island then as they do at the present time, viz. about one-fifth, then the entire population of the colony would be somewhat over 8,000 in 1780; or if, as is more likely at that period, St. John's had not so large a proportion of the whole population as it has now, then the figures would more nearly approximate to those given by the writers before mentioned.

In 1787 Dr. Inglis was appointed Bishop of Nova Scotia, and in the same year the Governor of Newfoundland received royal instructions, informing him that that island was within the see of the said Bishop, to whom His Excellency was enjoined to give all fit support and countenance, in the exercise of his jurisdiction, spiritual and ecclesiastical, according to the laws of the realm of England. The Governor was in the same instrument commanded to permit liberty of conscience, and the free exercise of all modes of religious worship, to all persons in the island, who should be contented with a quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the same without giving offence or scandal to government.

In the same year a curious petition was presented to the Governor, signed by the chief merchants of St. John's, representing that they saw with sorrow the public houses in this extensive and populous harbour reduced from twenty-four to only twelve,' and giving as a reason for their regret that this diminution had very considerably decreased the strength of the civil power, as every publican served the office of constable-'there being no regulation so effectual to secure the attachment of persons serving

NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS.

155

that office to the magistrates and consequently produce a readiness to serve when called upon in cases of emergency.' Without staying to remark on the morality of the motive here attributed to the guardians of the peace, it may be said, that if all the publicans in St. John's in this year (1863) were efficient constables, the capital would be in no want of police.

One of the native productions for which Newfoundland is famous in other countries is its dogs. But from a proclamation by Governor Edwards in 1780 it appears that either there was then manifest that corruption of the breed which is so plain to visitors who look on the canine varieties which abound in St. John's at this day, or that their beauty was more than counterbalanced by their noxiousness, which also is a very common complaint at the present time. The following is the text of the proclamation :—

Whereas it has been represented to me that the number of dogs kept by merchants, boatkeepers, and others in this town is become a very great nuisance and injury to the inhabitants, I do therefore hereby give notice that if, after the 31st day of August, any merchant, boatkeeper, or others shall be legally convicted of keeping more than one dog, he or they so offending shall pay a fine of twenty shillings for every dog above one kept by him or them; and I do hereby authorise any and every person to kill all the dogs above one known to be kept by any merchant, boatkeeper, or others as aforesaid.

Free trade, as involving the right of an individual to sell in the dearest market what he had bought in a cheap one, does not seem to have been recognised by the authorities in St. John's eighty years ago, as witness the following record:

At a court held in the Court House in St. John's, 19th Sept. 1781.

Present: His Excellency the Governor, two Justices, and the Sheriff.

Luke Ryan was ordered to attend the court to answer a complaint made against him for selling beef at 1s. 3d. per lb., in contradiction to the Governor's order of the 19th of August, which positively directed that no person shall ask more than 1s. per lb. for beef, veal, or mutton.

He appeared, and acknowledged to have gained the hide, offal, and 57. upon the cow he bought on Thursday last, by selling it at the above exorbitant price. He was therefore fined 107.

In 1778, a dispute arising between the merchants and boatkeepers in Harbour Grace, the latter charging the former with putting exorbitant prices on the goods given out for the fish, Governor Edwards settled the dispute in a peremptory manner by ordering the parties to regulate their respective charges and accounts by the prices at St. John's. The following table will show the difference which led to the complaint :

FIRST INTRODUCTION OF COAL.

157

One other item deserves to be mentioned before bringing this chapter to a close, as it refers to the introduction of an article which has become of prime necessity in St. John's. In the year 1784, a letter was received by the Governor, dated Whitehall, informing him that orders had been transmitted to the chief magistrate in the island of Cape Breton to give permission to load and carry away any quantity of coals that might be wanted for the use of the troops, and for any public services in the island of Newfoundland. The reason assigned for this order is the growing difficulty of procuring firewood within a convenient distance of the capital. The article, the importation of which was thus authorised, now forms a considerable item in the imports of St. John's, and contributes largely to the comfort of the inhabitants.

In the year 1862 the import of coal reached 37,494 tons.

The letter in which the information was conveyed to the Governor, as mentioned above, bears the signature Sydney' (Lord Sydney, Secretary of State), and Sydney is not only the capital of Cape Breton, but also contains the field from which Newfoundland derives its coal, which is commonly designated as Sydney coal.

CHAPTER VII.

1788-1800.

ADMIRAL MARK MILBANKE was appointed Governor of Newfoundland in the year 1789. He entered on his office at a period when there were no outward signs of disturbance to the ordinary pursuits of the colony, and which seemed therefore favourable to the establishment of internal regulations, the want of which had become very manifest. It was a time, too, in which the world at large was in a state of peace, without cause for serious apprehension of international convulsions and strife. Yet this same year there was rising in France a movement which was to advance with rapid strides to an accomplished revolution-at first to be regarded with admiring sympathy and hope, and then to provoke indignation and fear, but still destined to march on until it embraced all the nations of Europe, afflicting them with the plague of war for a quarter of a century.

By this wide-spread commotion, in which Great Britain had a distinguished part to play, Newfoundland was to be shaken from its repose and gravely affected in its various interests, as will appear in the following pages. But before entering on the facts