con- 
 rpivrthrn-e^entGvpsy is t(> his Egyptian ancestor, who lived m 
 tir'n s C loops' or the Pharoah:'. Degraded however, as they 
 ac' and debased by the use of intoxicating liquors there are many 
 n^ntsaboutheni which comniMH respect. Tl«ey are still a 
 e^te people, thev have their own language, and above all tne.r 
 owrtmditions well aware that they are tb true and eg.tiuMte 
 ZL it soil they look upon us as usurpers, successhil ones it 
 istrue I u not the less usurners; and accordnv.ly, they h.ve never 
 Kknowledged our jurisdiction. Will; a solitary except.on or wo 
 they p ef.r'thc ha'', wigwam of their ance. • nvs, o th. be.l bn It 
 Se hat could be alibrded t . them. '^ .e unset led rovmg un.d 
 f Hfe they l.ad. is a part of their m.'.re, and \ have never ^et 
 e niof any of then, settling dowu po, .urgently, and bring.ng up 
 heir children with those habits that nre the necessary result, uf 
 kl7 o^^^^^^ •■■ our ideas of u.e thing; then- life must be 
 
 w tch d n the extreine ; not sue- is .heir view of the matter, I ques- 
 ion upon the whole, whether they do not rather bok down upon us 
 wTth , iore contoiin,t and pity than we do upon them; they are fond 
 M of g" ating un'd .inking, especially the latter but think 
 'int we work hard^. a.ui . dergo more privations to secure 
 e possession of them than ti.ev desev.e. In one respect the 
 i r Jl ^ ., inie T(M,i'onr.i; he ^ > not work if he can avoid it. He 
 
 wm"'^ d i;^o and iiJh, a. ^^ as you please, and spend the 
 
 ™ n " n dvinkin., telling .^ories, and cracking jokes, pretty ., ■ rh 
 f,?. tho manner of other sportsrren; nay, he will spend v .ule 
 
 !•- 
 
 ^ 
 
 m.' 
 
 I 
 
 ■<f' 
 
74 
 
 LETTERS OX 
 
 days in gambling: vvhetlier the game of drafts liaa been learned of 
 U3, or whether they were in possession of this ancient game before 
 the arrival of Europeans on their coast, certain it is, that they play 
 it well. 
 
 They are remarkably well bred: feeling themselves equals they 
 have no "• mau yaise konle," no diffidence: when sober, they are 
 especially cautious of giving olTenco, and this not (rom fear, but 
 from a natural feeling of the impropriety of the thing. It would 
 seem, that they have no low vituperative terms in their own lan- 
 guage, no slang vocabulary; such is its paucity in this respect, that 
 for the simplest mode of invoking evil on the head or person 
 of their opponent, they are obliged to have recourse to the? 
 English language, even when objurgating one another. The Micinac 
 language, said a friend of mine, is literally "not worth a curs;e," 
 and, 1 may add, that the Micmac never thinks of cursing till 
 prompted by the instigation o Devil in the shape of alcohol. I 
 
 have mucii pleasure in gi "■; ly friend, the llev. Mr. Rand's 
 account of their social habit, 
 
 " In few places are the principles of order, *'a pl.ice for every 
 thing, and every thing in its place; a time for every thing, and every 
 thing in its time; a station for every one, and every one in his sta- 
 t-'^n;" more fully carried out than in the Indian's wigwam. One 
 unacquainted with their customs, would not suspect this. He looks 
 in upon the beings in human form — and every thing is so different 
 from hi? own ideas of order, that he may suppose that all is, in 
 reality, in as much confusion as it appears to him. Little does ho 
 .suspect that the tittering and chattering, going on among the youth- 
 ful members of the group are probably at his own expense, 
 occasioned by his apparent ignorance of good breeding. " Well," 
 said an Indian, who was assisting me in translating Luke 14, 
 •♦Well, I would liko to read that to some Scotchmen. I think 
 they might learn a little manners from it." He referred to verse 7 
 — U, where Our Saviour gives direction for the exercise of humility 
 and courtesy. Paul'^ habitation happened to be in the neighbour- 
 hood of a Scotch settlement; but men of any nalim would need 
 nomc knowledge of Indian etiquette, as well as the *' Scotch people" 
 in order to avoid giving offence, or being laughed at, on visiting a 
 wigwam. "When they come to our catnps,'^ said he, "they 
 neither know where to go, what to do, nor what to say; and they 
 commence asking questions, ' what is this ? what is this ? what is 
 this?' We say nothing to them about it; but we speak of their 
 ignorance and ill-manners among ourselves. They think us about 
 on a level with the beasts," ho continued, "but in reality in 
 
 Indian thii 
 his pulace. 
 "The w 
 and no littl 
 and fasten 
 winter it ii 
 coating of 
 from entei 
 camp," foi 
 beds; and 1 
 placed so 
 piece of b 
 wam, ever 
 appendage 
 different p( 
 uses. 'I'll! 
 worn. Th 
 and, on tlv 
 family; ai 
 no old peo 
 side sits h 
 husband,— 
 is up. Tl 
 strangers, 
 come. ". 
 toward the 
 
 The inn 
 well as pli 
 women sii 
 other. Tl 
 To each » 
 first is che 
 The secoM 
 around. 
 
 And til 
 watched 
 wait for gi 
 thiey call 
 They hav 
 the Grea 
 several o 
 the sever 
 venerable 
 
lii'lian thinks h« mncli of his camp, as tliu (Jovcmuoj lliinks oC 
 his pnhico." 
 
 " The wigwfini is :i curious structuro. It is ol a «'onicit! shapr, 
 and no little skill is dispiayotl in its erection. Thi; frame is raisct! 
 and fastened. The rows of bark are carefully put on. In the 
 winter it i.s lined in the inside with spruce boughs, and a thick 
 coating of the same material upon the outside, to prevent the cold 
 from entering. Houghs are neatly spread down inside " the 
 camp," forming an admirable substitute for carpets, cushions, and 
 beds; and the doorway, in winter, is also partly closed with them, 
 placed so as to spring back and forth as you pass and repass. A 
 piece of blanket hangs over the doorway.' Every post olihc; wig- 
 wam, every bar, every fastening, every tier of bark, and every 
 appendage, whether for ornament or u-e, has a niime; and all the 
 different portions of the one room, their appropriate designations and 
 uses. The fire occupies the centre. On each side is th.e kami^- 
 v;om. There sit, on the one side of the ore, the master and mistress ; 
 and, on the other, the old people, when there" are old people in the 
 family; and the young women, when there are young women, and 
 no old people. The wife has her place next the door, and by her 
 side sits her lord. You will never see a woman setting above her 
 husband,— for towards the back part of the camp, the kuiakumuk, 
 i^ up. This is the place of honour. To this place visitors and 
 strangers, when received with a cordial welcome, ar<! invited to 
 come. ''JLutakumagualy upchclasc,'' they say to him, " come up 
 toward the back part of the wigwam." 
 
 The inmates of the '» camp" have their appropriate postures as 
 well as places. The men sit cross-legged, like the Orientals. The 
 women sit with their feet twisted round to one side, one under the 
 other. The younger children sit with their feet extended in from. 
 To each of these postures an appropriate woid i.n applied. The 
 tirst is chenuvuibnsi, i sit down man-fashion, i. e., cross-legged. 
 The second is, mimskulugunabase, I sit down with my legs twisted 
 around. The third is, sokwokabasc, I sit with my feet extended. 
 
 And they have some knowledge of Astronomy. They hnve 
 watched the stars during their night excursions, or while lying in 
 wait for game. They know that the North iSlui does not move, and 
 thiey call il '* ockwotiinugntva kulokuwcch,'' "the North Star." 
 They have observed that the circumpolar stars nover set. They call 
 the Great Bear, '« JVfuen," the bear. And they h.ivo names for 
 several other constelations. The morning star is uVadabuvi, and 
 the seven s!ars ejulkuch. And " what do you call that .'" said a 
 venerable old lady a short time ngo, who with her husband, the 
 
 •i"^ 
 1 
 
 "i-. » 
 
 . . . * 
 
 ^^ 
 
 I 
 
 H ^ 
 
 'W^ 
 
 f"^ 
 
 
 I 
 
vr» 
 
 LHTTKKS ON rUL\(i: IvUWARI) ISLAiND. 
 
 chief (A iU\\yo Hrftlon, was ^iving mo a locturc; on Astronomy, «>n 
 nature's celestial <-lul).!, tlirouj^li llie aiierliires of the wigwam, blie 
 was poiniiiig to the "luilUy way.'" " Oh, wc call it the milky way 
 -^the milky road," said I. To my surprise she gave it the same 
 name in Micmau." 
 
 It is melaiichnlv to refl(!ct, Uiat these poor (allows are not enal)le(l 
 1o call a Hpotohaiullheirowu in a country whore their ancestors 
 once reigned supreme. Lennox Island is occupied by a P"i''y'" "' 
 Ihem, and will continuo so to he, I suspect, until they shal have 
 ceased to exist, though their only English title to il is by adverse 
 
 possession. , 
 
 The liev. !\lr. Hand's book from which 1 iiave lengthily quoted, 
 is well worth t!ie readin-?, and can he had at " Stamper's." 
 
 And now, mv de:ir M— , I must, I think, bid you larewell, the 
 lime is approaching, when vou will have to prepare for your voynge 
 across the Atlantic. It was my intention to have given you soinn 
 insi'dit into our constitution, but as tins would have, perhaps, sedu- 
 ccd°ne into the notverv Howerv pathsof local poluics, T shall rtjirain, 
 except to mention en pat^vinf, that it is composed of a Lieut. Gover- 
 nor the Kepresentalive of Her iMaj<;sly, a Le-islative Council, 
 anakx'ous to your House of Lords, and a Hcuise nf Representatives, 
 «>lerted in the same manner as members of the House ol Commons, 
 and these form oar Provincial Parliament, as it is the fashion now to 
 
 call it. , ^ , , 
 
 Jn imitr.tion of those from whom we are descended, wc have our 
 " political parties.'' I can hardiv tell you what the names arc, but 
 Pv .sponsibles and Tories, Obstructives^ind i)estruclives, Snatcheis 
 and Snarlers, fcc, &c., &c., are in constant use aiiiong the slang- 
 xvhan'diers— as Washington Irving calls them— of both sides. lliO 
 contert, however, will soon be decided, as the ne.v Lieul. Ciovernor 
 iH hourW expected. I will take this opportunity, however, to advise 
 vou to have as little to do with the thing as possible. Stick W, your 
 fir.n • make two ears of wheat and two blaues of grass grow, where 
 one "rew before, and make apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, 
 and peaches take the place of the pine, the maple, and the lir, and 
 vou will earn purer Rime and be entitled and recievc more toKcns ol 
 vpspect and esteem, than if you had made tiresome speeches of 
 three or four hours' duration. Clvo my best /espects to your good 
 i.idv, and bid her be under no fc;ir, but that she will receive a hearty 
 weic'ome, and rc>pe<:lful allcntion from us all, and i.articuhuly froin 
 iiiin who now bids you, ibr the prcocni, l.''are\vell. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Indian th 
 his palace 
 "The \ 
 and no liti 
 and fast(; 
 winter it 
 coating of 
 from entf 
 
 camp. 
 
 f( 
 
 beds; and 
 
 placed so 
 
 piece of 1 
 
 warn, evt 
 
 appendag 
 
 different [ 
 
 uses. Tl 
 
 vjom. T 
 
 and, on tl 
 
 family; : 
 
 no old pe 
 
 side sits 
 
 husband, 
 
 is up. 'I 
 
 fjtrangers 
 
 come. ' 
 
 toward ll 
 
 The in 
 well as f 
 women t 
 other. ' 
 To each 
 first is ch 
 The secc 
 around. 
 
 And 1 
 watched 
 wait for 
 they call 
 They ha 
 the Grc 
 several 
 the sevi 
 venerub! 
 
''/ 
 
 PRINCE KDWARD 1^LAM>. 
 
 75 
 
 f 
 
 Indian tliiiilo as ninch of Iiih camp, as liia (iovemor thinks of 
 
 his niilace." _ . , • » i » 
 
 "Tho wi^wniii is a curious structure. It is of a conical sliapp, 
 and no iittlo^skiU U disph.yeil in its erection. The frame is raised 
 and lastmied. 'Iho rows of bark am carefully put on. In the 
 wiutor it is lined in the inside with spruce boughs, and a thick 
 coatincr of the same material upon the outside, to prevent tno cold 
 from entering. Boughs are neatly spread down inside «' tli.j 
 ramp," forming an admirable substitute for carpets, cushions, and 
 beds; and the doorway, in winter, is also partly closed with theni, 
 placed so as to spring back and forth as you pass and repass. A 
 piece of blanket hangs over the doorway. Kvery postot the wig 
 wam, every bar, every fastening, every tier ot bark, and every 
 appendage, whether for ornament or use, has a name; and all the 
 different portions of the one room, their appropriate designations and 
 uses The fire occupies the centre. On each side is the kainig- 
 woin There sit, on the one side of the fire, the master and mistress; 
 and, on the other, the old people, when there are old people in the 
 family: and the young women, wh-n there are young women, and 
 jio old people. 'J^he wil\) has her place next the door, and by her 
 side sits her lord. You will never see a woman settmg above her 
 husband,— for towards the back part of the camp, the kutakiimuk, 
 is up 'Ihis is the place of honour. To this place visitors and 
 strangers, when received with a cordial welcome, are invited to 
 come! ^^KntakiimagmiU upchelaser U^ey say to him, " come up 
 toward the back part of the wigwam." 
 
 The inmates of the '^camp" have their appropriate postures as 
 well as places. The men sit cross-legged, like the OruMitals. 1 he 
 women sit with their feet twisted round to one side, one under the 
 other. The vounger children sit with their feet extended iti from. 
 To each of these" postures an appropriate word is applied. 'J ho 
 first is chenumubasi, I sit down man-fashion, i. e., cross-legged. 
 The second is, miinskulniyunabase. I sit down with my legs twisted 
 around. The third is, sokwokabase, I sit with my feet extended. 
 
 And they have some knowledge of Astronomy. They have 
 watched the stars during their night excursions, or while lying iti 
 wait for game. They know that the North Star does not move, and 
 ihey cali' h'' ockwotunvi^mwa kulokuwcch,'' "the North Star." 
 'J^iey have observed that the circumpolar stars never set. They call 
 the Great Dear, '' Moen,'' Ihe bear. And they liave names for 
 several other ' constelations. The morning star is nrarAr/jz/w, and 
 the seven stars cjidkuch. And " what do you call that r" said a 
 venerable old lady a short lime ngo, who uilh het husband, the 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 < 
 
 -=-4i? 
 
 
 m 
 
 Hisfa 
 
*«' 
 
 '76 
 
 lEtTIlllS O.N VinXCl: t:D\VAUD ISLAND. 
 
 "^ 
 
 rlnet* of Cape Breton, was giving me n lecture on Astronotny, on 
 nature's celestial {:;lobH, throtigli tlio apcrlureH of the wigwam. She 
 was pointing to llio " milky way." " Oh, we call it the milky way 
 — the milky road,'' said 1. To my surprise she gave it the fame 
 name in Micmac." 
 
 It is melancholy to reflect, that these poor fellows are not enabled 
 to call a spot of land their own in a country where their r'ncestors 
 once reijined suprenie. Lennox Island is occupied by a portion of 
 them, and will continue so to be, I suspect, until Ihey shall have 
 neased to exist, thougii their only English title to it is by adverse 
 possession. 
 
 The Ucv. Mr. Rand's book from which 1 have lengthily quoted, 
 is well worth the reading, and can be had at " Stamper's." 
 
 And now, my dear IVl — , I must, 1 Ihi k, bid you farewell, the 
 time is approaching, when you will have to prepare for your voyage 
 across the Atlantic. It w; s my intention to have given you some 
 nisight into our constitution, but as thia would have, perhaps, sedu- 
 ced me into the not very flowery palhsof local politics, I shall refrain, 
 except to mention en passant, that it is composed of a Lieut. Gover- 
 iiot-, the Representative of Her Majesty, a Legislative Council, 
 analogous toyour House of Lords, and u House of Representatives, 
 elected in the same manner as members of the House of Commons, 
 and these form our Provincial Parliament, as it is the fashion now to 
 vail it. 
 
 In imitation of those from whom we arc descended, we have our 
 '• political parties." I can hardiy tell you what the names are, but 
 Ivi'.sponsibles and Tories, Obstructives and Deatructiyes, Snatcher» 
 and Snarlers, &c., &c., «Sie., are in constant use among the slang- 
 uhanghers — as Washington Irving calls them — of both aides. The 
 contest, however, will soon be decided, as the new Lieut. Governor 
 IS hourly expected. 1 will take this opportunity, however, to advise 
 _Tou to have as little to do with the thing as possible. Stick to your 
 frtrin : make two ears of wheat and two blades of grass grow, where 
 tuiH grew before, and make apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, 
 and peaches take the j)lace of the pine, the maple, and the tir, and 
 vou will earn purer fame and be entitled r.nd recieve more tokens of 
 respect and ei^teem, than if you had made tiresome speeches of 
 three or four hours' duration. Give my best respects to your good 
 lady, and bid her be under no fear, but that she will receive a hearty 
 \velconie, and respectful attention from us all, and particularly from 
 him who now bids you, for iho present, r.trcNvel!. 
 
 ^ 
 
 tj, •■ 
 
 \ 
 
 *; 
 
 im 
 
 _^ 
 
I