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being laid aside. In 1614 Captain Whitburn was sent out with a Commission from the Admiralty to empannel juries, and investigate the abuses complained of by the fishermen; he held a Court of Admiralty on his arrival, and immediately received complaints from the masters of 170 vessels. In two years from this period, Whitburn was appointed chief over a little colony of Welshmen, formed by Dr. William Vaughan on the south part of the island, named by him Cambriol (now Little Britain), and which he purchased from the patentees. But what may be considered the first permanent colony was established in 1623, by Sir George Calvert, afterwards Lord Baltimore, in order that he might enjoy the exercise of his religion, which was Roman Catholic. The settlers fixed their head-quarters at Ferry Low, spreading by degrees over all the bays in the northeastern peninsula. Lord Baltimore made his son governor over the colony, which he called Avalon; and soon after proceeded thither himself, and it increased and flourished under his management :-how his lordship contrived to set aside the former patentees is not known.

Avalon was the ancient name of Glastonbury in Somersetshire, where it is said Christianity was first preached in Britain: Lord Baltimore transferred the name to his new colony under the idea that it was the first place in North America where Christianity was established.

So important did the settlement of this colony now appear to the authorities at home, that we find the commissions directed to the Lord Treasurer, and

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others, "to erect a common fishery, as a nursery for seamen ;" and the first regulation for "governing of his Majesty's subjects inhabiting in Newfoundland, or trafficking in bays," &c. (a very interesting document) was issued by Charles I., and bears date 1633, about which time Lord Falkland sent a colony from Ireland to Newfoundland.

In 1654, Sir David Kirk obtained a grant from parliament of certain lands in Newfoundland, and proceeded thither with a few settlers; at this time, notwithstanding the constant bickerings between our people and the French, who had established a colony at Placentia, there were settlements effected in fifteen different parts of the island, altogether amounting to 300 families yet, strange to say, that for many years after this the Board of Trade and Plantations did everything in their power to prevent any settlers colonising on the island, and authorised the commission of various acts of cruelty on those who had settled!

Shortly after the accession of King William III., on war breaking out with France, one of the causes for which was set forth that, 66 of late the incroachments of the French upon Newfoundland, and his Majesty's subjects' trade and fishery there, had been more like the invasions of an enemy than becoming friends, who enjoyed the advantages of that trade only by permission." The French settlement was attacked

1 See conclusion of the section for an exposition of the exclusive right of fishing now claimed, and, strange to say, ezercised by the French.

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in September, 1692, by Commander Williams, but owing to the spirited conduct of the French Governor, the expedition succeeded in doing no more than burning the works on Point Vesti. On the other hand, in 1696, the Chevalier Nesmond, with a strong squadron of French ships, aided by the force on the island, made a descent on the town and harbour of St. John; but having totally failed he returned to France. Before the close of that year the French were, however, more successful, for another squadron arriving, under Brouillan, he, in concert with Ibberville, attacked St. John's, which being now short of military stores, and in a very defenceless state, was compelled to surrender. The French, however, did not retain it, but having set fire to the fort and town, sent the garrison on parole to England.

The French admiral appears to have done nothing further, in consequence of a misunderstanding with Ibberville, who commanded the troops, and who followed up his success by destroying all the British settlements, except those of Bonavista and Carbonia Harbour, failing before which, he returned to Placentia.

To retrieve these losses a British squadron, under Admiral Nevil, with 1500 troops, commanded by Sir John Gibson, was dispatched, but the cowardice of one commander, and the ignorance of the other, disappointed the anticipated results; in the meantime the peace of Ryswick put an end to hostilities, by replacing things in the position they were in prior to this war, and Sir John Norris was appointed governor, to see that the stipulations were properly ob

served. The government of Newfoundland was at this time an object of ambition, and we find it always conferred on some distinguished officer of the royal navy. Many acts of parliament were enacted to regulate the fisheries, conferring privileges on fishing ships, and prohibiting the importation of fish taken by foreigners in foreign ships.

Shortly after the declaration of war against France, in May, 1702, Sir John Leake was dispatched with a small squadron, to take possession of the whole island; and arriving from England in August, he partially effected the object of his mission, by destroying the French settlements at Trepassey, St. Mary's, Colinet, Great and Little St. Lawrence, and the island of St. Peters, and burning the fishing boats; he returned to England at the end of the year with twenty-three prizes.

In the following year Vice-Admiral Graydon, being ordered with a squadron to protect the plantations, arrived off the coast of Newfoundland August 2d: but owing to a fog, which continued with great density for thirty days, his ships were dispersed, and could not be brought together till the 3d of September. He now called a council of war, as to the practicability of attacking the strong hold of the French at Placentia, and it was decided that it would not be prudent to do so with the force at his disposal; on which he returned to England, without effecting more than protecting the trade by the presence of his fleet the Admiral was severely and justly censured for his conduct.

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The miscarriage of Graydon encouraged the French

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to attempt the conquest of the whole island; and the garrison of Placentia having been strongly reinforced from Canada, in the year 1705 five hundred men were dispatched under the command of Subercase, and made a resolute attack on Petty Harbour, a port within nine miles of St. John's, where they were repulsed; the French, however, devastated the different settlements, destroyed Fort Forillon, and spread their ravages coastwise as far as Bonavista.

In the year 1706, Captain Underdown, with only ten ships, destroyed many of the French vessels in the harbours along the coast, notwithstanding that the French had as many as ten armed vessels on that station, and by his activity and success gave a severe blow to their trade. Although parliament earnestly entreated the Queen to "use her royal endeavours to recover and preserve the ancient possessions, trade, and fisheries of Newfoundland," little attention was paid to this humble address, the whole disposable force being assigned to the Duke of Marlborough, at that time in the midst of his victorious career. The French, however, notwithstanding their repeated disasters on the continent, still continued to persevere in their endeavours for the expulsion of the English from Newfoundland, and accordingly, St. Ovide, the King's Lieutenant at Placentia, having effected a landing without opposition, or without being discovered, within five leagues of St. John's, attacked and completely destroyed that town, on the 1st of January, 1708.

Costabelle, the French Commander-in-Chief, next directed his force on Carbonia, the only settlement