candidate in opposition to the Government nominee. His candidature was successful. The Commissioner was defeated, and Mr. Laird secured a seat in the Assembly. A good deal of dissatisfaction had been excited by the proceedings of the Local Government in connection with the construction of the road, the result being that Mr. Pope, when he next met the House, found he had lost the confidence of the majority, and being defeated, he dissolved the House and appealed to the country. The appeal was disastrous to his policy, a majority of the members returned being hostile to his Government. Among these was Mr. Laird, who was elected a second time for Belfast. A new Government was formed with Mr. R. P. Haythorne as Premier. During the following autumn Mr. Laird accepted office in this Government, and was sworn in as a Member of the Executive Council in November, 1872. Finding that if the railway were proceeded with on the credit of Prince Edward Island alone, the Provincial finances would be seriously embarrassed, the new Ministers responded favourably to an invitation from Ottawa to reconsider the question of Union. Mr. Laird formed one of the delegation which proceeded to Ottawa and negotiated terms of Union with the Dominion Government. After the return of the delegates the Local House was dissolved in order that the terms agreed upon might be submitted to the people. A good deal of finesse was practised by the Opposition, and various side issues were imported into the election contest. The result was the return of a majority hostile to Mr. Haythorne's Ministry, and Mr. Pope again succeeded to the reins of Government. Under his auspices the terms of Union were slightly modified, and Prince Edward Island entered Confederation.