CHAPTER V.

1763-1775.

THE general course of events for some few years after the Treaty of Paris had little effect on the condition of Newfoundland. That treaty, while it had confirmed, had also more definitely fixed, the provisions of the Treaty of Utrecht, as respected the relations between the British fishermen and those of France. About the same time that this pacification was made, an increased importance was given to the governorship of the colony, by annexing to it all the coast of Labrador, from the entrance of Hudson's Strait to the river St. John's, opposite the west end of the island of Anticosti, including that island with any other smaller islands on the said coast of Labrador; also the islands of Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.'

A very brief period had passed away after the settlement concluded with France, when there sprang up symptoms of the amicable relations between the two countries being again disturbed, and a fresh appeal made to arms, and the cause of this threatened interruption proceeded from Newfoundland. It was a time when the public mind in England, not content

with the terms on which the late contest had been brought to an end, was in such an irritable state, that a very slight spark was sufficient to enkindle a flame, and this state of feeling, while it was fostered on one side by the unpopularity of the minister, was stimulated on the other by the exciting appeals of the notorious and popular John Wilkes. Such being the state of public sentiment, it is little wonder that when a sloop of war arrived from Newfoundland with the intelligence that the French had a formidable fleet on that coast that contrary to the stipulations of the late Treaty, they had manifested an intention to fortify the island of St. Peter's- and that the British squadron on that station was in no condition to prevent that measure— a violent outcry should be raised, and a new war declared to be necessary and inevitable. On further inquiry, however, it was found that the cause alleged for all this indignation had scarcely any foundation, and the ebullition of popular wrath soon expended itself, without evoking any international conflict or even dispute. The only result of the feelings that had been aroused was to lead the Ministry to put the fortifications of the island into a better state of defence.

The next great embroilment which Newfoundland was to witness, and from which it was destined to suffer, was that in which the parties engaged in hostilities with the mother-country were those transatlantic colonies which stood in the same relation to that country as itself. With the States of New

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England, the residents on the island and the adventurers prosecuting the fisheries were involved in the relations of a convenient, but not in all respects, a legal traffic. The western plantations were able to supply the colonists and the fishing ships with articles necessary for the voyage, such as provisions, tobacco, rum, &c., on easier terms than they could be procured from Great Britain, while the fish exchanged was a profitable article of trade to the vendors. The latter also found a great pecuniary advantage in seducing men from the fisheries, to meet the enormous demand for labourers in their own colonies. But in obtaining both classes of benefits, the Americans came into collision with the interests of the English merchants, whose constant endeavour was given to keep the trade in their own hands, and who did not like any invasion of their own labour market. Still, so advantageous was it to obtain provisions from the colonies, that even the merchants' ships and agents increasingly availed themselves of this means of supply, and in course of time came greatly to depend on it. The local position of the French in the island of St. Peter's greatly complicated the business, and led to extensive frauds on the revenue of the British Government. Ships left New England with a full cargo, part of which they discharged at St. Peter's, in return taking in wine, spirits, and various foreign goods, with which they proceeded to ports in Newfoundland, as if they had come direct from the port at which the vessel had received her clearance, and contriving to evade the local arrangements, landed

the cargo, mostly contraband, to the great profit of those engaged in the enterprise, and as it was alleged, to the demoralisation of the inhabitants and damage of the fisheries, as well as to the loss of the revenue. This was an evil which taxed the vigilance of successive governors, but it was so favoured by the people, that little could be done for its eradication, or even its diminution.

Indeed it appears that this gainful commerce between the Newfoundlanders and the New Englanders gradually infected the former with the same views and feelings which were soon to have such a strong manifestation on the part of the latter. They sympathised with the spirit of independence which had its determinate expounders in the citizens of Boston, so far at least as to desire to be emancipated from any Government exactions or fetters, which tended to check a desirable and profitable intercourse. But when the American colonies so extended their refractory demands as to make it evident that they were looking forward to complete independence, whatever sympathy had been felt towards them in the island evaporated, and was lost in a loyal clinging to the parent State.

In 1774 the Congress of the insurrectionary provinces came to a resolution to suspend all intercourse of trade by importation from Great Britain, and declared that unless their grievances were redressed, they would discontinue their exports to her possessions. In this resolution and intention there lay a terrible stroke to Newfoundland. When the non-importation

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decree reached England, the question arose whether they who had passed it should be allowed to participate in the lucrative trade of the fisheries. After a debate

in the Cabinet arising from suggestions as to the evil which the prohibition would inflict on the loyal subjects of the Crown, that measure was decided on with the consent of the merchants in the West of England engaged in the trade, who could probably see their own gain in it, whatever sufferings it might occasion. But, beside the immediate evils consequent on this step, they were followed by another which had not been calculated on. It had been imagined that the revolting States, deriving so much advantage from the export trade to the fisheries, would never do anything so suicidal as to deprive themselves of its benefits. But in this case, patriotic wrath prevailed over self-interest, and, in 1775, the Congress gave effect to the threat made a year before, by forbidding all exports to the British possessions. This was a resolution which fell with rapid and painful severity on Newfoundland. There the people, both resident and those periodically engaged in the voyage, had been so long used to obtain necessary supplies from America, and had grown to be so dependent on them, that the sudden stoppage of the stream threatened them with absolute famine, seeing that 2,000 miles of ocean intervened between the consumers and any other source whence their wants could be met. This was

the danger which actually impended as the result of the decree of the Congress. And, notwithstanding that as soon as it was known ships were sent away in