PAMPHLETS OF DR. CARSON.

289

Contemporaneous with the advancing prospect of the return of peace, there had sprung up with speedy growth the forerunners of internal conflicts, which were to be the occasion of new anxieties to the governors of Newfoundland. This change may be attributed to various causes-the rapid increase of the population, the great prosperity of the latter years of the war, the abnormal state of the administration of the country as compared with other colonies, and the general dissemination of ideas in regard to the rights of self-government by the people. The inhabitants of St. John's had doubled in numbers during the nine years from 1805 to 1814, and the increase was almost entirely due to immigration from Ireland, therefore composed of people that seem to have a special aptitude to encourage the vocation of an agitator. This vocation, as pursued for political purposes, seems to have been inaugurated in 1812, and was the occasion of such trouble to Sir John Duckworth, that he brought it before the notice of the Secretary of State, in a communication to whom he gives the information that a pamphlet had recently appeared written by Dr. Carson, a physician in St. John's, of a very libellous character concerning the authorities and the system of government in the colony. Sir John also stated that he understood that another was preparing by the same pen, of a still more infamous character; and he thought it was a matter which called for some interposition by the functionaries of the law.

The second of these pamphlets thus alluded to

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made its appearance in 1813, and was brought before the notice of the Earl of Bathurst by Sir Richard Keats, who prefaced his account of it by 'lamenting that the state of comparative happiness prevailing in Newfoundland should suffer any interruption by the arts of wicked and designing men, who by an abuse of the mild laws under which we live, by poisonous publications, and on frivolous and groundless pretexts, are increasing in their endeavours to fill the minds of the unwary with suspicions, and to bring into disrespect and contempt the government by which they are protected.' His Excellency declared that the practice of this vicious conduct was of very recent date in Newfoundland, its root and origin lying no farther back than the preceding year;' but he adds, 'the progress has been very rapid.' Emboldened perhaps by the pamphlet first referred to by Sir John Duckworth passing unpunished, the author immediately produced a second equally vicious, though not equally libellous.

Copies of the second pamphlet thus described are still in existence, and can be referred to by those who are curious to see how far the first attempts to elicit a demand for legislative institutions in the community deserve the very inculpatory terms applied to them. To the author of this history, who has read the pamphlet, it does not appear that there was anything dangerously disloyal or immoral about it, or indeed anything specially offensive, saving a few hard words concerning the despotism, pride and ignorance ascribed to the governors of Newfoundland. The

RISING POLITICAL FEELING.

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real sting of the pamphlet was its truthfully expounding the unnatural position in which the colony was placed in respect to its rulers, and its setting forth the absolute necessity for a radical change, arising from the extensive growth of the population, and the new social elements which had been attendant on that growth.

The worst evil to be apprehended from the pamphlet arose not so much from what it contained as from the character of the people among whom it was disseminated. This evil is thus touched on in Sir Richard Keats' letter-As the consequences of such publications on the minds of people perhaps too easily influenced, and too open to the arts of seduction, cannot be estimated by any comparison with effects produced by similar acts in a country in which they are common, I have deemed it my duty not to suffer them to pass unnoticed to your lordship. The authors of these scurrilities by taking to themselves credit for having forced Government into the late measure of granting lands, and other low arts, are fast acquiring a consequence and popularity, not very favourable to the quiet and subordination of the people, the effects of which begin to be visible in the conduct of some magistrates seemingly intimidated in the execution of their duty.'

But notwithstanding the dislike of His Majesty's representative and the timorous forebodings of some of His Majesty's subjects, the leaven of a demand for local legislation and government had been introduced, and was not to be eliminated, but to go on doing its

fermenting work, until the majority of the better classes, from patriotic or ambitious motives, should be influenced by it, and these in their turn, directing the more ignorant minds of the great body of the labouring population, should produce a clamorous cry sufficiently strong to obtain the coveted boon from the Imperial Parliament.

Besides the manifestations of a rising political feeling, St. John's witnessed the outbreak of disturbances having another origin, and some of which were of a character as ludicrous as alarming. In the early part of the year 1815, a great panic seems to have possessed the merchants and principal inhabitants on the subject of mad dogs, in consequence of which the court of sessions (the grand jury having made a presentment that hydrophobia actually existed among the dogs in the town) issued an order to the effect that all dogs whatsoever found at large and unmuzzled should be destroyed; a reward of five shillings being offered for each dog so destroyed. This notice excited strong feelings among the lower orders, by whom dogs were esteemed a necessary household appendage. A few days after the putting out of the proclamation, the Chief Justice on his arrival at the courthouse had put into his hands a letter sealed and directed to him, which had been fixed against the gates of the courthouse. The following is a copy of the letter, transcribed verbatim et literatim:

THREATENING LETTER TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE. 293

To the Honorable Cesar Colcough, Esq., Chief Judge in the Supreme Court of St. John's, and in and over the Island of Newfoundland, &c., &c., &c.

The humble petition of the distress of St. John's in general most humbly sheweth : —

That the poor of St. John's are very much oppressed by different orders from the Court House, which they amigine is unknown to your Lordship, Concerning the killing and shooting their doggs, without the least sine of the being sick or mad. Wee do hope that your Lordship will check the Justices that was the means of this evil Proclamation against the Interest of the poor Families, that their dependance for their Winter's Fewel is on their Doggs, and likewise several single men that is bringing out Wood for the use of the Fishery, if in case this business is not put back it will be the means of an indeferent business as ever the killing the Doggs in Ireland was before the rebellion the first Instance will be given by killing Cows and Horses, and all other disorderly Vice that can be comprehened by the Art of Man.

Wee are sorry for giveing your Lordship any uneasines for directing any like business to your Honour, but Timely notice is better than use any voilance. What may be the cause of what we not wish to ment at present, by puting a stop to this great evil. Wee hope that our Prayrs will be mains of obtaining Life Everlasting for your Lordship in the world to come.

Mercy wee will take, and Mercy wee will give.

This communication produced a considerable degree of angry apprehension among the guardians of the public peace. It was viewed as indicating in a portion of the lower classes of the people a spirit similar to that which brought forth evil fruits in Ireland. The Chief Justice looked upon the letter as of such a threatening character that he put forth a proclamation