THE MAGDALENE ISLANDS — PATTERSON. 41 



any fixed term, at a perpetual and unredeemable ground rent. 

 The rents vary from 5s. to 30s. per annum a lot, which may be 

 a few feet of Iteaeh overflowed by the sea. Before Coffin's grant 

 was issued much of the land was occupied without title, and the 

 parties claimed their lots hy possession. It was only after 1839 

 that a considerable number accepted leases. These leases were 

 loosely drawn and rents were irregularly paid. So that much 

 contention arose between the settlers and the agents of the pro- 

 prietors. The result was a large amount of discontent in conse- 

 quence of which, a few years ago, two or three colonies left 

 owing largely to dissatisfaction with the system. It is said that 

 as many as 600 souls removed, most of them to the northern 

 shore of the St. Lawrence, where the land was much inferior 

 and fisheries no better, but they were attracted by the idea of 

 having their land in full ownership. This is the only part of 

 the Dominion where the system lingers, and it is desirable that 

 it should be swept away. Attempts have been made to Ijuy out 

 the rights of the proprietor. It is admitted that with the ex- 

 pense of agency and the various expenditures upon the islands, 

 the property has never really been of any profit to him. But it 

 would seem that such is the grandeur associated with being lord 

 of so many broad acres, that he has always refused to sell, at 

 least on any reasonable terms. I humbly think that, as the 

 Government has compelled the landlords in P. E. Island to sell 

 and has extinguished the seignorial rights in Quebec without 

 asking the consent of the seigneurs, they should close this ques- 

 tion by taking the rights of the proprietor on just and reason- 

 able terms. The whole area, w^e may observe, is estimated at 

 100,000 acres, of which one-seventh was reserved for the clergy. 

 This has fallen into the hands of the Government, and is being- 

 sold by it. 



At the time of the granting these islands, it was estimated 

 that there were 100 families upon them, but this is probably an 

 exaggeration. In 1821 Bouchette estimated the number at 138.. 

 In 1831 they were estimated at 153, numbering 1,000 souls, 

 though Coffin, in 1839, states that there were only GOO on the 

 whole seven islands. By the census of 1850 they numbered 



