a British colony in North America, on the S. side of the Gulf of St Lawrence, between N. Lat. 45° 58' and 47° 10', W. Long. 62° and 64° 20'; separated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on the S. by Northumberland Strait. Its length from E. to W. is about 130 miles, its greatest breadth is 34, and its area 2173 square miles. Its form is very irregular, and its surface is neither mountainous nor monotonously flat, but, like that of New Brunswick, is agreeably diversified with hill and dale. There are no mountains properly so called, but a chain of hills intersects the island from N. to S. about its middle. It abounds with streams and springs of the purest water; and numerous arms of the sea penetrate so far inland that no part of the country is more than 8 miles removed from the flux and reflux of the tide. When first seen, it presents the aspect of a flat country, covered with trees to the margin of the ocean; but, on a nearer approach, the more inviting prospect discloses itself of villages and farms situated in valleys or on green and gentle declivities, with the other smiling features which result from agricultural industry or spontaneous fertility. Unlike Cape Breton, Newfoundland, and other contiguous islands, Prince Edward Island is very rarely visited by fogs; and although the winter is equally severe, the transitions from one extreme to another are less violent. The heat of summer is less extreme than it is in Lower Canada, whilst the cold is not so intense during the winter. Altogether the climate is very salubrious, and there are few countries where health is enjoyed with less interruption.

The soil is fertile, and consists of a thin layer of black or brown mould, composed of decayed vegetables, superimposed upon a light loam. This extends about one foot downwards, and then a stiff clay, resting upon sandstone, predominates. The latter rock is the base of the island, and it appears to extend under the bed of Northumberland Strait, into the contiguous islands, and also into the continent. A solitary block of granite occasionally presents itself; but neither limestone, gypsum, nor coal have been discovered, although their presence was to have been expected from the occurrence of the sandstone formation. Indeed, no minerals of any importance have been found here, and building-stone is so scarce as to be imported from Nova Scotia. A great part of the island was formerly covered with wood, and though large portions have been removed, either for export or to make room for cultivation, there are still considerable remains of the primeval forests. Pine, birch, maple, beech, and other trees are those that compose the forests of the island.

Amongst the quadrupeds native to the island may be mentioned bears, once very numerous and destructive, but now much reduced; lynxes, foxes, hares, and various kinds of fur-bearing animals, whose numbers have been very much diminished. During summer and autumn seals frequent the shores, and they come down in great numbers on the ice of the Polar seas after it has broken up. The rivers abound with excellent fish, such as trout, eel, mackerel, flounders, oysters, lobsters (the last two being very large and very fine), and the coast with cod-fish and herrings. The fisheries of Prince Edward Island are among the best in the Gulf of St Lawrence, but they are not prosecuted to any great extent by the inhabitants. In 1855, 11,249 quintals and 6089 barrels of fish, to the value of L12,093, were exported from the colony.

Prince Edward Island is essentially an agricultural colony, for which its climate, soil, and the configuration of its surface, admirably adapt it. All kinds of grain and vegetables raised in England arrive here at perfection. Crops of wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, turnips, peas and beans, are raised in abundance and of excellent quality. The produce in 1855 was 357,078 bushels of wheat, 110,629 of barley, 1,380,950 of oats, 1,673,345 of potatoes, 756,557 of turnips, 20,959 of buck-wheat, 618 lb. of clover-seed, and 3112 tons of hay. Sheep, cattle, and swine thrive well in the island, and the horses, though small, are strong and hardy. The colony had in 1855, 14,513 horses, 55,159 horned cattle, 98,049 sheep, and 32,207 goats. The breed of useful animals generally has been much improved of late years, and agriculture has made decided advances. The manufactures of Prince Edward Island are of little importance, being chiefly destined for domestic use. Linen and flannel, woollen cloth and leather, are the principal articles made. Ship-building, however, is extensively carried on. The number of vessels built in 1854 was 106, tonnage 24,111, value L168,777; in 1855 the number was 90, tonnage 14,451, value L86,706. The commerce of the island consists in the export of timber, agricultural produce and live stock; and the importation of manufactured goods, iron, hardware, wines, spirits, tea, tobacco, &c. With the exception of timber, which is all sent to the United Kingdom, the produce of the island finds its chief market in the United States and the British colonies of North America; the imports come in nearly equal quantities from these three sources. The total value of the imports in 1855 was L268,516, and that of the exports L144,732. The total number of vessels that entered in the same year was 962, tonnage 53,003; those that cleared were 962, tonnage 60,669. The government of the colony is similar to that of Nova Scotia, of which it once formed a part. There is a lieutenant-governor, with a salary of L1,500; an executive council of nine, appointed by the lieutenant-governor and confirmed by the crown; a legislative council of six, appointed by the crown; and a house of assembly of twenty-four popularly-elected members. The public revenue amounted in 1855 to L28,054, and the expenditure to L30,193. About a half of the people are Roman Catholics, about a third Presbyterians, and a ninth Episcopalians. The whole number of churches in the island in 1855 was 127. The number of schools in the same year was 247, attended by 12,187 scholars; and the amount of public money expended for education was L7,946. The population of Prince Edward Island is of mixed origin, about a fourth being emigrants from the United Kingdom, and the rest natives of the country, descended from the French Acadians, or from Scotch settlers, or from loyalists from the United States, who came hither after the Revolution. The colony is divided into three counties, and the capital is Charlotte Town, on an inlet on the south coast.

This island was discovered by Cabot on the 24th of June 1497, being St John's day, and hence derived its original name of St John. The English, however, neglected to avail themselves of this right of possession; and the French, who appear at first to have entertained more correct views of its importance, took possession of it when they made the conquest of Canada, apparently without any remonstrance on the part of Britain. For a long period it continued attached to the crown of France, but it was conquered by Great Britain in 1758. At that time the population in the various settlements appears not to have amounted to 6000. At the peace of 1763 this colony and Cape Breton were confirmed to Britain, and annexed to the government of Nova Scotia; and a plan of settlement was agreed to by which the island was divided into townships, of about 20,000 acres each, granted to individuals who were considered as having claims on the government, and who were to pay a small sum as quit-rent. The plan, however, was unsuccessful, as the grants were in many cases merely used for the purpose of speculation. In 1768 the island was erected into a separate government from that of Nova Scotia, at the request of a majority of the proprietors, and a governor was appointed, who set vigorously about settling the island, and under whom it made gradual progress in prosperity. The colony obtained a complete constitution in 1773, when the first house of assembly met. During the American war it continued true to the interests of the mother country, and was restored to by ships of war, as well as converted into a military station. As a mark of respect for the Duke of Kent, commander of the British army in America in 1799, and at the same time to remove the confusion of a name common to it with the capital of Newfoundland and New Brunswick, the island was then named Prince Edward Island, a designation it has since retained. Since that period no event has occurred of such moment as to require particular mention here. Pop. (1855) 71,502.