With a lack of financial return, on considerable outlays, with indifferent tenants, some refusing to pay their rents, a 'distracted' estate manager, knowing of the Worrell sale, it was perhaps finally the tensions falling out of 'Land Purchase Act', that would cause the 6th Earl to consider selling his PEI holdings. In 1853, the Island's 'Land Purchase Act' sought to empower it to 'force' the purchase of estates from absentee proprietors, who had not met the financial responsibilities of their land grant, a first effort was unsuccessful as it could not be legally enforced, the proprietors could not be forced to sell, and the government lacked the funds for their purchase.