of settlers, within the laid down ten-year deadline; or forfeiting the lot, under conditions of Distraint, for failing in the first four years to settle even one third of the lot. Arguing for Escheat, a text published by John Stewart, in 1806, recalled that Lot 62 had previously been the subject of no effort to satisfy the conditions of settlement; 1769: Lot 62 – "Nothing Done", 1779: Lot 62 – "Nothing Done" (Report of Settlement Progress 1769 to 1779), and 1797: Lot 62 – "Not One Settler Resident There On" (House of Assembly Resolution Notes). A second possibility is that Sir Richard's estate, and heirs may not have had any interest in paying, speculating on an eventual sale, without any actual investment, or not having the means to pay their Quit-rent and it was lost for none payment of arrears. The annual charge to Lot 62, from 1767, at 4s per 100 acres, being 40 £ pounds, accumulating as debt, up to 1797, would amount to an arrear of £1,200 pounds. The move to have lands forfeited for non-payment of Quit-rent became very much a political issue in PEI, this long after the initial deferral of all Quit-rent in the first five years, of the grant, and their half reduction into the first ten years. Actually protected from Distraint and Escheat, by London, it is most likely that Lot 62 was 'simply' sold to discharge the accumulating debt, a land speculation inherited from an uncle, an investment gone bad. The Spry estate would have long heard of actions of the PEI Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly, pressing on the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Home Government, in its efforts to finally act on Quit-rent arrears. As in 1802, the Home Government classified Lot 62, as a 'township wholly unoccupied', and the proprietors were deemed obligated to pay fifteen years Quit-Rent, in lieu of all arrears, up to 1 May 1801. Noted as a great relief and an encouragement to sell, with a considerable reduction, having to pay £600 on a debt of now £1,340, and getting money in a sale, the Spry heirs were probably most anxious to dispose of their 20 000 acres, as were others, as nearly one third of the unsettled PEI lots were sold and transferred, in 1803. The Scottish Highlanders and The 5th Earl of Selkirk Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk