THE READY TOUCH and , 1824-1831

By Elinor Vass

n the morning of July 10, 1845, gland and a lifelong member of the dence, the 4th Duke of Richmond men- Major General John Ready, serv- Church of . At a much later date, tions Ready's extensive knowledge of Oing as lieutenant governor of the Isle of one of his superiors, the 4th Earl of that country. He also served on the Man, was given poison. Within a few Dalhousie, would speculate privately that Duke's staff when Richmond was lord hours he was dead. So ended the life of Ready was a natural son of the 3rd Earl of lieutenant there. When Richmond was the man who had been the fifth and most Bathurst, British Colonial Secretary from appointed governor in chief of British popular lieutenant governor of Prince 1812 to 1827. But if there was a rela- North America in 1818, Ready accom- Edward Island. tionship between Bathurst and Ready, panied the Duke to Canada. He served A number of factors help account for there is no hint to be found in Ready's first as Richmond's military secretary John Ready's popularity on Prince Ed- official and private correspondence with and later was named civil secretary. ward Island. He had the good fortune to him. However, Bathurst was the brother- In the summer of 1819, Richmond follow on the heels of the Island's most in-law and close personal friend of undertook a tour of inspection through detested governor, C. D. Smith. Almost Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, Lower and Upper Canada. At what is anyone would have seemed like an im- and there is ample evidence of now Sorel, Quebec, he was bitten on the provement after the dictatorial Smith. Richmond's overt support for Ready's hand by a captive fox, but he continued Moreover, Ready's term ended before career advancement (however much on to York (Toronto) and Niagara. On the emergence of the radical Escheat support Bathurst may have provided the return journey, as the party neared Movement, which would bedevil ensuing behind the scenes.) Ready maintained Kingston, the first signs of hydrophobia administrations with its radical approach ties both with the 4th Duke and, later, appeared; soon afterwards, the Duke to the Land Question. This being said, with his son, the 5th Duke of Richmond. died a horrible death from rabies in a Ready's popularity on Prince Edward Behind the respectful tone of Ready's settler's barn. Ready and the duke's son Island was more than a matter of cir- correspondence with the latter, there had accompanied the tour only as far as cumstance. He proved himself a skilled are suggestions that an easy informality Montreal. When they learned of the and energetic administrator. Just as im- existed between the two men. As well, Duke's illness, they immediately set out portantly, he was a man of considerable Ready family tradition maintains that the for Kingston, but they had not gone far charm. Finally, he took an active interest Duke of Wellington was a godfather at when they were intercepted with the in the day-to-day lives of the Island's the birth of Ready's son Charles, a fur- news of his death. colonists. This combination of good ther indication that John Ready had The 4th Earl of Dalhousie was named sense and good intentions helped create friends in high places. Richmond's successor at Quebec. He what mightbe called "the Ready Touch." In 1804 Ready married Susanna retained Ready as his civil secretary, Bromley. They would subsequently have made him aide-de-camp, acting provin- four children: John, Charles, Susan, and cial secretary, and, later, a member of The Making of a Governor Mary Jane. By 1813, either through merit the Executive Council. or the intervention of influential friends Dalhousie's initial impressions of Nothing is known of John Ready's life — perhaps both — Ready had risen to Ready were favourable, but over the next before he entered the as an the rank of lieutenant colonel. few years, his journal entries became ensign in 1796, at the age of 19. Despite It seems certain that he spent many more and more critical of him. Accord- his Irish surname, he was born in En- years in Ireland, as in his correspon- ing to Dalhousie, there was widespread

30 dissatisfaction that one man should hold The New Governor George's battery as the John entered the so many remunerative positions, so many harbour, and Ready was greeted on in fact, that Dalhousie felt the workload Ready was not unemployed for long. In landing by a cheering crowd. An honour prevented Ready from discharging his April 1824, he was appointed lieutenant guard was drawn up on the wharf, and a duties satisfactorily. The Earl also felt governor of Prince Edward Island to number of the "most respectable inhab- Ready was seriously handicapped in succeed the unpopular Charles Douglass itants" had gathered to welcome him. Quebec in that he did not speak French. Smith, who had just been recalled. Ready Ready proceeded to the barracks at However, Ready maintained a friendly was unable to take up his duties immedi- Georges Battery, the residence of the relationship with John Neilson and Louis ately because of the ill health of his wife, former lieutenant governor, where he Joseph Papineau, who headed the oppo- who had been recuperating in France. was received by Smith and members of sition to Dalhousie in the Quebec as- When he could no longer delay his de- the Executive Council. That evening the sembly. Possibly, it was this friendship, parture, he left Susanna and his two town was "very generally illumined," as as much as any perceived incompetence, daughters in Brighton in the care of his the "spirited and cheerful" inhabitants that revised Dalhousie's opinion of sister. In September 1824, he sailed from gave "loose to their joy." They obviously Ready. Bristol aboard the John, which, accord- were happy that Smith had finally been Whatever the reason, Dalhousie was ing to newspaper reports, had been recalled, and that the new incumbent determined to get rid of Ready and early "handsomely fitted up" for the accom- was a man about whom favourable re- in 1822, he was asked for his resignation. modation of Ready and his staff. On board ports had been received in the colony. Ready requested that it should appear with him was John Stewart, a member of About a week later, a welcoming din- he had tendered his resignation because the Prince Edward Island Assembly who ner was held at the Wellington Hotel. of a wish to return to England, and had been instrumental in having the Once again, the Register carried a de- Dalhousie agreed that this would be the previous lieutenant governor recalled. tailed report of the evening, which was official version of events. His family left The new lieutenant governor's arrival presided over by John Stewart. There in July, but Ready stayed on to sell his in Charlottetown that October was de- was, it observed, a "numerous and re- household effects and to settle his affairs, scribed in the Prince Edward Island Reg- spectable assemblage"; between 50 and leaving for England in November 1822. ister. A salute was fired by the guns of 60 guests sat down to dine, serenaded by

Early in his career, Ready spent a number of years in Ireland; but this watercolour landscape of the Irish countryside, which has been attributed to Ready, may have been done in 1842.

31 John Ready's coat of arms, reproduced herefrom an engraved piece of his service, only compounds the mystery of his origins. The sinister (right-hand) side of the arms has been identified as that of his first wife's family, the Bromleys. The dexter (left-hand) side in the parted shield, which is used in heraldry to display the husband's arms, carries a crescent, denoting a second son, above a double-headed eagle. Although the crest — a cockerel — was used as early as 1812, when it was engraved on a silver ladle owned by Ready, there is no record of these arms or crest ever having been granted to the Ready family.

a band, a Highland piper, and salutes from a battery of 12-pounder Travels East stationed outside the hotel. What with the songs, speeches, toasts, the band, OB Wednesday morning the 27th ult. them, a ship of 600 tons, was painted in the piper, the guns, and the cheering tie Lieut. Governor let Charlotte^Town large characters her name "Governor crowd outside, it must have been a very Ready" a compliment which his Excellency accompanied by the Adjt Gen. of Militia, spirited celebration. The newspaper re- ColonelHollandvon a tour to the Eastward. evidently felt. Having spent some time in At 2 o'clock.. .he inspected the 8th Batt. of viewing this scene of bustle and activity, he ported that "the evening surpassed Militia at St. Peter's, spent the night at Mr. embarked on Saturday morning in a boat anything of the kind ever before wit- Worrell's and proceeded next morning to- provided by Mr. Cambridge, who accompa- nessed" in Charlottetown. wards Naufrage, where it was his intention nied him round the head lands to Fortune Social and legal formalities attended to have inspected the 10th Battalion but the Bay settlement; here he inspected several | to, Ready got down to work. The Island Smallpox beingin that quarter h e dispensed companies of Militia, and afterwards re- legislature had not sat since 1820 because with their assembling and continued his sumed his journey by the road leading to of difficulties between Lieutenant Gov- journey by way of the Capes: the road here I the head of St Peter's Bay, on which vari-1 ernor Smith and the elected house of for upwards of thirty miles along the coast ous parties were busily at work, employed assembly. Smith and his Executive up to East Point is thickly settled and by the road contractors. On Saturday night studded with mrivingforms. His Excellency he was again entertained at the house of Council controlled the permanent rev- j remained that night at Mr. Anderson's, Mr. Worrell, and the next day arrived in enue (derived from duties on distilled Surveyors Inlet, arid in the morning rode town, apparently gratified i n no small degree and brewed liquor), which amounted to out to view the entrance to that romantic with his journey, during the whole of which sixty per cent of the total revenue gen- | Lake and expressed himself highly pleased he enjoyed the finest weather. The face of erated in the colony. Thus, they were with the beauty of the scenery and the the country tho' evidently suffering from able to govern without calling the as- fertile appearance of the fields o n its borders ; the long continued drought, exhibited ev-1 sembly together to vote funds. One of waiving [sic] with corn and grass. On Fri- ery where the prospect of a luxuriant and Ready's first acts was to dissolve the day having returned as far a s St. Margaret's abundant crop: the countryround thehead assembly and call a general election. Church, he crossed the country to the | of the Hillsborough attracted much of his j French settlement on Rollo Bay, and con- Excellency's notice. He was received every The newly elected assembly was tinued his route to Colville Bay, where he where with marks of the greatest respect called into session in January 1825. was met by Mr. Cambridge and conducted •] | and attention: his urbanity to the different] Knowing that the permanent revenue to his shipbuilding establishment at New- persons with whom he was led to converse, issue was one of the most contentious Bristol. The sight which here presented andthe pointed and well directed enquiries ones between the two houses, Ready itselfwasoneofavetypleasingdescription: which he made on all subjects connected urged the legislators to deal only with two ships of large dimensions, and a of with the advancement and general good of "essential measures" in the first session. 200 tons on the stocks at one place, and the country, as manifesting the lively in- The assembly complied and much use- another ship at a short distance: Hie | • terest he takes in all that relates to their ful legislation was enacted. Money was workmen of the yard greeted his happiness and prosperity, was to allasouree appropriated for road- and bridge- Excellency's entrance with three hearty of peculiar gratification. building and for the support of schools. cheers; flags were displayed from the dif- Prince Edward Island Register, ferent vessels and on the stern of one of 5 August 1825 At the end of the session, however, Speaker of the House John Stewart, asked Ready to seek a change in the

32 legislation that would give the assembly control over the permanent revenue. Commenting on the request, a Halifax newspaper, the Novascotian, suggested that "the main object to which the wishes of the House are bent and which the people will not rest satisfied till they accomplish is the repeal of the perma- nent revenue act which rendered the late Governor independent of the House." Ready accordingly wrote to Lord Bathurst in , presenting the concerns of the Assembly. In his reply, Bathurst made it clear that Ready could use his discretion in applying the in- come from it for the benefit of the colony, but that there was to be no change in the legislation concerning the permanent revenue. Public Weal, Private Woe SUP In March 1825, Susanna Ready died in Brighton. Upon learning of his wife's death, Ready applied to the Colonial Of- fice for leave of absence so that he could return to England to attend to. family affairs. While Ready's memory has been cherished in this province, his daughter Susan has fared While he waited for a reply, the lieu- less well. Her grave in Charlottetown's old "Elm Avenue" cemetery is overgrown with tenant governor busied himself with bushes and badly neglected. matters of concern to the colony. At the beginning of Ready's term of office, there remained in the treasury a considerable Island Register observed, "It was a mat- try, he was asked to appear before a balance of funds that his predecessor ter of great pride and gratification to the House of Commons committee investi- had not used. It was with these funds, settlers to receive such a visit and to gating emigration to the British North and those granted by the assembly, that witness their worthy Governor person- American colonies. Through the good Ready was able to undertake an imme- ally examining the actual condition of offices of his friend the 5th Duke of diate and massive program of road and the Colony and becoming acquainted Richmond, he was also presented at bridge building. During the summer, he with the people and their wants — a Court. Though personal affairs had made extensive tours of the Island to circumstance so very unusual in this prompted his sojourn in England, Ready evaluate the progress on these projects, Island, as to add to it all the charms of remained mindful of his colony's needs. to make decisions on future construction, novelty." During his stay, he purchased two to inspect the militia, and, generally, to Having received permission for his horses, some sheep, and quantities of familiarize himself with conditions in leave of absence, Ready summoned the grain and vegetable seeds to be shipped the colony. In late July, the governor and legislature in October 1825 for a short to the Island. his entourage set out for the settlements session before his departure for England. Leaving his two sons behind in En- in the northeast quarter of the colony. A At the close of the session, John Stewart gland, Ready booked a passage to the week later, it was Three Rivers' turn to re-iterated the Assembly's determina- Island for himself and his two daughters entertain its governor. Scarcely had tion to win control over the permanent aboard the ship Mary in October 1826. Ready returned to Charlottetown, when revenue. Ready's management of the The voyage took 68 days, with the Mary he was off again on a major tour of western public expenditures to date justified the finally entering Charlottetown harbour Prince Edward Island as far as Lot 13. In assembly's confidence in him, Stewart on 12 December. The Governor and his early September, he journeyed to Orwell, noted, but Ready would not always be daughters received a warm welcome, Pinette, Flat River, and Wood Islands, the administrator. Public funds had been along with formal salutes from both the returning by way of Vernon River to visit wasted or misused during previous ad- George's and Edward's Batteries. The construction crews at work on the ministrations; it was important, there- family was then escorted to their "new Georgetown Road. fore, that the permanent revenue come residence at Holland Grove," a large Given the primitive condition of most under the assembly's direction. property on the block bounded by Island roads, these were arduous jour- Leaving Executive Councillor George Euston, Prince, Fitzroy, and Great neys. No doubt they had a deep impact Wright in charge during his absence, George Streets. John Frederick Holland, on Ready, but they had deep impact on Ready sailed for England in December a son of Samuel Holland, had given his his people as well. As the Prince Edward 1825. During his time in the Home Coun- name to the estate, which was rented by

33 the government for Ready and his fam- had to be cut back. ily. The house was described as "large The legislature and quaint with an observatory on top," was prorogued in and surrounded by "thickly wooded May 1827, without "^•3811 grounds and ornamental trees." It was any supply bill hav- undoubtedly a more fitting place to bring ing been passed. Af- young ladies than George's Barracks. terwards, Ready One of Ready's daughters, Susan, had wrote to Lord been ill when they left England, and her Bathurst for in- health continued to decline. Her illness, structions. In ex- probably tuberculosis, was described as plaining the impasse lingering but not painful. Susan passed he sided with the away in February and was buried in the assembly's position, old cemetery on what is now University which, he said, ad- Avenue. With the opening of navigation hered to "invariable in the spring, Ready received word that usage . . . from the his elder son, John, had died in England. time of the first Ses- Sadly, he had lost three members of his sion to the present." family within less than two years. His The instructions he younger son, Charles, remained at school received were not in England. very helpful. He was Ready refused to allow personal trag- not authorized to edy to interfere with his public duty, and use any drastic mea- in March 1827, he made another tour of sures; rather, he was inspection westward. He travelled along directed to use his a new line of road running west from good offices to con- Hazel Grove, and he visited several ciliate between the Acadian settlements on Egmont Bay. two houses. "After leaving Lot 15," the Prince Ed- When the legis- ward Island Register for 13 March 1827 lature met the fol- reported, "he went up the Grand River lowing spring, with the view of ascertaining the practi- Ready appealed to cability of bridging it, as it forms the both sides to come principle obstruction in the intended new to some accommo- line of road to Cascumpeque and the dation for the good Lt. Gov. John Ready fca. 1777-1845). North Cape. He afterwards visited Cape of the colony. But h e Traverse and from his own observations did not succeed in and information collected on the spot... reconciling the assembly and the coun- tience, and political favours were also it is his Excellency's opinion that it would cil. At the close of the session in May part of the Ready Touch. be . . . the most expeditious and safest 1828, the council refused to pass the route for the mails during the winter assembly's appropriations bill and once months." again the Island treasury was left short Adventure and Misadventure of funds. Frustrated that projects he felt nec- One of the lieutenant governor's annual "Supply" and Demands essary to the colony's welfare were be- activities was a review of the militia. ing delayed, Ready wrote to the Colonial These at least aspired to a fitting tone of Upon his return to Charlottetown, Ready Office in the strongest terms, urging grave formality. But a militia review dur- called the legislature into session. It that he be allowed to take action. After ing the summer of 1828 gave rise to quickly became evident that a collision some hesitation, the Colonial Office al- some rather unmilitary manoeuvres. between the two houses was inevitable. lowed him to remove the most intransi- James Pollard, a local militia historian, Since the council had absolute control gent member of Council, Chief Justice S. gives this account: over the permanent revenue, the assem- G. W. Archibald, (the president of the bly would brook no interference by it in Council but a non-resident who resided On the occasion of a muster. .. on the disposition of what little revenue the in Halifax). By getting rid of Archibald Queen Square, a troop of horses were assembly raised. The council objected and rewarding those who co-operated, drawn up in review order across Queen vigorously. Both sides cited British, Ready achieved a re-alignment that made Street facing the Hillsborough River, a North American and local historic pre- the Council more amenable to compro- Company of Artillery with field guns cedence, but neither would give way. At mise. The appropriations bill for 1829 joined them on their left, then the the close of the session, the council was passed, and harmonious relations regulars from the garrison, the 1st, 6th, passed some of the revenue bills and were restored between the two bodies and 9th Battalions of Militia extended rejected others, leaving a shortfall of forthe remainder of Ready's term. Charm the line beyond the Market House in the funds in the treasury. The large public alone had proven insufficient in manag- centre of the Square. Here, between works projects, so auspiciously begun, ing the Island legislature; pressure, pa- Great George and Prince Streets, the

34 forest had been cleared away, but the Ready was especially fond of horse-rac- to an excellent dinner at Croker's Tav- surface was uneven while the roots of ing, and to encourage the sport he had ern." By 1826 the Register reported that trees projected above the ground. His sent home a blind stallion, Roncesvalles, the annual races were to be held at the Excellency . . . accompanied by his and a mare, Roulette, from England in "new circular race course laid out... for daughter [Mary Jane] and suite on 1826. In 1838, Mary Fitzroy, wife of the sole purpose of these annual meet- horseback, arrived and took post near Lieutenant Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy, ings, in a spacious field adjoining the the saluting flag. At 12 o'clock as the would mention Roncesvalles's death in a Traveller's Rest on the St. Peter's Road, first gun of the salute was fired, the letter to her mother, the dowager where the races were formerly held." horse on which Miss Ready was mounted Duchess of Richmond. Since both John Croker's property and his tavern, took fright, and with a bound went off at women knew the horse, it is quite pos- Traveller's Rest, were immediately east full gallop. Seeing the peril of the young sible that it had once belonged to the of the Union Road. Reports spoke lady two or three gentlemen put spurs to Duke of Richmond's famous Goodwood favourably of the new course being "well their chargers, thinking they would stables. adapted for running," and "presenting a arrest her frightened steed, but it was When Ready imported Roncesvalles very good view every yard round to the useless, for at the second fire her horse and Roulette, the sport of horse-racing spectators." increased his speed and fairly flew was already in vogue in the colony. At When people learned that Ready was through the Square, over hill and hollow, least as early as 1824, the Prince Edward importing a race horse, there was some and as her would-be rescuers closely Island Registerwrote of the annual horse grumbling that it would have been of followed they presented the appearance races held on St. Peter's Road about more benefit to the colony had he im- of a steeple-chase, where all were crazed three miles from Charlottetown. After ported a work horse. But when or mad. Turning into Prince Street the coming to the Island, Ready attended Roncesvalles's fine offspring began to frightened horse headed up at full speed, these races at what was described as the race, they were viewed with widespread and not until the stable yard was reached "Old Ground, St. Peter's Road." As part interest and enthusiasm. In 1828, Ready did the panting steed halt. The young of the festivities, "a large party sat down described the local efforts to the 5th lady maintained a firm seat during her perilous ride and evidently enjoyed the swiftness of her noble animal. Travels West Meanwhile the review proceeded, and although His Excellency looked sad and On Wednesday last, his Excellency and | Settlement. After viewing the most promi- troubled he did not leave his post. The suite set out at an early hour on an excur- nent objects, he was conducted to a tent! glad tidings of his daughter's safety being sion to the western parts of the Island, and prepared for the occasion, where an Ad- brought to him . . . the smiles of the at 3 o'clock the same day he inspected the j dress ... was presented to him.... He then! 1st Batt. of Militia at Prince Town. He after- sat down to an elegant collation, Col. Hol- happy father illuminated his | wards visited the Grammar School at that [ land in the Chair. It is unnecessary for u s to countenance. place, in which were 120 scholars, and ex- j I add that hilarity and good cheer abounded. ] pressed himself much pleased with the His Excellency's health was drank [sic] Mary Jane embarked on a different I mode of teaching in practice there, and the ! j with the same degree of rapturous applause sort of adventure that September when appearance of the scholars, severalof whom as at all other places where he dined in the she accompanied her father and T. H. repeated their exercises in his presence, course of his tour. His Excellency proposed Haviland, Sr. on another of Ready's tours much to his satisfaction. At 6 o'clock he sat | | thehealth of the company and prosperity to ] of inspection. This trip to New London, down to an excellent dinner at Mr. the Settlement, and soon after rose from Prince Town, Cascumpeque, and North ! Bearistoe's Inn, with about thirty of the the table and resumed his journey towards I principal inhabitants, Col. Stewart in the Charlotte Town where he arrived about 9 in Cape may b e the one Haviland described Chair, The greater part of the next day he the evening. During these repeated jour- in the legislature some years later. The spent in viewing Prince Town and the coun- neys of our worthy Lieut. Governor he was -| roads were so rough and rutted that try adjacent, and in the afternoon proceeded every where welcomed by the inhabitants their carriage had to be pushed up the to St. Eleanors where, after inspecting the in the different settlements with every dem- hills by the local settlers, while the pas- 5th Batt. of Militia which mustered about onstration of joy, and he appeared by no sengers got out and walked. Although it 500 strong he dined with the gentlemen of means insensible to the kindness and at- was intended that the party go as far as that vicinity at Smith's Tavern, on which tention which he uniformly experienced at North Cape, the tour wras not described occasion the Rev Mr. Jenkins presided all hands. The state of the public roads in detail in the newspaper, and it is very with his usual affability. The day following occupied much of his attention, and he was his Excellency crossed the Ellis River and | attended by the road commissioners of the doubtful if it was completed. In the late went asfar as new Bidefbrd in Lot 13, where 1820s, the roads beyond St. Eleanor's different districts through which he passed. he spent the night at Mr. Barnard's. The The natural beauties of the Island so rich in were in a very primitive state, some no following day (Saturday) he visited most of sylvan and aquatic scenery which were more than survey routes. It seems un- the shipbuilding establishments at continually presenting themselves in pleas- likely that Ready would have risked his Bedeque, and having rod [sic] throughthat ing and almost endless variety, and the i remaining daughter's health under such fine Settlement, was highly pleased at the beautiful appearance of the cultivated parts circumstances. appearance which its fertile and blooming of the country frequently elicited from his j fields every where presented. Havsngspent I Excellency expressions of the warmest ad-1 the night at Mr. Campbell's he proceeded miration.''' • next morning to Tryon, and some miles j Pleasurable Pursuits Prince Edward Island Register, ! from that place, was met by a cavalcade of 12 August 1825 50 horsemen who escorted him into the The governor's duties could be onerous, but there was time for pleasure as well.

35 Duke of Richmond, himself an enthusi- agricultural societies were formed to in- land legislature voted the expenditure of astic racing fan: form the farmer of improved methods £400 for the purchase of silver plate for and to provide reasonably priced seed, the governor. Our Races begin tomorrow, your implements, and quality breeding stock. Grace would laugh heartily at our The Island was well pleased with its gov- attempts at the thing, our Jockeys at ernor, but it did not have much longer to The Isle of Man present ride without saddles, next year enjoy him. however when we shall have a pretty In June 1830, the Colonial Office ad- So ended John Ready's Island career. strong entry of Roncesvalles Colts and vised Ready that he was to be replaced. The following year, he was appointed Fillies we shall do better. I will send In August there was news that his suc- lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man, home fora Dress andRacingSaddle, in cessor, Sir Murray Maxwell, had died in and was sworn in at Castletown in De- which I shall most likely be followed by England, and a petition was quickly cir- cember 1832. His popularity on Prince others. The Race Ground is very good culated requesting that Ready b e allowed Edward Island had not gone unnoticed. I have a most beautiful Filly from to stay on. But even before it could be An address of welcome mentioned that Roulette this year which would not forwarded to England, word came of Sir favourable reports of his past public ser- disgrace I had almost said New Market Aretas William Young's appointment to vice had preceded him. but perhaps some of the Country the governorship. Ready prepared to In 1836, Ready married again, to Sarah Meetings. leave. Tobin, daughter of Sir John Tobin, a For months prior to his departure, the prominent Liverpool merchant and ship pages of the Charlottetown newspaper owner. A son, John Tobin Ready, was The Well-Beloved contained tributes to Ready and his ad- born to them in 1837, and a daughter, ministration. In April 1831, when it be- Sarah Helena Ready, two years later. In For the remainder of Ready's term, an came known that he would not be al- 1841, Ready Sr. was raised to the rank of air of peace and progress prevailed in lowed to stay on, the Royal Gazette ob- Major-General. the colony, marking a vivid contrast to served, "perhaps no public officer every During the last months of his life, the disturbed state of affairs before his retired from so elevated a station, more John Ready was seriously ill and unable arrival. The two houses of the legislature unfeignedly and generally regretted." to attend to his official duties. Whatever worked together to promote the neces- The day after his departure in October his illness, he suffered great pain. Two sary public works projects. Encouraged 1831, the same newspaper conceded that medications had been prescribed for him, by subsidies towards the teachers' sala- he would always be remembered as a atropine for external use, and morphine ries, almost every Island community gentleman "endeared to our recollection internally for his suffering. They were provided a school. Only those persons by the qualities of his heart and his nu- apparently in similar bottles, and the whose qualifications were confirmed merous acts of unostentatious benevo- atropine was not labelled as poisonous. (usually by a local clergyman) lence . . . by his general conciliatory Someone in attendance gave him atro- were allowed to teach. A deportment in the exercise of his pine instead of morphine. A coroner's system of internal official duties and in [his] inquest found that the poisoning had mail delivery was . . . social life." As a been accidental. Major-General John instituted. In parting gift, the Is- Ready was buried with full many com- military honours at munities, Malew, Isle of Man, on 17 July 1845.

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36 The Island legisla- ture voted the expen- diture of £400 for the purchase of silver plate as a parting gift to Ready in appre- ciation for the good accomplished under his administration. This engraved ster- ling silver salver, fashioned in 1819 by London silversmith William Bennett, was part of that gift. In 1989, it was located in England and purchased by the Prince Edward Island Museum & Heritage Founda- tion. The salver is now in the Govern- ment House collec- tion at Fanning- bank.

The Ready Touch Office and to the King on these matters, ticularly his early years, was difficult. but he was unsuccessful in changing the As a professional researcher employed The glowing tributes paid the deceased status quo. Ready was a pragmatist, not a in England to track him down remarked, governor in the Manx Sun might well reformer; he put his energies into "I get the impression that this man did have been written on Prince Edward achieving the possible, and there is no not want any record kept of his back- Island. In both places, Ready was highly doubt that he accomplished much. Per- ground." Indeed, the private Ready is regarded for his political impartiality, haps his greatest feat was in convincing hard to get to know. There are only his official benevolence, and his private the common settler that he had their glimpses, such as the references in the kindness. But Ready's impact was prob- best interests at heart. Therein lay the Dalhousie Journal edited by Marjorie ably greatest in the little pioneer colony real secret of his popularity. Whitelaw and published by Ottawa's of Prince Edward Island. There Ready Oberon Press in 1982, and Ready's own had forged a remarkable, albeit brittle, correspondence with the Dukes of political consensus after the rancour and Sources Richmond, Lord Bathurst (the Colonial bitterness of C. D. Smith's regime. And Secretary), and Quebec reformer John there, under his active direction, trans- The material for this article was gath- Neilson. portation, education, and agriculture had ered in preparation for a profile of John The public man is accessible through all made great strides. Ready which appeared in Volume VIII of the usual sources: period newspapers But Ready had no magic wand. Deep- the Dictionary of Biography. Many of the from Quebec, Prince Edward Island, rooted problems continued to disturb human interest segments could not be Nova Scotia, and the Isle of Man; Jour- settlers and legislators alike. The fester- used in that biography, yet they are nals of the House of Assembly of Prince ing issues of land tenure and quit rents important t o an understanding of Ready's Edward Island and H. M. Council for the and the question of Council control over popularity, and I felt these segments time of his governorship; Acts of the the permanent revenue were insoluble would be of interest to readers of the The General Assembly; Colonial Office Cor- during Ready's tenure. He was diligent Island Magazine. respondence (CO 226, CO 227); and in forwarding petitions to the Colonial Piecing together Ready's story, par- War Office records at the Public Records Office in London. To these sources one might add the < Roncesvalles, Ready's imported stallion. Described as a dark bay with black legs, heletter s written from Charlottetown by stood 15 hands and three inches. The Prince Edward Island Register observed, "The horseMar y Fitzroy, daughter of the Duke of Roncesvalles is thorough bred and of the best blood in England -he is allowed by all judgesRichmon d and wife of Lt. Gov. Sir Charles to be a perfect model of strength and symmetry. He has been a very successful racer andFitzroy ; the Annual Register for 1845, has got remarkable [sic] fine stock in England, and from his bone and figure, is likelypublishe d in London; and James B. to improve the breed of horses here." The Royal Gazette recorded his death at "aboutPollard' 23 s Historical Sketch ... of Prince years of age" in 1838: "He was a great favourite here... and has left a very fine progenyEdward Island Military and Civil, pub- behind him . .." lished in Charlottetown in 1898. iSi

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