EXTENT OF THE TRADE IN 1795. 169 exercising ground on the 12th inst. (August), at which time and place the Governor expects that all persons who, upon an emergency, can bear arms, will assemble for his inspection, when their different alarm-posts will be pointed out to them. This year passed away without bringing any attack to test the spirit of the people, or the value of the preparative measures made by the Governor against such an event. In this place, therefore, there may be fitly introduced a statement given to the world by some writer in 1796, and quoted by Anspach in his history of the colony, showing the extensive trade and fisheries carried on in the previous year. The statement was made at a time when serious apprehensions were entertained in England respecting the safety of its dependency. To give a proper idea of the trade of the Island of Newfoundland, and its consequence to this kingdom, the following is a statement of its produce, and of the property employed therein during the last year, viz. 1795:— 400 sail of shipping, 38,000 tons at per ton 3,700 frails of salmon at per frail 3,300 tons of oil at per ton 4,900 seal skins at . 2,000 shallops and boats valued, large and small, with their fishing craft, upon an F d 7 0 0 18 0.10 0 2 0 0 25 0 4 0 30 0 0 Sundry merchandise, at that time in store, amounting in value to about three hundred thousand pounds. Making an aggregate of nearly one million, two hundred thousand pounds. The alarm felt in the mother-country in reference to such a valuable possession, was partially justified in the year following that respecting which the above statistics are given. On September 2, the citizens of St. John's were publicly notified of the gravity of the situation in which they were placed by the following proclamation :— Whereas a large fleet of the enemy's ships are now off this harbour, and I have every reason to think they intend to attack this town and garrison; the better to be enabled to make a proper defence, I deem it expedient that martial law should be proclaimed, and it is hereby proclaimed accordingly. Given under my hand at Fort Townshend, September 2, 1796. JAS. WALLACE. Along with this proclamation, general orders were given out directing different classes how to conduct themselves to meet the peril to which they were exposed. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was to be under arms-a captain's picquet to mount at sunset-an encampment to be struck; and officers and men to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning. The seamen and others that had offered their services were to obey the commanding officer of the fort or battery to which they were assigned. The magistrates were enjoined on their their peril to see that no person person of any district whatsoever should be permitted to travel from harbour to harbour without a pass from the Governor, or those deputed by him. The signals were also made known by which to distinguish the king's ships from those of the enemy, 'when in action.' APPREHENSIONS OF INVASION. 171 A letter written by the Governor, apparently for the information of the Lords of the Admiralty, explains with some detail the occasion of this excitement and precaution as it appeared to those who occupied the scene of danger : Be pleased to inform their Lordships, that early in the morning of the 1st inst. nine ships of war were seen from the point of Petty Harbour, about two leagues from hence. They were observed to detain some fishing boats, and continued for some time manoeuvring and reconnoitring off Cape Spear. At three o'clock in the evening they stood in for the harbour. We had various accounts of their strength, but enclosed is one I think may be depended on. They stood backwards and forwards across the harbour. Night coming on we could not observe their further motions. But at nine o'clock in the morning of the 2nd inst. they were seen standing to the southward. Early in the morning of the 3rd they were seen about a league from the land to the northward. About twelve, a frigate came from the southward, and joined them. About two, the whole stood in within two or three miles from Fort Amherst, and hove to. The leading ship of the line had a national jack at the maintopgallant mast head. At half-past three, they filled and stood off. At six, they were seen standing in again towards Cape Spear. At seven in the evening of the 4th, I received an express informing me that the squadron was in the Bay of Bulls; on the 5th that they had set the town on fire; on the 6th a gale of wind came on, and prevented their further progress; on the 8th they unmoored, and got under weigh. We are not able to guess their design, or what they will further attempt. You will see by the enclosed (No. 2), what has been done for the defence of the place. The above letter contained two enclosures, the first of which gave the testimony of an eye-witness, who had been appointed to watch the movements of the enemy, and describing the squadron as consisting of one eighty, six seventy-fours and one thirty-eight gun frigate. The second enclosure thus sets forth the means of defence for the capital:— The force at St. John's consists of one fifty, two frigates, and a sloop of war, as named in the margin, the Royal Artillery and Newfoundland regiment, 561, and the volunteers 52 men, which is greatly inadequate, if we consider the extent of the posts we have to defend; but every precaution has been taken to prevent their (the enemy) succeeding, should they either attempt to land on this part of the island, or to force the harbour. All the troops are drawn out, and the batteries manned by them or the inhabitants, and martial law proclaimed. I have laid an embargo on the trade, &c. &c., in this port, and allotted different stations to the masters of the several ships and their crews; I have thrown a boom across the harbour, and fitted out the fire-ships, and so stationed the squadron, that, with the assistance of the forts, I should scarcely think they would succeed, were they hardy enough to make the attempt. The principal exploits of this fleet, which excited so much alarm, was the complete destruction of the little town in the Bay of Bulls, the burning of several vessels and boats, and the taking some prisoners, among whom was the magistrate of the district. The enemy proved to be the French squadron under RearAdmiral Richery. From the declarations made subsequently by two masters of vessels who had been taken prisoners, it appears that Admiral Richery had hoped to be at St. John's before the arrival of the Governor, and by running into the harbour, make an easy and speedy capture; but was greatly disappointed ABANDONMENT OF THE INVASION. 173 on learning that Sir James Wallace was there before him, and prepared to defend the town. One of the declarants gives some interesting details of conversations had with him on board the Jupiter, the French Flag ship. Being asked when at the Bay of Bulls, the distance from thence to St. John's, and how the road was, he informed them that the road was very bad and narrow, that only one man could go on it at once, and it was impossible to take cannon. On this, the officer with whom he was conversing said, that they did not intend to take cannon, but to march as quick as possible, summon the garrison to surrender, and in case of refusal, they would take it sword in hand, and put everyone to death without distinction of either age or sex.' This witness, even when a captive, did not shrink from the duty of telling a lie for the good of his country, for when he was asked what strength there was at St. John's, he informed them, 5,000 at least, and that had they attempted the harbour, they would not have succeeded, as there was a boom and a chain across it, and 200 guns would play upon them at the same time.' He naïvely adds, 'they seemed to doubt the number of the men, but on his repeating it, the officer to whom he was speaking went to Admiral Richery and they conversed together, and from that time he thinks all thought of attacking St. John's was given up.' Considerable alarm had been occasioned in England by the first accounts of these events in Newfoundland, the news being to the effect that the French had actually landed 1,500 men at the Bay of Bulls and |