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I -M-l 1 .- 1 . 0^(lnhv / *JLtwi£ hit ft ■kW y^iMIr BfU' t .>*-Au^40nx' 2^ C.w w ^ -mtJyu/vt V,ll\i.V OF Table r' WH'Ti; 1- •™*'*X^j- AND / S'^ L AW H hliXr E n. ..«, ^' Bttll A r i. o A .V T / C C E A N 7W^-^''"^ lf">-nd I'ort M ''*i^n.f^iri rge r to IJ2«2 (to J Ttatcm' C ChaptokLl ^"^^ f- S^Marv , 1.— -. . — -^. — ,^ «^7 f.orufi^utU HWr Ti^ rriMti Of^fmtm'U-^. .-*:f,-i.H»fV,- T .-Tr-T rjv^/-n / ■r*'»j.- "-'• -T_. ■^-■■- ., Sf f " ■! ( i » » ^ . r -J ■f ? % .'^ I ' ■ 'If-- .. ■v^- V ' H'h •M> J*4 h t i .1 f I- %\ 'A ■■-i / l; '"jf.y ■::'%^ "■'m^. .. - f >?■■ vis / (/) (/> a TEXT-BOOK OK NEWFOUNDLAND HISTORY, FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. BY THE REV. M. HARVEY, Author of " Xf If found land— the Oldest Britinh Colony;" "Lectures, Literary and Biogruphhul; " Articles, " Xeiofoundlund " and "Labrador," in the Encyclojtcedia Britunniva, etc - 'i: *,' ', COJN^TEJSTTS. Page CHAPTER I. FiKST Disco VEKiKs o CIIAr»TEK 11. The IJei) Indians, ok Aboriginal Inhabitants of New- foundland .... o- 2o CHAPTER in. EXI'LOKATION AND SETTLEMENT OF AmEHICA .... 35 CHAPTER IV. England takes Possession of Newfoundland ... 42 CHAPTER V. The Fisheries «. CHAPTER Vi. , . , Whitbouune's Commission . . „, 61 CHAPTER VII. Contemporary Events .... m • • • • . oo CHAPTER VIII. The French in Newfoundland . -. 74 ^ CHAPTER IX. ^'>^J^t^ '■•-., r-r- ;,.».•.:,:.::• - Condition of the Early Settlers . . . ' , ^ - %? Ift) ■ :;^:V :'..,':,, .-' :-';■. ^ chapter X. .y-M ■.-.;..vr/&s;u!:,- ■.' , ■ Renewed Efforts of the French to Conquer Newfound- LAND ..... «.» CHAPTER XI. "The Seven Years' War" ... oo • • • • wo 6 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page CHAPTER Xn. Palliser's Act . 108 CHAPTER XHI. Commercial Disasters 124 CHAPTER XIV. Important Events . , 149 CHAPTER XV. Conclusion 164 Appendix 175 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Page Citj* of St. John's Frontispiece Columbus 13 Sebastian Cabot 15 Amerigo Vespucci 17 Wigwam Point 31 Jacques Cai'tier 45 Sir Hunii)hrey Gilbert 47 Sir Walter Raleigh 49 Sir Francis Drake 55 Lord Baltimore 63 Cecil, Second Lord Baltimore 65 Placentia facing page 74 Bett's Cove Harbour facing page 151 Government House, St. John's 157 Church of England Cathedral, St. John's 135 Roman Catholic Cathedral, St. John's 167 Cochrane-street Methodist Church, St. John's .... 169 St. Andrew's Jriwsbyterian Church, St. John's . . . .171 Roman Catholic Cathedral, Harbour Grace 173 IJN^TEODUOTION. At first sight it might be supposed that there was little worthy of attention in the history of Newfoundland. The general im- pression about it, till lately, has been that it is merely a barren, fog-enveloped island, where a few thousand fishermen secure a precarious existence by catching and curing the fish which abound in its waters. " What," it might be asked, " can there be worth knowing regarding their achievements? The tale must be barren and uninteresting." I submit that this is a great mistake. The story of this colony connects itself with the history of both England and America, and presents points of tiie deepest interest. The first i^orth American land which was discovered was the shores of this island. In the New World England's flag first floated here. Her first attempt at colonization was made here. Her first success in maritime discovery was won here. In prosecuting the fisheries of New- foundland English sailors first learned how to rule the waves. The wealth derived from these fisheries added largely to Eng- land's greatness, and for many years these fisheries were the best nursery for her seamen. Great and heroic men took part in the early colonization of the island, and the glory which their names shed on its history should never be forgotten. In later times the history of the island connected itself closely with that of the other British colonies of North America, and it had a share in the great conflicts which decided their destiny. On its shores a race of haiuy, industrious men created a home for themselves, in spite of difldculties, opposition, and oppression. The battle of freedom was fought and won here by determined, much-enduring men, though it was a bloodless conflict. Through toils and sufferings of no ordinary severity the colony won its way to self-government, and '" attainment of its constitutional rights and liberties. The story of this ancient colony is, therefore, neither unim- 8 INTRODUCTION. I, portant nor uninstructive. To its own people, in particular, a knowledge of the struggles and vicissitudes through which it has passed cannot fail to be of deep interest and importance. This is especially true regarding the young, on whom the hopes of its future largely depend. They should be early fa- miliarized witli the history of their own country. Before they can love their country intelligently, and cherish that patriotic feeling x^hich will lift them above mere party or selfish con- siderations, and enable them to feel an honest pride in heir island-home, and to labour for its advancement, they must ac- quaint themselves with its history. In this little volume I have endeavoured to present a brief his- torical sketch of Newfoundland, which may interest and inform the minds of the young, and be adapted for use in schools and academies ; while it may also serve to impart a knowledge of the country's past to those of mature years who have not time for the study of larger works on the subject. No school history of New- foundland has yet been published. It will be a source of gratifi- cation to me if I have succeeded in meeting a want which has long been felt, by supplying a history which teachers can use with advantage. M. HAKVEY. St. John's, Newfoundland, , 1885. I !■ f-* 1 ■', V--.^ Give the boundaries of Newfoundland. Where are the Straits of Belle Isle? Gulf of St. Lawrence? Labrador? Cape Breton? Show the positions of Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Rhode Island. Where are Genoa, Venice, Palos, San Salvador? Trace the course of Columbus to the Bahamas. Point out Japan and China. Where is Bristol? Trace Cabot's first voyage. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS IN CHAPTER I. The Northmen. — In the ninth and tenth centuries, the Noraemen, or Vikings, were the terror of Christendom. From their rugged strong- holds in Norway and Deumark, they issued in their light barques, ravag- ing the shores of Southern Europe, carrying terror and destruction wherever they went. Their skill in the management of their ships was marvellous. The affrighted dwellers on the shore saw them fearlessly careering over the stormiest seas, with all sails set. No port was safe from their attacks. Passing up the rivers in their small boats, they as- sailed the inland towns, bui'uinsr and slaying. They were heathen of the most ferocious type, without fear or pity. They regarded the sea as their proper domain, and all that was to be found on it as their lawful prey. England felt the weight of their strong arms. They ravaged its cities and planted a powerful kingdom within its boundaries, which required all the skill and courage of the Saxon King Alfred to subdue. In France the Northmen seized and held Normandy, and from this vantage ground, in 1066, they invaded and conquered Saxon England. With all their wild energy and destructiveness, we can now see, on calmly looking back, that this people, mingling with the other nati' is of Europe, imparted to them many elements of valor, strength, and greatness. The English of to-day have a large mixture of Scandinavian blood in their veins, to which they owe some of their best qualities. Such were the wild sea-rovers who, before all other pale-faced men, looked on the shores of Newfoundland, and first colonized the American continent. The Norsemen's Sagas. — Saga is a Norse woi-d, and denotes a talc or poem founded on oi*al tradition, and gradually moulded into a written form. The old Icelandic, Nonvegian, and Danish literature has of late yeai-s engaged the attention of scholars, and consists largely of these half-historical, half-mythical sagas, some of which have been translated into English. They belong from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries. The Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians at Copenhagen has given special attention to this literature. i '! .1 ! Ill I I I I iiifi 22 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. Christopher Columbus. — Born at Genoa about the year 1435. He was the son of a cloth- weaver. When a youth, he acquired a good knowledge of the Latin language, and of geometry, astronomy, and nav- igation. At the age of fourteen he went to sea, being drawn to it by an irresistible longing. For twenty years he was either constantly voyaging or making chai-ts. When thirty-five years of age he came to Portugal, drawn by the fame of its sea-captains and maritime discoveries. Thence he passed to Spain, and obtained the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella. When he retm-ned after his great discoverv, he; was received with all the honors of a triumphant conqueror ; and the poor Genoese sailor became the most famous man in all the world. He made three more voyages, in the last of which he discovered, in 1498, the mainland of America, at the mouth of the river Orinoco. Yet he never knew that he had discovered a new continent, and died in the belief that what he had found was the eastern coast of Asia. He soon found the worthlessness of popularity. Seven years after his discovery he was sent home a prisoner in chains from the land he had found. On his return from his final expedition, broken in health and spirits, his noble patroness, Queen Isabella, was dead, and the ungrateful Ferdinand received him coldly, refused to restore him his offices and property, of which he had been unjustly deprived, and left hi' to spend his last daj's in poverty and neglect. He died on the 20th -♦lay, 1506, at the age of seventy. His remains were interred first in Valladolid ; afterwards carried to Seville ; then taken across the Atlantic to St. Domingo ; and finally, two hundred and fifty years after- wards to Havana, in the island of Cuba. In the Cathedral of Havana, on the right hand of the high altar, is an insignificant mural tablet, with a Latin insci'iption. There is nothing else to mark the grave of the Dis- coverer of the New World. But he whose monument is a whole conti- nent needs no inscription on marble to perpetuate his deeds, which are indelibly inscribed on the memory of mankind. Sebastian Cabot. — The memory of Cabot has received a similar unworthy treatment. His maps, charts, and journals, documents of immense value, were never published, and were either lost through carelessness or wilfully destroyed. Nicholls, in his Memoir of Cabot, who was one of the noblest and bravest men who ever trod an English deck, says, *' The date of his death, like that of his birth, is unknown, and we can only infer that it was in or near London, from the fact that Richard Eden, his faithful and attached friend, who lived there, was present. Even where his ashes lie is a mystery ; and he who gave to England a continent, and to Spain an empire, lies in some unknown tomb. This man, who surveyed and depicted three thousand miles of a coast which he had discovered ; who gave to Britain, not only the con- tinent, but the untold riches of the deep, in the fisheries of Newfound- land, and the whale fishery of the Arctic Sea ; who, by his uprightness and fair dealing, raised Enj'land's name higli among the nations, placed NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 23 her credit on a solid foundation and made her citizens respected ; who was the father of free trade, and gave us the carrying trado of the world ; this man has not a statue in the city that gave him birth, or in the metropolis of the country he so greatly enriched, or a name on the land he discovei'ed. Emphatically the most scientific seaman of his own, or, perhaps, many subsequent ages, — one of the gentlest, bravest, best of men, — hia actions have been misrepresented, his discoveries denied, his deeds ascribed to others, and calumny has Hung its filth on his memory." The world knows not its prophets ; stones them when living, leaving after ages to build their sepulchres. Amerigo Vespucci, — or Americus Vespucius, ps he is commonly called, — was born in Florence at 1451. Under the auspices of the King of Portugal, he made two voyages to South America, of which he pub- lished accounts, declaring himself the discoverer of the mainland of the Western Continent. Some years afterwards a German geographer pro- posed that the name America should be given to the new land, in his honour. By some strange caprice of fortune the proposal found accept- ance, and Columbus's claims to name the land he had discovered wei'e unjustly set aside. ■• Marco Polo. — Born at Venice. He visited in 1272 the court of Kublai Khan, the ruler of Chinese Tartary, who intrusted him with mis- sions to China and India. He was the first European who visited China proper. After his many wanderings, he returned home and wrote an account of his travels, which excited the gi-eatest interest, and helped to kindle the passion for discovery in the lands he had traversed in the mind of Columbus himself. "Prima Vista." — Though Cabot's map seemed to indicate the eastern point of Cape Breton Island as the first land he approached, — or his " Prima Vista," — yet as Ne^vfoundland is but fifty or sixty miles distant from that point, and was probably seen soon after as the vessel glided along the coast, and as most of the histories of the voyage repre- sent Newfoundland as the first land discovered by Cabot, I have followed the common account in the text, and represented the sailors of " The Matthew " as greeting the sight of the island with British cheei*s. i#^> ■.•-,-'«V 'f;;* ,v:?j,'', ■/ -- !'-■'•■';•?%• -^^ -. '•^.'.'f' li 24 CHRONOLOGY. i if. (ill! CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY. —MEMORABLE EVENTS AND PERSONS OF THE PERIOD. lii? I i A. D. 1001.- 1015. 1042. 1066. 1096. 1147. 1189. 1215. 1270.^ 1311." 1343. 1346. 1431. 1435. 1452. 1455. 1472. 1474. 1479. 1485. 1492. 1497. 1498. 1499. 1506. Newfoundland and the Continent of America discovered by the Northmen. Canute the Great (Dane) ,^n the throne of England. Edward the Confessor. William the Conqueror. First Crusade, led by Peter i le Hermit. Second Crusade, led by Louis VII. of France. Richard I. of England began to reign. Third Crusade, led by Frederic Barbarossa, Philip Au- gustus, and Richard of England. Magna Charta obtained. ' . Eighth and last Crusade. Suppression of the Knights Templar. Cannon first used. Battle of Cr6cy. Distinguished authors of the fourteenth century — Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Chaucer, Froissart. Joan of Arc burned. Christopher Columbus born. Invention of printing. Wars of the Roses begun. Sebastian Cabot born at Bristol. First book printed in England. Union of the Kingdom of Ferdinand and Isabella. Henry VII. of England began to reign. America discovered by Columbus. Newfoundland and the Continent of America discovered by the Cabots. - * . Coast of America explored by Sebastion Cabot. ^ Continent of America discovered by Columbus. Amerigo Vespucci visited South America. Death of Columbus. » k .11 i THE RED INDIANS. 25 W ■■;"■"■■ ^J /'■■■>..>;•■ .'ifi: ^ f.' , "^ -f ,'.- ■l^'/v»--,, >S-t, > ,' -Iff '* >,^--'-'^, •■■■:'>■ .''4 1", 'jv'^'x'i CHAPTER II. THE RED INDIANS, OR ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF NEWFOUNDLAND. THEIR ORIGIN. MEMBERS OF THE ALGONQUIN FAMILY. — THEIR MODES OF LIFE. — SAD FATE. 1. When the island of Newfoundland was discovered by Cabot it was found to be inhabited by a savage tribe of Red Indians, who lived by hunting and fishing. They called themselves Bethucks or Boeothics. Their appear- ance and modes of life prove that they were a branch of the race of red men who were found spread over the whole continent of North America. At what time this tribe wan- dered away from the parent stock, and found their way to Newfoundland, is utterly unknown. Most likely they crossed originally from Canada, by the Straits of Belle Isle, or from the neighbouring island of Cape Breton. However this maj- have been, they v;rere widely spread over the island when the white men arrived. In all probability, for many centuries before, they had been hunting the reindeer and bear, trapping the otter, fox, and beaver, and gliding over the lakes and rivers in their birch canoes. The herds of reindeer, the ptarmi- gan, wild geese and ducks, the salmon, codfish, and seals, must have given them food in abundance. The skins of the animals they slaughtered, and the rich furs which were the spoils of the chase, supplied them with clothing. They had a method of preparing these skins for use by smoking them, instead of tanning, as is now the practice. ~^ Trwt ^6 TffB RED INDIANS, HIDfi I I|n| |l!!lli! For this wild, roving people it was an evil day when the pale-faces appeared. Then began those conflicts, cruelties, and miseries which at length ended in the com- plete extinction of the race. In the whole of the island not a single representative of this once numerous tribe now exists. Only a few relics, consisting of their arrow- heads, hatchets, and other stone implements, have been preserved. Some of these, and also a single skull of one of the race, are now in the Geological Museum in St. John's, and they are nearly all the traces of the Red Indians now left. 2. When Europeans began to explore the continent of America, north and south, they found it occupied by a people very unlike themselves. They named them " Indians," because they supposed the country to be only the eastern part of Asia, or India, as it was then gener- ally called. Finding their mistake afterwards, they called this strange people "American Indians." They presented a great diversity in appearance and modes of life ; and yet there was a family likeness, common to them all, which has led learned men to conclude that they were all descended from the same stock. Their origin is unknown. They were all of the same swarthy and copper colour ; had long, straight, black hair, high cheek- bones, long eyes, and scanty beards. The most natural division of them is into two great families, one called the Toltecan, and the other the American. The Toltecan nations include the Mexicans, Peruvians, and Chilians, who were found in a much more advanced state of civili- zation than the American division, which comprehended all the barbarous tribes of the New World. 3. Tt is believed that the whole of the American aborigines numbered in the vicinity of 20,000,000 when the Europeans arrived. Those tribes who lived along THE RED INDIANS. 27 the Atlantic coast of North America occupied both sides of the Alleghany mountains, from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada and New Brunswick. Nearly all of these be- longed to two great families, called the Algonquins and the Iroquois. The Algonquins were spread over the space between the river Mississippi and the Atlantic, and as far north as Hudson's Bay They all spoke dialects of the same language. This great family included such tribes as the Ottawas, Ojibways, Chippewas, Abena- (juis, and many more. The Iroquois, called also the ' Five Nations " and the " Six Nations," lived to the south of the great lakes of Canada, and comprehended such tribes as the Mohawks, Hurons, Senecas, and many besides. They also spoke dialects of one language. It is believed that both together nunjj)ered a quarter of a million of Indians. 4. The question arises, to which of the two great families did the Indians of Newfoundland belong? From an examination of their language learned men are satis- fied that they were a branch of the wide-spread and war- like Algonquins. In their habits, appearance, and mode of life they resembled the Algonquin tribes who lived in Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Canada. 5. Cabot said of them: "The inhabitants of this island use the skins and furs of wild beasts for garments, which they hold in as high estimation as we do our finest clothes. In war they use bows and arrows, spears, darts, clubs, and slings." Like the other Indians they shaved their hair, except one lock, called the " scalp- lock," which was tied on the top, and ornamented with birds' feathers. The women wore their hair long, and had closer-fitting garments than the men, and their wais 3 girrt id. They had an original method of kindling fire, by striking together two pieces of iron pyrites, — a 28 THE RED INDIANS. i iiit i ill ill h 'iii!!! kind of stone wliich is very common in the island. Their bows were of sycamore or mountain asli, the strings being of deer's sinews. Their arrows were of well- seasoned pine, light, and perfectly straight, the heads being of stone sharpened to a fine point. They were able to make fish-hooks of bone, and nets out of vege- table fibres. - . , ,. 6. They lived in wigwams, the frames of which were made of poles, and covered with birch-bark, or skins, through which was an opening for the smoke to escape. ' Some of these winter wigwams were large enough to contain eighteen or twenty people ; and a dozen or more of them, when placed together, formed an Indian vil- lage. It has been found, on examining the remains of some of these wigwams,' that around the fireplaces they dug small hollows in the ground, like nests, and lined them with dry moss, or the soft branches of trees. In these tliey sat, and probably slept. The soft, warm lining must have added greatly to their comfort in the cold nights of winter. They were able to make vessels out of the rind of spruce trees, suflSciently strong to stand the heat of boiling water, and in these they cooked their meat, i'•^'•vl^^i■■vt:^■.>''■: ,:;= '-■£-'.v>. ■.vr,^- ..v .;,, ■.,,.>,^., ;^.;^;«;;'r-,;-o, 7. Perhaps the most wonderful of all their contriv- ances were their deer-fences. In order to capture the deer, during their annual migrations from north to south, they constructed fences along the banks of rivers, such as the Exploits. These were sometimes thirty or forty miles in length. The labour of erecting them and keeping them in repair was very great, and shows that they must have been a numerous tribe to accomplish so much work. Openings were left in these fences, at different places, for the deer to go through and swim across the rivers. At these spots the Indians were THE RED INDIANS. 20 stationed, and with their spears slaughtered the deer when in the water, out of their canoes. Tlie fences were made by felling trees along tiie banks, without chopping their trunks quite through, and taking care that each tree, as it fell, took the proper direction, and joined on to the last which had been cut. Any gaps were filled by driving in stakes and interweaving branches of trees. They were from eight to ten feet high, so that no deer could overleap them. 8. Their canoes were made of the bark of the white birch, were light, often gracefully shaped, and could be easily paddled, as they drew little water. The whole rind of a birch tree was stripped off, without being torn, and then put round a light frame. The edges were sewed together with thongs, made of the tough roots of certain trees, and the seams were covered with a kind of pitch, made from the gum of trees, so as to render them water-tight. When injured the canoe could be easily patched with pieces of bark, fastened in the same way. 9." The Indian snow-shoe was made by stretching a net- work of deer's hide on a light frame, three or four feet long, curved and tapering. The net-work was fastened to the foot by thongs, and the foot was covered only with a light moccason, made of deer-skin. On these shoes an Indian could travel forty miles a day, and even run down a deer whose hoofs cut through the crust of the snow. 10. The Indians of Newfoundland, like those of the continent, were tall, well-proportioned, robust, but not equal to Europeans in bodily strength. They had not such strong arms, and could not strike such heavy blows. But they were active, light of foot, a;id possessed won- derful powers of endurance. Their carriage was grace- ful and dignified. So keen were their perceptions that T-^ 30 THE RED INDIANS. m 'I '« IliltiSjI. I: I m iiiiiiii they could make their way through ii trackless forest with ease simply by observing the appearance of the moss and bark upon the trees. They had tiie virtues and vices of savage life. They were devoted to their tribe ; faithful to one auothei* ; brav^e, and possessed of a wonderful fortitude ; but in war they were fierce, vindictive, merciless, and cruel to prisoners. They treated their women with cruelty, and made them work like beasts of burden. They had no idea of restraining their animal appetites, and ate voraciously when food was plentiful, without any regard to the future. 11, The early voyagers to the shores of the island described them as lively, tractable, and disposed to be friendly with white men. The good understanding, unhappily, did not last long. When the settlers began to spread over the shores of the island they seized on the best fishing-stations, and drove away the Indians. Quarrels arose. Doubtless there were faults on both sides. The savages, when opportunity offered, stole the goods of the whites. To them such objects as knives, hatchets, nails, and lines, presented a temptation almost irresistible. The rude fishermen and trappers of those days were an immoral, lawless order of men, and punished the thefts of the savages mercilessly. These, again, retaliated fiercely ; and thus a state of savage warfai:e was established, and terrible deeds were done. The red man became the implacable foe of the white man ; and the latter regarded the Indians as vermin, to be hunted down and destroyed. That the poor savages were treated with brutal cruelty admits of no doubt. 12. But what could clubs and arrows avail against fire-arms? Gradually the red men were reduced in num- bers. They were driven from their fishing-posts on the bays and rivers ; their hunting-grounds were invaded by Jill TUK RED INDIANS. 81 the furriers. ITunpjor and disease thinned their ranks. Another tribe of Indians, from Nova Scotia, called Mic- macH, attacked tliein, and had the advantage of knowing the use of lire-aruis. Slowly, but surely, the unhappy tribe wasted away, and at length disappeared from the face of the earth. 13. Before they were (piite exterminated the spirit of hunianitv awoke, and zealous efforts were made to save them from destruction. Proclamations forbidding any one to injure them, under heavy penalties, were issued by the British government. An expedition was sent to the river Exploits, to o])en friendly communica- f^'^mm&im ^f^^^'^ WIGWAM POINT, RIVEK EXPLOITS. lions with them, but ended disastrouslv. A female called Mary March, from the month in which she was captured by some hunters on Red Indian Lake, was brought to St. John's, in 1819. She was treated with great kind- ness, and sent back to her tribe with presents, but died on the way. Another Indian woman, called in her language Shanandithet, was also taken at a later date. She lived six years in St. John's, and died of consump- tion. She declared she dared not go back to her tribe after having held intercourse with the whites, as they Tl ifli 32 QUi:STIONS FOR EXAMINATION. .i ■''." would kill her. When, in 1828, an exploring party was sent by some benevolent persons to their head-quarters at Red Indian Lake, not a living Boeothic could be found. Thus the efforts to atone for past wrongs and cruelties were too late, and proved fruitless. m i\ ■•■ QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER II. 1. Who were the inhabitants of Newfoundland at the time of its discovery? By what name were they known? To what family of the American Indians did they belong? How did they Uve? What effect had the arrival of Europeans on their destiny? What relics of them are in existence? 2. Why were the aboriginal inhabitants of America called Indians? Describe their appearance. Into what two famihes have they been divided? Who were Toltecans? 3. What was the number of the aborigines of America when Columbus arrived? What two great families of Indians occupied the Atlantic coast of North America? Where did each of them live? 4. To Avhich of them did the Indians of Newfoundland belong? What proof g are given? 5. What did Cabot say of the x'nv s^foundland Indians? How did they w^ear their hair? How did they kindle fire? Describe their bows, arrows, fish-hooks. O. Describe their wigwams. What contrivance had they for warmth around their fireplaces? 7. Describe their deer-fences. How were they made? What was their height? 8. How were their canoes made? How repair.!? 9. Describe their snow-shoes. How far could ,li .y ravel in a day? 10. What was their personal appearance? How did they make their way through a forest? What were their virtues and vices? How did they treat their women ? li. How did the white settlers treat the Indians? What were the causes of quarrels? ^ 121. How were they reduced in numbers? What Indian tribe attacked them? . . . .._ . . ,. i b. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 33 13. What efforts were mack' to save the Induiiis from destruc- tion? Who were Mary March and Shanandithet? When was the last effort made to find them, and what its result? MAP QUESTIONS. Point out the region of North America occupied by Algonquin and Iroquois Indians. Wliere is Red Indian Lake? What river flows through it? Trace the Exploits from its head-waters to its outlet. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER IL The Religion of the Indians. — Little is known of the i-e- ligious ideas and observances of the red men of Newfoundland. Like the other tribes of North America, they probably believed in the exist- ence of a Supreme Being, whom they called the Great Spirit ; and also of an inferior spirit, whose nature m as malicious and evil. Their worship was chiefly addressed to the evil spirit with a view of propitiating him. They thought the Good Spirit needed no prayers to secure his protection and blessing. Their religious observances consisted chiefly of songs and dances, with much noise and excitement. They believed that all animals had protecting spirits, and that the winds and the stars had also spirits. In Longfellow's poem of " Hiawatha " many of their legends and re- ligious idejis and ceremonies have been preserved. In some of their graves around Red Indian Lake have been found bows, arrows, and other weapons, and articles of property which had belonged to the deceased in their lifetime. This indicated that the Bethucks believed they would live again after death, and use these weapons in the happy hunting- grounds of the blest in heaven. All brave wari'iors and good women were to be happy there forever, following the same pursuits as on earth. Numbers of the Indians, — Within the limits of the United States there are now about 150,000 Indians, who are cared for by the govern- ment. Only a few of them have adopted habits of civilized life. Al- together there are 500,000 Indians, in the United States. In the older provinces of C'anada there are 30,000 Indians who are in charge of a de- partment of the State. Including British Columbia, the North-west, and Labrador, the Indians and Esquimaux in the whole of the Dominion of Canada number 132,000. In both countries they are diminishing in num- bers, and in fifty or a hundred years few will probably remain. Haunts of the Indians. — They appear to have inhabited chiefly the lurth-eastern, northern, and north-western portions of Newfound- land. Many of their implements and weapons have been dug up on the shores of Trinity and Bonavista Bays, at Fogo and 'i willingate, and in White Bay. Their head-quarters were in the neighbourhood of Red r i ' 1 1 ■ ^r^r?^^fr^'niW'^\-y^ii,r^,^'^F^ rr:^ i; ,-'f i 34 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. \m f'i i '.iiii ,4 Indian Lake. When Cormack, the tr^eller who crossed Newfoundland in 1822, penetrated to Red Indian Lake, in 1828, he found numerous ruins of their winter and summer wigwams, their storehouses for smoking and drying venison; also, a large canoe, twenty-two feet in length. He could find no living Indian. In a wooden hut, well protected from wild animals and the weather, he found the bodies of two gi-own pei-sons laid out on the floor, Avrapped in deer-skins. This was one of their modes of burial. In the same place was the body of Mary March, in a white coflSn. When she died her remains were left in this coffin, at the sea- side, and had been conveyed by the members of her tribe to this burying- place. With Cormack's expedition the last hope of finding any of the Red Indians was abandoned. No trace of them has been discovered since his day. Their Intellectual Faculties. — TheBethucks did not advance beyond the s(ivage state. They were not, however, infei'ior to the Canadian tribes. The whole race of American Indians were greatly in- ferior to Europeans, and even to Mongolians, in mental powers. In constructive and imitative faculties they were very low ; and to this day, though in contact with white men, they have made little progress. r ll^ -'■ -•(•*, 1497.] EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT. 35 CHAPTER III. FROM 14»7 TO 1034. EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT OF AMERICA. TllK SPANISH, FRENCH, AND ENGLISH. — IMPORTANCE OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES. 1. Now that the New World was discovered, and some idea obtained of its vast extent, the question arose, who were to explore it and take possession of it? The most wonderful tales were told about it. Sailors, and other adventurers who had been there, related stories about rivers which flowed over pebbles of gold, and sands sparkling with precious gems ; of vast forests, and lovely flowers, in lands teeming with fertility. Here was a boundless field for human energy. The wildest hopes of obtaining vast wealth were kindled ; and all the adventurous spirits of P^urope were eager to undertake voyages to the new land. The Spaniards, who were the first discoverers, rushed away in such multitudes upon these expeditions that some large towns in Spain lost half their inhabitants. Portugal and France followed in the same track, and England was not far behind. Immediate gain was the obiect of every one. Gold was the grand attraction. 2. All the great nations of Europe thought they had a right to seize and hold whatever portion of the new continent they had discovered or explored. But at first they had no great desire to stay there and keep posses- sion. They wanted to i)lunder, or find* gold and silver • to enrich themselves, then to return to their own countrv 36 EXPLORATION AND SETTLfJMENT. [1497. ' •! 'i 11'' f ii m ::, ii M i; :!i! l!i: "I ' ''I i .1 ..''1 ■((■ l! If and enjoy their wealth. Only a few thought of trading with these new countries They did not wish to settle and make homes for themselves across the Atlantic. Nearly a hundred years elapsed, after Columbus's discover}', before the great idea of colonizing America took firm hold of the European mind. 3. The Spaniards early obtained possession of the West India Islands. The conquest of Mexico by Cortes, in 1521, and of Peru by Pizarro, speedily fol- lowed. The immense plunder obtained in these coun- tries failed to satiate their thirst for gold, and the Spaniards began to look towards North America. There was at that time an aged Spanish warrior, named Ponce de Leon, who, in his youth, had distinguished himself in fighting against the Moors in Spain. He had been a companion of Columbus, on his second voyage, and was afterwards appointed Governor of Porto Rico ; but, being displaced, he returned to Spain. Among the strange tales which were told in these credulous times was one about a " Fountain of Youth," which was said to exist in this new land. It was believed to have the power of restoring youth, with all its powers, to the harroy man who bathed in its ever-flowing waters. He who was fortunate enough to find it obtained the secret of perpetual youth. Ponce de Leon was an old man, and he resolved to find this wonderful fountain. He wanted also to renew his fortune, as well as his 3'outh, by the riches he hoped to find. And so, in 1512, he sailed westward from Porto Rico ; and on Easter Sun- day, which tlie Spaniards called Pascua Florida, or Flowery Easter, he came in sight of a new land, to which he gave the name of Florida. The country was then beautiful with the opening blossoms of spring, so that the name seemed appropriate in a double sense. Ponce de m 1534.] EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT. 37 Leon did not find in the flowerv land the " Fountain of Youth," but something very different, when, on a sec- ond visit, five years later, lie received his death-wound fiom an Indian arrow. But he found for Spain a new province, and a new channel for commerce through the Gulf of Florida. Fifty years afterwards, near the spot where he first landed, the town of St. Augustine was founded, and it is the oldest in the United States. 4. Great results followed this search for the " Foun- tain of Youth." Fabulous stories were told about Florida, and it was reporter to be the richest country in tlie world, abounding in gold and (jenis. Another Spanish noble, named De Soto, heard and believed these tales, and determined to possess himself of the riches of Florida. He organized an expedition composed of 600 men, splendidly armed and e(iuipped, among whom were the very flower of Spanish youth, full of hope and cour- age, and eager for discovering new lands and plundering their inhabitants. He landed on Florida in 1539, and, with his men, began the march northward into the interior. The Indians were hostile and fought against the invaders. No gold was found ; scarcely could food be obtained. Terrible hardships were endured. No rich cities, like those in Mexico and Peru, were found, but only poor villages of savage tribes. Sickness thinned their ranks. At length De Soto, to his astonish- ment, arrived at the banks of a magnificent river, a mile in width, having a current of great strength. In the Old World there was nothing to be compared to this majestic stream. It was the Mississippi, the " Father of Waters," now first seen by Europeans. The Span- iards managed to cross it, and for many months wan- dered among the dreary swamps and gloomy forests of this region. At length, broken in health and spirit. Do 38 EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT. [1497- Soto died. His men formed a rude coffin out of the trunk of a pine tree, and, in tlie darkness of the night, sunk his body in the middle of the river, that his death should not be known to the Indians, who niiglit treat his remains with indignity. He rested beneath the wate's of the river he had discovered. His men constructed some rude vessels, and floated down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Only 300 managed to escape, and they reached Cuba in a wretched plight. 6. Important consequences were to follow from these disastrous failures of the first explorers. On the strength of this discovery of Florida, Spain, at one time, claimed as her own the whole coast of North America as far as, and including, Newfoundland ; and even to the extreme north of the continent. The name North America was not then heard of, and Spain called the whole Florida, and claimed it as part of her vast dominions. Yet she had not occupied a harbour, or marked out a settlement, or built a fortification, on the whole coast, and had acquired no right by discovery, excepting over Florida. 6. These vast claims, on the part of Spain, were not at first disputed by any other power. France, however, was now about to enter the field, and to contend for her share of the New World. Gradually, as events dis- closed themselves, and discoveries extended, a grand scheme was formed, in the minds of French monarchs and statesmen, of creating a " New France," with feudal institutions, in the western hemisphere. This plan was pursued by the French with determined energy for two centuries and a half. It was in carrying this scheme of empire into execution that they were brought to New- foundland, and tried so often to conquer and annex '' . Indeed, at one time, it seemed as if France was to be the ruling power in North America. 1534.] EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT. 39 7. Tlie atteutiou of France was first drawn to North America by tlie discovery of tlie flslieries of Newfound- land. The same holds good regarding England. The attraction which llrst led Englishmen to these western seas, and awoke in the national mind an impulse to colo- nize these new countries, was the immense fish wealth in the seas around the island discovered by Cabot. Here, they saw, was an inexhaustible supply of the finest food, ai, a time when fish, salted and fresh, entered very hugely into the diet of the people. France and England early engaged iu the prosecution of the cod-fisheries on the Banks and around the shores of Newfoundland. Both nations drew enormous wealth, year after year, from these industries, and thus increased their national greatness. The English and French fishermen engaged in these fisheries supplied the navy and mercantile marine of both nations with bold and skilful sailors, and thus developed their power at sea. Both nations found here the best nurseries for seamen. Both were thus drawn to the region of the St. Lawrence, and were led to plant colonies, originally with a view to carry on the fisheries. The rivalry between the two powers for obtaining the sovereignty of the soil arose in connection with the fisheries. The long wars between France and England were avowedly for the fisheries and the terri- tories around them. Thus the fisheries of Newfoundland really laid the foundation of the empire which England at length acquired in America, when her supremacy was established, after a long contest with France. These fisheries were far more influential in bringing about the settlement of North America than all the gold of Mexico and Peru accomplished in Southern America. 8. The humble, industrious fishermen, who plied their hard labours along the shores and on the Banks of New- I .ill 4 ' ': 1 fil im 3 ' u Hi m m. ii'ili M . m 40 QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. foundland, aud in .eighbouring seas, were the pioneers of the gr . ot from the Old World who, in due time, built u i United States and overspread Canada. They have done an honourable stroke of work in the great business of the world. England owes much to them. Till these fisheries drew her seamen from their narrow seas, and tauglit them to brave the storms of the Atlantic, her merchant marine was of small account, and her navy had scarcely an existence. In prosecuting these fisheries England learned how to become mistress of the seas. It was in Newfoundland, too, that the great mother of colonies made her first attempt at colonization. Here her flag first waved over her possessions in the western hemisphere. Newfound- land is her oldest colony. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER III. 1. What wild tales were told about the New World? What effect had these stories? What nations engaged in exploring it? 2. What was supposed to give a right of possession? What was the chief object of adventurers? 3. Who were Cortes and Pizarro? Who was Ponce de Leon? What did he go in search of? Why was Florida so called? What was the fate of Ponce de Leon? 4. Who was De Soto? Why did he visit Florida? How many men had h«^? Describe his march. What great river did he dis- cover? Where was he buried? 6. Why did Spain claim all North America? Why were her claims unjust? 6. What scheme of empire did the French form? 7. What first drew the attention of the French and English to North America? Why were the fisheries so valuable to both na- tions? How did their navies and commerce profit by the New- foundland fisheries? Why did the two nations go to war? How did English settlements begin? 8. Who were the pioneers in settling North America? Show the importance of these fisheries to England. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 41 MAP QUESTIONS. Where are Mexico, Peru, Porto Rico, Florida? Trace the course of the Mississippi. Point out its principal tributaries. Where are the Banks of Newfoundland? NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER III. Cortes. — Hernan Cortes was born i^ 1485, at a village of Estrema- dura in' Spain. He distinguished himself in the conquest of Cuba, and was selected to undertake the conquest of Mexico. He sailed in 1518, witli 10 vessels, 600 infantry, and 18 horsemen. After three years of desperate fighting and a terrible slaughter of the Mexicans he seized their emperor, Montezuma, took their capital, obtained immense (juanti- ties of gold, and completely conquered the kingdom. He returned to Spain, and died at Seville, in 1547. Pizarro. — Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of Peru, was born in Estre- madura, in 1476. He was with Balboa when he discovered the Pacific Ocean. In his various expeditions and voyages about Panama he discov" ered the vast and prosperous Peruvian empire, abounding in gold, silver, and precious stones. In 1529 he obtained from Charles V., of Spain, authority to conquer Peru. In 1531 he set out with 3 vessels, 180 men, and 27 horsemen. He was guilty of the direst cruelties and treacheries ; l)ut with a handful of men he defeated the hosts of Peruvians, took their capital, and executed their emperor. He lived at Lima almost like a king, but died by the hands of an assassin in 1541. Florida. — Though Ponce de Leon gave Florida its name, Sebastian Cabot was its first discoverer, on his second voyage. It is now one of the United States, with a population of 200,000. It produces cotton, sugar, oranges, rice, tobacco. Owing to its fine climate it is now a resort of invalids. In 1763 Spain ceded Florida to England in exchange for Havana. It was reconquered by the Spaniards in 1781. In 1821 it was ceded by Spain to the United States. The Mississippi. — One of the largest rivers on the globe. From Little Winnipeg Lake, its principal source, to its termination in the (iulf of Mexico, it is 8,200 miles in length. It drains an area of 1,240,000 square miles, or nearly one-seventh of North America. The valley through which it flows is called "the garden of the world," from its fertility. It receives the Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin rivers, and many others, and rolls its vast volume through eighteen degrees of lati- tude. Its discharge of water at its mouth is at the rate of 675,000 cubic feet per second. 42 ENGLAND TAKES POSSESSION. [1534- li '1 I!! iiii:' »,l.-'.i'"i i i jiiPi li m n. I" Ul' CHAPTER lY. FRO]>I lff:i4 TO 1583. ENGLAND TAKES POSSESSION OP NEWFOUNDLAND. BRETON AND BASQUE FISHERMEN. — PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH IN CANADA. — ARRIVAL OF SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT. 1, Soon after Cabot spread the news of the abun- dance of fisli of the finest quality, and in great variety, in Newfoundland waters, the French fishermen of Brit- tany and Normandy were engaged there in taking cod. They were the first to profit by this new discovery of Englishmen. These bold mariners ventured out into these stormy seas in their little cockle-shells of vessels, such as no one would now dream of using in crossing the Atlantic. They reached the Island of Cape Breton, and gave it the name it now bears, after their home in Bretagne, or Brittany. Seven years after Cabot's dis- covery, in 1504, these hardy fishermen were here, carry- ing on a profitable industry. They were soon followed by the fishermen of the Basque provinces, in the north- west of Spain, who were scarcely less daring at sea. They have left a memorial of their visits in the name of Port-aux-Basques, a fine harbour near Cape Ray, on the southern shore of Newfoundland. The Portuguese fish- ermen speedily took part in the same fisheries. A Portuguese navigator, named Gaspard Cortereal, had, in 1500, visited Newfoundland, and discovered and named Conception Bay and Portugal Cove, on its southern shore. The number of vessels and men engaged in 1583.] ENGLAND TAKES POSSESSION. 48 these fisheries rapidly increased. In 1517 40 sail of Portuguese, French, and Spaniards were thus employed. In 1527 John Rut, an English captain, visited St. John's, and \Yrote a letter, when there, to Henry VIII., in which he said he found in the harbour 11 sail of Normans, 1 Breton, and 2 Portuguese barques, but no English fish- ing-vessels. So late as 1578 there were 400 fishing- vessels employed, of which 150 were French, and only 50 were English, — so slow were they in following the lead of the other nations. England had not yet dis- covered the immense value of these fisheries, though increasing numbers of her fishermen were taking a part in them. Other nations were freelv using the shores and harbours of the island discovered by Cabot ; but a^ yet Englishmen made small account of it and its fisheries. 2. Meantime the wealth which France was deriving from these seas J°d her to form new and extensive de- signs of colonizing North America. Her claims to the possession of the northern part of the continent rested on the discoveries of John Verazzani (pronounced Yer- rat-tsah'-ne) , a Florentine, who was employed by Francis I., King of France, to explore the new region. In 1524 he sailed from France, reached the coast of North Carolina, and then examined the whole coast to the northward. Passing the shores of what are now Vir- ginia and Maryland, he entered the harbour of New York, which he found crowded with Indian canoes. Pursuing his voyage he coasted along Maine and Nova Scotia, and examined many miles of the shores of New- foundland. He then returned to France, and wrote an account of his discoveries. , .,.. . ^ 3. The career of discovery, thus opened, was eagerly pursued by France. Ten years later, in 1534, Jacques Cartier (Zhak Kar-te-ay), the famous Breton mariner ■PiiN 44 ENGLAND TAKES POSSESSION. [1534< 'i!f'!|'l Jiililt m W:. hi IjiK.'l 'Ir''! ;i> ■■■'.! J' "■ ; 1 1 m!" ■:: i. if of St. Malo, sailed from tliat port with a commission from tlie French king. His voyage proved to be a mo- mentous one in its consequences. He passed through the Straits of Belle Isle, entered the Bay of Chaleur, unfurled the French flag at Gasp6, discovered tiie River St. Lawrence, and on his second voyage ascended it as far as Montreal, and built a fort at Quebec. Thus Cartier was the discoverer of Canada, . and secured it for France. To a French- man belongs the hon- our of this great dis- covery ; for the Eng- lish never ascended the St. Lawrence in anj^ of their early voyages. The hold thus obtained by France was not relinquished for two hundred and t^ *^nty-six years, when Quebec fell before the conquering arms of Wolfe. 4. Other adventurers followed in the track of Cartier. Roberval's expedition ended in disaster. De la Roche, fifty years after, was equally unfortunate. But the brave and high-minded Champlain and De Monts carried on the work of exploration, colonization, and the exten- sion of French commerce, and thus laid the foundations of French empire in the West. All Canada and Acadia (the name given by the French to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) was held by France. Newfoundland, with JACQUES CAnTIEIl. 1583.] ENGLAND TAKE^ POSSESSION. 4fi its fisheries, seemed likely to share the same fate. Mar- quette, a Jesuit Father, starting from the great lakcj of Canada, followed the river Wisconsin till he reached the Mississippi, and nailed down the river for some distance. It was a deed of true heroism. La Salle, a French cavalier, followed courageously in the same course, and sailed down the Mississippi to its outlet in the Gulf of Mexico, — a memorable achievement. France then claimed all the vast territory through which the great liver flowed ; and La Salle named it Louisiana, in honour of Louis XIV. • • 5. Thus it looked as if there were to be no English settlements in North America. All the southern ])ortion was called Florida, and belonged to Spain ; and " New France " seemed destined to absorb all the rest. And yet the day was coming when neither France nor Spain would own a foot of land in the whole continent of America, north and south ; and when, of all the vast pos- sessions of F'rance in the New World, her flag would wave over but two small islands, St. Pierre and Miquelon, lit the mouth of Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. 6. AH this time the English had never forgotten that Cabot and his stout west-country sailors had first dis- covered Newfoundland and the mainland of North Amer- ica, which were theirs b^ right of discovery. And now, at length, the hour arrived for enforcing their rights, and claimirg their share in the western world. The great movement was begun by taking formal possession of Newfoundland, and making a first, though unsuc- cessful, attempt to plant a colony there. This is the way iu which it came about. 7. There was living in England, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a brave, patriotic nobleman, named Sir Hum- phrey Gilbert. His residence was Comptou Castle, near iii Hl!ijli!l|| m '!!«hrey Consumption of Fish. — The consumption of fresh and salted fish in Europe before the discovery of America, and for a long period afterwards, was immense. It must be remembered that all Europe, England included, was then Catholic ; and during tiie fasts of the Church the pickled heri'ing of Holland was the principal food. The foundations of Amsterdam were said to be laid on herring-bones. The Dutch be- came immensely wealthy by their monopoly of the herring-fisheries. In noblemen's families in England, at that period, retainers and seiTanta lived on salt beef and mutton; but for three-fourths of the year on fish, with little or no vegetables. In the great Earl of Northumberland's establishment it is on record in their household book that ** my lord and lady had for breakfast a quart of beer, as much wine, two pieces of salt- fish, six red herrings, four white ones, and a dish of sprats." No wonder that Cabot's discovery of the Newfoundland fisheries created such a sensation and led to an excitement on the subject of fishing. Persons of the highest distinction took part in the fishing adventures of those days, and a rapid extension of the Bank and shore fishery followed on the part of France and England. Thus the enterprises of the hardy fishermen of both nations, to procure an article of food for the fast days of the Ciuurh, led to the most important political results. Even when England had become Protestant, laws were passed to promote the consumption of fish among the people, in order to encourage the fishing industries, espe- cially those in American waters. In 1563, in the reign of Elizabeth, a law was passed which provided " that as well for the irainteuance of shipping, the increase of fishermen and mariners, and the repairing of port-towns, as for the sparing of the fresh victual of the reulm, it shall not l)e lawful for any one to eat flesh on Wednesdays and Saturdays, unless under the forfeiture of £3 for each offence, except in case of sickness and those of II 'Hpil 52 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. special licenses to be obtained." Other laws followed until there were one hundred and fifty-three days ou which only fish could be eaten. The punishment for the violation of these laws was, for the first otfence a fine often shilling's and ten days' imprisonment; for the second, double these inflictions. No wonder fish was in great demand. Francis I. — King of France from lolS till 1547. His famous interview with Henry VHI., of England, on "the Field of the CTotii of (irold," took place in 1520. He was taken pi-isoner in the battle of Pavia, in 1525. Jacques Cartier. — A native of St. Malo, a seaport in the north- west of France, on the north coast of the province of Bretagne. He was the discoverer of Canada and the St. Lawrence. He and Roberval met in 1542, in the harbour of St. John's, Newfoundland. Robei-val was on his way to C-anada ; Cartier was on his way home to France. Robor- val, as commander of the expedition, ordered Cartier to return to Canada; but he refused, and sailed for France. Roben^al went on, built a fort on the St. Lawrence, and perished with his men, by cold and famine, during the following winter. Samuel de Champlain, born atBrouage, a small seaport on the Bay of Biscay. He fouglit under Henry of Navarre, or Henry IV., the first king of the House of Bourbon. Being a favourite at court, he obtained command of an expedition to Canada, to explore and colonize. He was a man of noble character, courageous, disinterested, kind, and courteous. His remarkable exploits and labours belong to the history of Canada, in whose interests he toiled for thirty years, and of which he was the Father and Founder. He was appointed, at length. Governor of Canada, in 1633, and died two years after, universally lamented. Lake Champlain, of which he was the discoverer, bears his name. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was a son of Sir Otho Gilbert, of Compton Castle, TorJ)ay. His mother was a Champcrnoun, of purest Norman descent. Sir Otho had three sons by this lady, — John, Humphrey, and Adrian, — who all proved to be men of superior abilities. They were all three knighted by Elizabeth. Sir Otho died, and his widow married Walter Raleigh, a gentleman of ancient blood, but impoverished. To her second husband she bore a son whose fame was destined to be world- wide, and who was kni.hted as Sir Walter Raleigh by Elizabeth. Not many women could boast of being the mother of four such sons. > y, . M ti « y !i!! CIIRONOLOCY. 53 CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY.— CHAPTERS IIL AND IV. A.D. 1497. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese navigator, doubled the Cape of Good Hope and reached India. 1509. Henry VIII. King of England. 1512. Florida discovered by De Leon. 1513. The Pacific Ocean discovered by Balboa. 1515. Francis I. King of France. , 1519. Charles V. King of Spain and Emperor of Germany. 1520. Magellan's voyage round the globe. 1521. Mexico conquered by Cortes. 1524. North America coasted by Verazzani. 1531. Peru conquered by Pizarro. 1534. C:. Lawrence discovered by Cartier. 1541. The Mississippi discovered by De Soto. ^ ^ 1552. Edmund Spenser born. , 1558. Elizabeth Queen of England. 1556. Philip II. King of Spain. 1564. Shakespeare born. 1577. Drake's voyage round the world. 1588. Spanish Armada invaded England. 1589. Henry IV. (first Bourbon) King of France. n EMINENT MEN IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. Michael Angelo; RafPaelle; Sir Philip Sidney; Spenser; Shakespeare ; Cervantes ; Copernicus ; Martin Luther ; Cardinal Bellarmine; John Knox ; Ignatius Loyola; Tycho Brahe. 54 FISHERIES. [1583- CHAPTER V. FISHERIES. «I2 mA I' 'ii!:i ' ''■ I n rROM lSM:t TO 1615. INCREASE OF THE ENGLISH COD-FISIIERY. — GUY's SETTLE- MENT IN CONCEPTION BAY. ITS FAILURE. 1 . Though the voyage of Sir Humphrey Gilbert ended so disastrously to himself and others, it was far from being fruitless. It fixed the attention of Englishmen on Newfoundland and its valuable fisheries, and prepared the way for other enterprises designed to promote its settlement. Not only so, but Gilbert's attempt at colonization awoke in the minds of his countrymen that spirit of adventure which led them to plant colonies in New England, which have since grown into the great Republic of the United States. 2. Undeterred by the sad fate of Gilbert, his half- brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth for i)lanting colonies in America. In 1584 he fitted out two ships an founded a colony, which he named Virginia, after the maiden queen. No colony can claim to date so far back, and hence it is often called "The Old Dominion." This gallant Eng- lishman stands foremost among the colonizers of the New World. He undauntedly pursued these enterprises, and lavished his fortune on them. He diffused among his countrymen such a knowledge of America, and such an interest in its destinies, as bore abundant fruit, long after he was laid in the g-rave. No braver or more patriotic Englishman ever lived. No greater disgrace 1615.] FISHERIES. 55 attached to the name of James 1., of England, than the act of sending to the block, in his old age, and after twelve years' imprisonment. Sir Walter Raleigh, the gal- lant soldier, the accomplished scholar, the far-seeing statesman, the persevering colonizer. It was not, how- ever, till thirteen years after Ra- leigh's first effort that the first per- manent English colony w a s formed in Vir- ginia, in 1620, under a charter from James I. It was planted at Jamestown, on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. 3. For twenty- seven years after the failure of Gil- bert's expedition no fresh attempt was made to found a colon}' in Newfoundland. War between England and Spain broke out in 1584. The bold sea-rover. Sir Francis Drake, was despatched with a small squadron to Newfoundland, where he made l)rizes of a number of Portuguese vessels, laden with fish and oil, and carried them to England. The attention of English adventurers was once more turned to New- foundland. There is a record of one Richard Apsham, i^'f^J^ 8IR FRANCIS DRAKE. 56 FISHERIES. [1583- I 1; '■ { VMM 11 ji,. who, in 1593, fitted out two vessels for the purpose of taking walruses, on the south-west coast, where, at that time, these animals were plentiful. Four years later some London merchants fitted out two armed vessels, which, after fishing some time on the Banks, encoun- tered some French and Spanish vessels off the south- ern shore. After a sharp contest the English vessels captured the others, and carried one of them to Graves- end, with a valuable cargo of fish and oil. One of the English ships, however, was wrecked on Cape Breton. 4. Meantime the shores of Newfoundland were re- sorted to by the fishermen of various nations, who took fish in its waters, and used its harbours and coves for curing and drying them. In 1577 there were 100 Spanish and 50 Portuguese vessels thus employed ; but they rapidly diminished in numbers, and, in a short time, withdrew almost entirely from these fisheries. The wealth to be acquired in the gold regions of South America soon proved a stronger attraction to the Spaniards than this sea-harvest, which could only be gathered amid toils and dangers. Portugal, too, pre- ferred colonization in South America, and the acquisi- tion of wealth in the mines of Brazil. Thus the New- foundland fisheries were left to the English and French. In 1577 the French had 150 vessels employed, and prosecuted the fisheries with great vigour and success. On the accession of Henry IV., the first Bourbon, the cod-fishery was placed under the protection of the gov- ernment, and was regarded as being of great D«\tional importance, and such it has been ever since. 5, The English, who were later in commencing this industr}*, soon gained rapidly on their rivals, the French. During the ten years which followed the death of Gilbert, ending in 1593, the progress of the English fishery in lllii! Jill . 1615.] FISIIERJES. 57 NeM^foundhiiul was so great that Sir Walter Raleigh declared, in the House of Commons, " it was the stay and support of the west counties of England." In the year IGOO it is known that 200 English ships went to Newfoundland, and that they employed, as catchers on board, and curers on shore, quite 10,000 men and boys. Sir William Monson, an Englishman who wrote in 1610, declared that since the island was taken possession of the fisheries had been worth £100,000 annually to British subjects. This was an immense sum in those days. He further said that these fisheries had greatly increased the number of England's ships and mariners. The ships left England in March for the fishing-grounds, and returned in September. The fishermen passed their winters in England, idly spending their summer earnings. 6. It is not wonderful, under such circumstances, when Newfoundland was so prominently before the minds of Englishmen, that a second effort should be made to plant a colony on its chores. In 1609 John Guy, a merchant, and afterwards mayor of Bristol, pub- lished a pamphlet, in which he pointed out the advan- tages of colonizing the island. It was evident that much time and money were wasted in carrying on the fisheries from England. To persons of broad, liberal views it was clear that the right method was to hold out inducements to fishermen to live permanently near the fishing-grounds, — the plan proposed by Sir Humphrey Gilbert. Guy's pamphlet made such a deep impression on the public mind that a company was formed to carry out the enterprise it suggested. Several noblemen hav- ing influence at the court of James I. took part in this undertaking. Among these were the celebrated Lord Bacon, who was then Solicitor General ; Lord North- ampton, Keeper of the Seals; Sir Francis Tanfield, M 58 FISHERIES. [1583. lii >t:.. 'in-'; •f. : Chief Buron of the Exchequer; Sir Daniel Donn, and other noblemen and gentlemen to the number of lifty. The importance of the island as a site for a colony did not escape the wide-ranging eye of Lord Bacon, who declared that " its fisheries were more valuable than all the mines of Peru." This judgment has been amply confirmed by time and experience. To this company James I., by letters-patent, dated April, IGIO, made a grant of all that part of Newfoundland which lic:^ be- tween Cape I>onavista and Cape St. Mary. 7, The enterprise, thus favourably commenced, was not successful. Guy was appointed governor, and, with a considerable number of colonists, landed at Mosquito Cove, near Harbour Grace, on the north shore of Con- ception Bay. Here temporary habitations were erected. By kindly and prudent measures he conciliated the native Indians, and secured their friendship. Little is known regarding the history of this settlement, which, according to Whitbourne's account, continued for four or five years in a fairly prosperous condition. For some unexplained reason Guy and some of the colonists re- turned to England, and those who remained moved to other localities. It is not improbable that piracy was the cause of the failure. In 1612 Peter Easton, a noted pirate, with ten well-appointed ships, made himself complete master of the seas, and levied a general con- tribution on vessels employed in fishing. He made a descent on Conception Bay, and seized a hundred of the fishermen there, and carried them off to man his own fleet. It is not unlikely that the infant settlement of Guy was so liarassed and plundered by this freebooter that it was broken up. ' 8. The year 1613 is memorable as that in which the first child of European parents was b(jrn in Newfound- land. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION, 59 QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER V. 1, What important results followed from Sir Humphrey Gilbert's voyage to Newfoundland? 2. Who founded the Colony of Virginia, and in wliat year? Wiiat was the character of Sir Walter Raleigh? What was his fate? When and where was the first permanent settlement formed in Virginia? 3» When did Sir Francis Drake visit Newfoundland, and what did he do? For what purpose did Richard Apshani send vessels? What occurred in 1597? 4* When were Spanish and Portuguese fishing-vessels most numerous in Newfoundland waters? Why did they withdraw? How many French vessels were fishing in 1577? 6. What shows the increase of English fishing-vessels? What did Sir Walter Raleigh say of the value of these fisheries? What did Sir William Molson say of them? What time did the English fishermen leave home and return? <>. Who was John Guy? What steps did he take to establish a colony in the island? Who joined him? What did Lord Bacon say of the fisheries? What was the date of Guy's patent? What was the extent of the grant? 7. Where did Guy conunence a settlement? How long did it continue? What was tlie probable cause of its failure? 8. What is the year 1613 noted for? -' MAP QUESTIONS. ,. Where is Virginia? Jamestown? Chesapeake Bay? What State is on the south of Virginia? Where is Gravesend? Brazil? Point out Mosquito Cove. i mmwi Hi' I 60 N^OTBS AN'D EXPLANATIONS. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER V. Sir Walter Raleigh's death on the scaffold was a very pathetic scene. He first knelt down and prayed ; then he arose and examined the block. " Show me the axe," he said to the executioner. Touching the edge with his finp^er and kissing the blade, he said, " This gives me no fear. It is a sharp and fair medicine to cure me of all my diseases." He laid his head on the block, and when the headsman, much moved, hesitated to strike, Raleigh said, " What dost thou fear ? Strike, man, strike !" He lay quite still, and his lips were seen to move in prayer. At two blows his head was severed from his body. Thus was put to death, at the age of sixty-six, a brave man, who had, in his day, but few equals. Virginia* — Tobacco and the potato were brought to Enj^'-ind by Raleigh, and their use in Eui'ope dates from his time. So profitable was the growth of tobacco in Virginia that for a time the very streets of Jamestown were planted with it. Everything was paid for in tobacco, as there was little or no money. Salaries of clergy, taxes, debts, were paid in tobacco. Ninety respectable young women were sent out by the company from England, and whoever took one of them for a wife must pay a hundred pounds of tobacco. If a woman was convicted of slander her husband had to pay a fine of one hundred pounds of tobacco. Lord Bacon. --Born in 1561, he rose to be Lord Chancellor iu tl" ■; reign of James I. His is the greatest name connected with New- K 'mdland's colonizers. He was the apostle of experimental philosophy, of whom Macaulay says : " Turn where you will, the trophies of his mighty intellect are in view." His greatest works were " The Advance- ment of Learning " and " The Novum Organon," the influence of Avhich was immense. His intellectual grandeur has rarely been sui-passed. Unhappilv, he yielded to the corrupting influences of his time, and tarnished his fair fame by accepting bribes in his high judicial office. For this he was sentenced to pay a fine of £40,000, which was afterwards remitted. He spent his closing years in scientific pursuits, and died in 1626. ilii 1015.] WHITBOURNTS COMMISSION. m CHAPTER VI. FROM 1A15 TO ieS5. WHITE URNE'S COMMISSION. SIR GEORGE CALVERT*S CHARTER. — FmST ARRIVAL OF EMIGRANTS ARRIVAL. PROM IRELAND. — SIR DAVID KIRKE S 1, We now come to an important period in the his- tory of the island, and one which marks its rising impor- tance. In 1615 Captain Richard Whitbourne, mariner, of Exmouth, Devonshire, received a commission from the Admiralty of England to proceed to Newfoundland, for the purpose of establishing order among the iBshing population, and remedying certain abuses which had grown up there. The appointment of Whitbourne shows that the trade and fishericb of the island were now chiefly in the hands of the English, as he could not exercise such jurisdiction except over British subjects. On his arrival at St. John's, he summoned a court, empanelled juries, and heard the complaints of no less than 170 masters of English vessels, regarding injuries to the fisheries and trade of the island. He found that there were, besides the vessels of foreign flags, 250 English ships employed in the fisheries. His courts and juries were the first attempts at the establishment of law and order in the New World, under the authoritv of England. These facts show in what a flourishing con- dition was the English cod-fishery at this early date. 2. Already fixed settlements had commenced, which gradually extended fromTorbay (originally Thornebay), i;« ' 62 WiriTBOURNE'S COMMISSION: :jli [I015< |i|jk ill m I. V- iwiii ilh 1: I'' !i i< il'i six miles north of St. John's, to Cape Race (originally Raze). To connect these settlements, scattered over such an extent of coast, with St. John's, the settlers cut paths through the woods. Vessels arriving at St. John's supplied them with necessaries, in exchange for the produce of the fisheries. 3. In 1622 Whitbourne returned to England, where he published a book, called " A Discourse and Discovery of Newfoundland." In this book he spoke highly of the climate, soil, and fisheries, and strongly urged his coun- trymen to colonize it. King James ordered a copy of this book to be sent to every parish in the kingdom. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York issued a letter recommending it to the notice of the people, in order to induce P^nglishmen to emigrate to Newfoundland. Thus, 263 years ago, Newfoundland was a name on the lips of Englishmen, and was probably more widely known than it came to be long afterwards, when it was misrepre- sented and decried by interested persons, from selfish motives, r"d treated as a place of little importance. 4. We now come to notice the best-regulated effort yet made to plant a colony in Newfoundland. This was carried out under the guidance of Sir George Calvert, afterwards Lord Baltimore. lie was a Roman Catholic gentleman of Yorkshire, who had been knighted by James I., and appointed by him one of the secretaries of state. He was a man of intelligence, lofty integrity, and possessed of great capacity for business. From the king he obtained, in 1623, a patent conveying to him the lordship of the whole southern peninsula of Newfound- land. He named it Avalon, from the ancient name of Glastonbury, Somersetshire, where Clu'istianity is said to have been first preached in England. One of his objects was to provide a refuge for his co-religionists, f'lv 1055.] WHITBOURNE'S COMMISSION. 63 of the Roman Catholic faith, who were suffering from the persecuting spirit then unhappily prevalent, more or less, among all religious bodies. 5. Sir George Calvert selected Ferryland, fort}^ miles north of Cape Race, as the site of his colony. Here he built a noble man- sion, in which he resided for sev- eral years. He used great care in selecting colo- nists of the right stamp, and en- deavoured to pro- mote among them habits of industry and economy. He also erected a strong fort for their protection, and large grana- ries and store- houses. On this .settlement he ex- pended £30,000, — a large sum in lord Baltimore. those days. For a time things seemed to prosper. Reinforcements of colonists continued to arrive, and supplies of stores and iuii)lements. But the soil around Ferryland was unfa- vourable for cultivation. The French, who had now got a footing in Newfoundland, in several places, and who were at war with the English, harassed his settlement with repeated attacks. ;» i!| :1U 64 WHITBOURNE'S COMMISSION. [1615- 6« Wearied by these adverse circumstances he at length gave up his plantation and returned to England. From Charles I. he obtained a patent of the country now called Maryland. Before his patent had passed the necessary forms Lord Baltimore died in London, in 1632 ; but a new one was issued to his son, Cecil, who succeeded to his honours, and founded the city of Bal- timore, in Maryland. Before his death the first Lord Baltimore drew up a charter for the Maryland colony, which showed that in wisdom, liberality, and statesman- ship he was far ahead of his age. The Catholic Lord Baltimore was the first to establish a constitution which embodied the principle of complete liberty of conscience, the equality of all Christian sects, together with popular institutions, on the broad basis of freedom. Thus he is deservedly ranked among the wisest and best law-givers of all ages. Most of the colonists be brought to New- foundland remained to increase the resident population. 7, The first arrival of emigrants from Ireland took place soon after the departure of Lord Baltimore. Vis- count Falkland was then Lord Lieutenant of L'eland. He sent out a body of settlers from that country to increase the small population of Newfoundland. These, a-t a later date, were followed by many more. In this way it came about that the population of the island was composed of English and Irish settlers and their de- scendants ; and, at one time, the Saxon and Celtic elements were in almost equal proportions. It is not improbable that the disturbed condition of Ireland led a number of its people, from time to time, to seek a happier home and greater freedom on the shores of Newfoundland. 8. The next charter for the settlement of the island was given to Sir David Kirke, who arrived in 1638. 1655.] WniTBOURNrS COMMISSION. 65 This brave sea-captain had won high honours in warlike operations against the French in Canada. He had capt- ured a French fleet at Gasp6 ; made a clean sweep of all the French settlements in Canada and Acadia, and taken Quebec. He was knighted for his bravery by Charles I., who also made a grant in his favour of the whole island of Newfoundland. He took up his abode at Ferry- land, in the house built by Lord Baltimore. Sir David governed wisely, and used every effort to promote the set- tlement of the country. Much success attended his efforts. But the civil war in England, between Charles and the Parliament, now commenced. Kirke was a stanch loyalist, and all his possessions in Newfoundland were confiscated by the victorious Commonwealth. By 'ne aid of Claypole, Cromwell's son-in-law, he was at length reinstated in his possessions, and, returning to Ferryland, died there, in 1655, at the age of fifty-six. CKCIL, SECOND LORD BALTIMORE. 66 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. IB lit'! ,.; QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER VI. . 1 • When did Captain Whitbourne arrive, and for what purpose was he sent? What does his appointment show? In what state did he find the fisheries? 2. Where were there fixed settlements at this time? 3. What did Whitbourne do on his return to England? What do you know of his book on the Island? 4» Who was Sir George Calvert? What was his character? What was the date of his patent and what the extent of his grant? What is the origin of the name Avalon? What object had Calvert in view ? 6, Where did he settle? What did he do to secure prosperity to his settlement, and how much money did he expend? What caused failure? 6. Where did Calvert go on leaving? What colony was founded by his son? What is the constitution of Maryland noted for? 7. Wlien did the first Irish emigrants arrive? 8. What is the date of Kirke's settlement? What led to his coming? Give an account of his colony. Where did he die and when? MAP QUESTIONS. ' ^ '^ Where is Devonshire? Exmouth? Glastonbury? Ferry land? Maryland? Gasp^? I':' ' NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER VI. Captain Whitbourne was connected with the trade of Newfound- land for forty years, and had formed a high opinion of the capabilities ol" the country. His memory deserves to be held iu lasting respect for the services he rendered in drawing attention to the island, and urging its colonization. Like most seamen he had his supei'stitions, and believed firmly in the existence of mermaids. In his book he gives an amusing account of seeing one of these fabulous creatures in the harbour of St. John's. He says it came swimming towai'ds him, " looking cheerfully into bis face," the face, nose, eyes, and forehead beautiful as a woman's, with " blue streaks " about the head like hair. This fascinating creature came so t)oldly and swiftly towards the gallant captain that he thought NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 67 she meant to spring' ashore to him. He had commanded a ship, and fought bravely against the Spanish Armada, but he thought it prudent to run when he kuw the mermaid approaching. Perhaps he thought she intended to carry him off to her sea-caves. The mermaid then swam away, •' often looking back towards me ; " the back and shoulders were " white and smooth as the back of a man." '* This," says the captain, •* was, I suppose, a mermaid or merman ; but I leave it to others to judge." There can be no doubt that the honest captain had seen a seal disporting in the waters of the harbour, in the haze of the morning, and his excited imagination did the rest. Ferryland is thirty-five miles south of St. John's. Avalon was the ancient name of Glastonbury. The old Boman town of Verulam occu- pied the site there of what was afterwards St. Albans Abbey. Calvei't, to perpetuate these memories, called his province Avalon, and his town Verulam, which was corrupted first into Ferulam and then into Ferrj'- land. Bonnycastle, however, says its original name was Fore-Island, which is applicable to the locality. This was corrupted into Forriland, and then into Ferriland, which name it bore in the days of Calvei't, as it is written so in a letter from the place dated 1622. The changes and corruptions of the original French names are often curious. Bay of Bulls is a corruption of the French words Baie des Boules. Catalina harbour, from St. Catherine's, was originally named by the Spaniards Catalina, being the musical Spanish name for Catherine, like the Irish Kathleen. The French £aie d'Espoir (Bay of Hope) is now, by corruption of the name. Bay Despair. Baie de Lihre is Bay Deliver. Baie le Diable has become Jabbouls. Lance au Diable is Nancy Jobble. Baie de Vieux, or Old Man's Bay, is Bay-the-View. Baie d'Aviron is now Aberoon. Twillingate was originally Toulinguet. Tasse a Varpent is Tostleojohn. Beau Bois is Boboy. The presence of the French in Newfoundland is attested by countless names of places, such as Notre Dame Bay ; Cape Freehel (now Freels) ; Plaisance or Placentia, on account of its beautiful situation ; St. Jude's (now Cape Judy) ; Trepassey, the Bay of the Trepasses, or All-Souls; Audierne (now Oderin) ; Cape de Raz, or Capo Eaco, bare Cape (Cape llace) ; Cape Ray (Raye) , or Split Cape, from its appearance at sea ; Bnrgeo, La Poile, La Ilune, Rose Blanche, and numberless places on the southern shore. Fermosa, now Fermeuse, the beautiful, and Renews, the I'ocky, must have been named by the Portuguese. rii 68 CON TEMPORA R Y E\ 'ENTS. [1600- CH AFTER VII. FROM leoo TO leffO. w W\ lit iiv CONTEMPORARY EVENTS. PROGRESS OP THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES. FRENCH COLONIZATION IN CANADA AND ACADIA. — CONFLICT BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE IN NORTH AMERICA. 1. We must now pause for a moment, in following the fortunes of Newfoundland, in order to learn what Englishmen had been doing, during the half century from IGOO to 1650, in planting colonies on the shores of North America ; and how the French progressed in colonizing Canada and Acadia. This is necessary in order to understand thoroughly the history of New- foundland. We have already seen how the first permanent English colony was formed at Jamestown, in Virginia, in 1607. At first it did not prosper, and several times it was on the point of extinction. At length, however, emigrants of a better sort found their way to Virginia, and the colony began to grow, and several other towns arose. The early settlers found tobacco in extensive use among the Indians. When introduced into England it speedily obtained favour. The Virginian settlers soon found the cultivation of it a source of great profit. In eighty years Virginia numbered 50,000 inhabitants. 2. The 21st of December, 1620, was a memorable day in the history of the New World. On that day a little band of one hundred, called afterwards "the Pilgrim Fathers," landed from the Mayflower^ on ukL. 1650.] CONTEMPORARY EVENTS. 69 Plymouth Rock, — a granite boulder on the shore of Cape Cod Buy, which is still reverently preserved by their descendants. They had fled from tyranny and perse- cution in England, first to Holland, and then they deter- mined to seek for a home and freedom amid the great forests of New England. They had terrible hardships and difficulties to encounter, but they bravely sur- mounted them all. Nine years after, in 1629, five vessels sailed into Salem harboui, with another band of emigrants on board, direct from England ; and the next year eight hundred more arrived. These were "Puri- tans," seeking freedom of worship and safet}' from persecution. They founded the towns of Salem and Boston ; and the new colony was called Massachusetts Bay. Afterwards Plymouth colony united with this one, under the name of Massachusetts, — an Indian word, signifying, it is said, " Blue Hills." 3. These were the first of the New England colonies ; others speedily followed. Rhode Island was established in 1636; Connecticut in 1638; then New Hampshire and Vermont. Twenty-four years after the landing of the " Pilgrims " the Dutch discovered the Hudson river, and built a trading-post on Manhattan Island. They called the whole territory along the liver " New Netherlands," and founded a settlement named " New Amsterdam," where now stands the great city of New York. The colony prospered. At length, in 1664, certain English ships of war entered the bay. New Amsterdam surrendered ; the whole colony passed under British rule, and in honour of the Duke of York, after- wards James II., was named New York. The southern portion of the territory was named New Jersey. 4. Thus rapidl}'^ was the work of colonization carried on, while i . Newfoundland so many efforts at settle- 70 CON TEMPO It A R Y E VENTS. [1600. I! ""ffl Jip ■I! ■;: I'': ' m ment proved unsucoessfnl. Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, and Georgia were founded at a later date. These early New Pkigland colonists were men of brave hearts and strong arms, possessed of a free, bold spirit, with ability and determination to manage their own affairs. They came of their own free choice to make a home for themselves, and their rise to strength and greatness was rapid. One noble purpose these colonists never lost sight of was the education of their children. They knew that no success could attend their efforts if their children were allowed to grow up in ignorance. One of their earliest efforts was to establish everywhere common schools, in which every child should receive a good education. We need not wonder that colonies planted by such men soon attained a robust growth. When, in 1774, the American Revolution began, the thirteen colonies had a population of between two and three millions. It is not wonderful that they won their independence. At that time England had but 6,000,000, Scotland 1,000,000, and Ireland 2,000,000 inhabitants. 5. Meantime, let us see what progress the French were making in Canada. We have already seen how they were led, by taking part in the Newfoundland fish- eries, to take possession of Canada and Acadia. Here they determined to establish a dominion worthy of the great name of France. No expense was spared to pro- mote the growth of colonies, which would give them a firm hold on these magnificent possessions. Able and wise governors were appointed ; soldiers for de- fence were furnished ; food was supplied in seasons of scarcity. In this way the dominion of France gradually extended itself along the St. Lawrence, amid ceaseless and de- I"- iiiL 1650.] CONTEMPORARY EVENTS. 71 structive wars with the native Indians. Quebec and Montreal were founded. From the great lakes the French pushed their discoveries and explorations down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, aiid claimed the whole territory drained by it and its tributaries. Soon they came in collision with the New England colonists, who were extending themselves northward, and wanted to secure for themselves the valuable Canadian fur trade. At a 1 ter date the two nations also met in the valley of the Ohio, where the French prohibited the English colonists from trading. Bloody and wasteful wars were carried on, and both sides endeavoured to secure the as- sistance of the Indians. The conflict thus commenced went on for a century and a half, during the greater part of which time England and France were at war. Eng- land assisted her colonies in carrying on war against the French, with the view of expelling them altogether from the American continent. The French fought with great braver}' in defence of their possessions, but in vain. Gradually their power was weakened. One after another their strongholds were captured ; and at length their last battle was fought on the Heights of Abraham, in 1759, and Quebec was taken by General Wolfe. This was one of the decisive battles of the world ; and after it the white flag of France no longer waved on the con- tinent of America. 6. It is not difficult to see how the French were driven from Canada. They have never been successful as col- onizers. In the New World they spent their strength mainly in military adventures, in discoveries, and trad- ing operations. They did little in cultivating the soil and making permanent homes for themselves. They carried tlie feudal institutions of old France into the Canadian wilderness, and the land was parcelled out I'] I ^i ml. ■'. 1,1. ■ ■••' 'i |g| 72 CONTKifPOItA liY K VENTS. [1050. amon«5 a few nobles, who oppressed the people. Mo- nopolies of trade were given to ftivoured individujils. Few Frenchmen emigrated voluntarily to Canada, uud the colony remained feeble and unprogressive. When the New England colonists had grown io be over a million strong, the French in the valley of the St. Law- rence numbered only sixty-five thousand. These could not stand before the sturdy English colonists, backed by the military resources of the mother-country. Great names adorn the history of New France, such as Cham- plain, De Monts, La Tour, La Salle, Frontenac, Mont- calm. These men well sustained the fame of their country, and employed all their genius and bravery in establishing her power. The self-devotion and zeal of the Jesuit fathers, in prosecuting their missions among the Indians, awaken our admiration. But all failed in giving France a permanent hold on Canada. I : V ■"'.■■■h'f'7- : ''Pi','' ^■:.":>i ■'•;■"■'' ;■'..'/ ':f:;: • QUESTIONS FOR h'A'AAfJXATION. 73 MAP QUESTIONS. Where did the "Pilgrim Fathers" land? Point out, on the map, Boston, Salem, Plymouth, New York, Hudson River, States of Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, Georgia, Quebec, Montreal. Trace the course of tht Ohio River. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER VII. 1. What industry was carried on by tht* early Virginia settlers? Did they increase? 2. When did the Pilgrim Fathers arrive? Where did tlu'V I land? Why did they leave home? Where did the Puritans land? I What towns did they found? !■/ I 3. Give the dates of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hamp- I shire, and Vermont. Who first settled in New York? When did I it become an English possession? What was the origin of the I nanu!, New York? s 4. What other colonies followed? What kind of men were the New England colonists? How did they show their regard for education? What was the population of these colonies at the ,; time of the American Revolution? 6. What led the French to occupy Canada? What efforts did they make to settle it? Describe their progress. Where did they come in collision with the English colonists? What was the issue of the conflict? 6. Why did the French fail to settle and hold Canada? Point out the weak points in their system of settlement. Mention some of their greatest representatives in Canada. il- t 74 THE FRENCH IN NEWFOUNDLAND. [1655- CH AFTER VIII. FRO:«I 1055 TO 1AW7. THE FRENCH IN NEWFOUNDLAND, h ■ W' IM' r i'"' ii? ! Si ■ ■! PLACENTIA FOUNDED. — FRENCH EFFORTS TO GET POSSES- SION OF THE ISLAND. — EXPEDITION OF d'iBERVILLI^;. — TREATY OF RYSWICK. ITS EFFECT ON NEWFOUND- LAND. 1. The great events referred to in the last chapter were closel; connected with the history of Newfound- land, and greatly influenced the fortunes of the colony. In carrying out their plans for founding an empire in the New World, the French statesmen were eager for the conquest of Newfoundland. The possession of the island they knew would enable them to control the fish- eries, and also to command the narrow entrance to the St. Lawrence and their possessions in Canada. Hence, they never ceased their efforts to obtain a footing in the island ; and their presence and encroachments were a constant source of annoyance to the English and Irish settlers. 2. In 1635 the French obtained permission from England to dry fish on the shores of Newfoundland, on payment of a duty of five per cent, on the produce. In 1660 th3 French founded Placentia, on the southern coast. The entrance to this beautiful and commodious harbor is a narrow strait, which they defended by the erection of Fort St. Louis, a strong fortification that stood at the foot of a reeky height. A French lieuten- ant-governor was nominated to take command and re- Ti fUiCSMTlA. fWT % '■■\: ;.■,- -1 V Im mi LHli; fi '.''''•' : 1697.] THE FRENCH IN NEWFOUNDLAND. 75 side here. In 1675 Charles II. was persuaded by Louis XIV. to give up the duty of five per cent, hitherto i)aid as an acknowledgment that the island belonged to Eng- land. From this time the French became bolder and more determined in extending their settlements, espe- cially along the southern shore, where many of the places to this day bear the French names given by them. 3. When war broke out between England and France, on the accession of William III. to the throne, one of the reasons assigned in the royal declaration of war, was that the French had been, of late, making unwarrant- able encroachments in Newfoundland. To check these. Commodore Williams was despatched, in 1692, with a squadron, to seize Placentia. On arriving he found that a strong boom had been thrown across the entrance of the harbour, and that he had three well-armed forts to attack. After a brisk cannonade, he withdrew, find- ing the place too strong to be captured with the force under his command. 4. It was now the turn of the French to become the assailants ; and their determined efforts to seize New- foundland were crowned with a short-lived success. In 1696 Chevalier Nesmond, a French commander with a strong squadron, was ordered to drive the English out of Newfoundland, and then to destroy Boston and the neighbouring settlements. He arrived at Placentia, and from thence made a descent on St. Jonn's, which was at this time defended by several forts, and held by a garri- son. Thirty-four English ships were then lying in the harbour. Nesmond's attack was successfully repulsed, and he returned to France without accomplishing any- thing. 5. But the French persevered in their designs of conquest. Later in the same year a more formidable ■ ' ' k '\M 76 THE FRENCTT IN NEWFOUNDLAND. [1655- II tlliiiiiUIL i expedition was prepared. There was then in Canada a famous captain called D' Iberville (pronounced Dee-bair- viel) , who was much employed in harassing the English settlements. He had just distinguished himself by his skill and bravery in capturing Fort William Henry, which had been built by the government of Massachu- setts, at Pemaquid, east of the river Kennebec. He was then ordered to join Brouillan, Governor of Placentia, who had a number of vessels under his command. The combined force was to effect the conquest of Newfound- land. 6. Before his arrival, Brouillan had sailed to attack Ferryland. On his way he met a solitary English man- of-war, which he chased into the Bay of Bulls. Captain Cleasbv was its commander, and he determined to defend his vessel to the last. The gallant captain placed all his guns on the broadside next the enemy, and fought furiously till his vessel took fire, vhen he escaped to the shore. The Frenchmen followed him, and he and his men had to surrender. Ferryland was then destroyed by Brouillan. D' Iberville now joined him, and a strong body of the French advanced through the woods, and made an attack on St. John's, in the rear. The garrison was feeble, and in want of military stores and provisions. They could make but a faint resistance, and St. John's was captured and burned. The garrison and principal inhabitants were allowed two ships to carry them to England. The rest made their way to Carbonear and Bonavista. D'Iberville then followed up his successes by destroying all the English settlements on the eastern coast. Carbonear, however, where the descendants of Guy's settlers had established themselves, made a gallant resistance, and beat off the enemy. Bonavista, also, was too strong for him, c*iid 1697.] THE FRENCH IN NEWFOUNDLAND. 77 made an equally successful resistance. The whole of Newfoundland, with the exception of these two places, was now in the hands of the French. 7. As soon as the news of the loss of Newfoundland reached England strong preparations were made for driving out the invaders. Before an^'thing effectual could be done the war between England and France was brought to a close by the treaty of Ryswick, signed on the 20th September, 1G97. 8. By the seventh article of this treaty England and France agreed to mutually restore all their possessions in North America which had changed hands during the war. Thus the French were reinstated in all they had lost, and all the bloodshed and sufferings of eight years decided nothing as to who should be masters of North America. 9. The treaty, in its effects, was most injurious to Newfoundland. It left the island, as at the commence- ment of the war, divided between the English and French ; so that, if war should be renewed, the English settlements were as liable as before to be harassed by the attacks of the French. St. John's, and the other set- tlements which the French had seized, were given up. But their claims on Placentia, and all other positions on the south-west coast, were recognized and confirmed. The consequence was frequent hostilities and renewed efforts on the part of the French to get possession of the whole island, so that they were not shaken oft' for some years to come. ill 78 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. J(|;.,. lit:.: ,' '"'' 1 il;. 1' , 1 ,; i 1? ■ ) QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER VIII. 1, Why were the French so eager to get possession of New- foundhmd? 2. What privilege did the French obtain in Newfoundland in 16:55? When was Placentia founded? What fort was erected? What gave the French a greater hold on the island? 3* Who was sent to check French encroachments, and wliat did he do? 4. When did Nesmond invade Newfoundland, and what did he accomplish? 6» What orders were given to D'Iberville? O. Describe his movement. What occurred at Bay of Bulls? What was the fate of St. John's? What two places resisted the French ? 7. By what treaty was the war ended, and when? 8. What were some of its articles? 9. How did the treaty of Ryswick injure Newfoundland? NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER VIII. Ryswick* — A town in Holland, three miles from the Hague. In the royal palace here the treaty of peace was signed iu 1697. The par- ties to it were England, France, Spain, Holland, and Germany. By it Louis XIV. acknowledged William HI. lawful king of Great Britain and Ireland. Placentia^ on the bay of that name, on the southern coast, eighty miles from St. John's. Bay of Bulls, eighteen miles south of St. John's. ^ '',■>.',■.,'",. ■- . - < ^ 1654.] CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 79 CHAPTER IX. a ; FROM 1654 TO l-^aO. ^-■.^,-,--,-^^\'ir::-^r^-.,_;.V- CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. " SLOW PROGRESS OF THE COLONY. — ITS CAUSE. — UNJUST LAWS. TYRANNY BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT. THE FISHING ADMIRALS. — OPPRESSION OF THE WEAK. — APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST GOVERNOR. 1, While the population of the New England colonies was increasing rapidl}', that of Newfoundland made ver}- slow progress, though its settlement was of much earlier date. In 1654, seventy-one years after the arrival of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the island contained a population of only 350 families, or about 1.750 persons. These were distributed in fifteen small settlements along the eastern shore. The principal of them were Torbay, Quidi Vidi, St. John's, Bay of Bulls, Ferry land, Renewse, Aquaforte. Twenty years later, in 1680, the resident population was 2,280. In eighteen years more, these had only increased to 2,640, this being their number in the year 1698. It must be remembered that, in addition to these, there was a large floating population of many thousands who frequented the shores during summer, to carry on the fisheries, but left for their homes at the approach of winter. In 1626 Devonshire alone sent 150 vessels to the cod-fishery. 2. But why, it may be asked, was the settlement of the island so slow? The climate was healthy, the soil repaid cultivation, the fisheries were most productive. Out of the many thousands who visited it how came it li f-f"^ 80 CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. [1654. II ; that so few took up their permauent abode in the island ? There was a very sufficient reason for this, which we must now ex[)Uiin. So far as the English were con- cerned, the fisheries had been carried on by merchants, ship-owners, and traders who resided in the west of England. They sent out their ships and fishing-crews to Newfoundland early in the summer. The fish caught were salted and dried ashore. When winter approached the fishermen took their departure for England, carrying with them whatever portion of the fish had not been previously shipped for foreign markets. These English " merchant-adventurers," as they were called, found that it was for their interest to discourage the settlement of the country, as they wished to retain its harbours and coves for the use of their own fishing captains and ser- vants, while engaged in curing and drying the fish. They got, at length, to think that the whole island was their own, and that any one who settled there was an interloper who should be driven away. They actually thought it right to keep an island larger than Ireland in a wilderness condition, in order that they might use its shores for drying their fish, and enjoy, in their own country, all the riches thus gathered. 3. But, in spite of all their efforts, a few hardy, ad- venturous persons began to form little settlements along the shores. The island had strong attractions for them, and they wanted to make homes for themselves, and combine cultivation of the land with fishing. The fish- ing-merchants and ship-owners took the alarm, and went to war with these settlers, determined to root them out, or, at all events, to keep their numbers as small as pos- sible. Being wealthy capitalists they had great influ- ence with the successive English governments of those 1729.] CONDI riON OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 81 days, while tlie poor settlers had none. They were able to persuade the English statesmen and people that the fisheries would be ruined if a resident population should be allowed to grow u[) in the island, and the fisheries would no longer be a nursery of seamen for the navy. Further, they misled the public by representing the Island as hopelessly barren, and, in regard to its soil and climate, unfit for human habitation. 4:. In this way it came about that unjust and inju- rious laws were enacted by the P^nglish government, to prevent the settlement of the island, and to keep it for- ever in the degraded condition of a stage for drying fish. These laws forbade any one to go to Newfoundland as a settler, and ordained that all fishermen should return to Ehj^iand at the close of each fishing season. Masters of vessels were compelled to give bonds of £100, bind- ing them to bring back each year such persons as they took out. Settlement within six miles of the coast was prohibited under heavy penalties. No one could culti- vate or enclose the smallest piece of ground, or even repair a house, without license, which was rarely granted. This oppressive policy was maintained for more than a hundred years. 5. Notwithstanding these hardships and discourage- ments the sturdy settlers held their ground, and slowly but steadily increased in numbers. Between them and their oppressors a bitter antipathj^ sprang up, and it is not wonderful that it should have been so. There must have been among these settlers a manly, independent spirit. Had there not been among them men possessing much vigour of character and solid worth, they could not have carried on the contest so bravely against the fishing capi- talists, and at last conquered them, and won their free- dom. The conflict, however, was very trying, and ! H2 CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. [1654. u i \mi i; If;:. '. 1 :'! .1 .,■1 ij j4|''; ! 'T:;' If*' j : '1 ; . 1 greatly retarded the progress of the colony, entailing terrible sufferings on men who were kept outside tlie paie of law, and without any civilizing influences. Finding their own fishery declining, while that carried on by the settlers was increasing, in 1670, the merchant- adventurers applied to the Lords of Trade and Planta- tions, and declared that unless the settlers were removed the fisheries would be destroyed. These Lords of Trade immediately sent out Sir John Berry, a naval officer, with ordeis to drive out the fishermen and burn their dwellings. 6. This barbarous edict was not revoked for six years. Though it was not strictly carried into effect, owing to the humane spirit of Sir John Berry, yet it gave the mercantile monopolists such an advantage that, soon after, they had 270 vessels and 11,000 men engaged in the fisheries. When the decree to burn and drive away was recalled, strict orders were given that no further emigration to the doomed island should be allowed. At length the Lords of Trade relaxed so far as to allow one thousand persons to reside in Newfoundland, as they might be useful in building boats and fishing stages, and taking care of property. The repressive policy reached its height when a certain Major Elford, lieu- tenant-governor at St. John's, very strongly urged the ministers of the day " to allow no woman to land in the island, and that means should be adopted to remove those who were there." It does not appear that any one tried to carry out this sweeping proposal. 7. As years rolled on, though the settlers were in- creasing in numbers and importance, they were as much as ever at the tender mercies of the merchants. One of the enactments of the notable Star Chamber, in the reign of Charles I., was, that if a person in Newfound- 1729.] CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 83 land killed another, or stole the value of forty shillings, the offender was to be sent to England, and, on convic- tion of eitiier offence, to be hanged. Another law was that the master of the tirst ship entering a harbour was to be admiral for the season, and magistrate of the dis- trict, with unlimited power to decide all (juestions re- garding property and all other disputes. Thus arose government by the Fishing Admirals, perhaps the most absurd and tyrannical pretence at the administration of justice ever put in practice. 8. In 1GU8, in the reign of William III., this arrange- ment was confirmed and extended in an act passed by the British parliament. In this statute, which long obstructed all improvement in the country, it was or- dained that the master of a vessel arriving first in a harbour was to be admiral for the season, and was allowed to take as much of the beach as he chose, for his own use. The masters of the second and third vessels arriving at the same harbour were to be vice- admiral and rear-admiral, with similar privileges. No attention was paid to tlie qualifications of these admirals. The first rude, ignorant skipper who made a short passage was absolute ruler for the season. They were the servants of the merchants, and therefore personally interested in questions of property that arose. They were the enemies of the poor residents, whom they wanted to trample out 9. The triumph of the merchants over their fellow- 8u])jects in this lone isle was now as complete as that of a warrior who storms a city. Their servants, the Fishing Admirals, took possession of the best fishing- stations, drove out the inhabitants from their own houses, gardens, and fishing-grounds ; took bribes when determining cases, and carried on, for long years, a sys- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. \s ^'v'^ t<'/ :A 1.0 I.I 1.25 ? '""- IIIIM ~ 2.0 JL4 IIIIII.6 V] (^ /}. VI c^: ■^ ,>> ^ ^^" 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation m JV <^ ^\ %s^ IV ^ r^^^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ?v %s'ji w^ 1 |k' i- 1 Hi. i:^ t ,'. i ' i^ i 84 CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. [1654- tem of robbery and oppression. All accounts agree in representing them as at once knaves and tyrants, though no doubt there were individual exceptions. 10. In vain did the resident people, groaning under the lash of these petty tyrants, petition the Lords of Trade, and lay before them their grievances. The merchants were able to get their petitions thrown aside with contempt. Again and again they asked for the appointment of a governor to regulate the affairs of the island. That, of all others, was a measure the mer- chants and ship-owners dreaded. It might disturb their pleasant monopoly, and weaken their control over the fisheries. A governor might take the part of the set- tlers ; and they stoutly resisted his appointment. What they wanted was, as one of their own party expressed it, " that Newfoundland should always be considered as a great English ship, moored near the Banks, during the fishing season, for the convenience of English fisher- men." 11, During this hard struggle the lot of these poor fishermen must have been very bitter. It is not won- derful to find that numbers of them, utterlv disheart- ened, escaped to America, and there aided materially in building up the New England fisheries. In their little wood u hamlets, sprinkled along the sea-margin, their outlook was dreary enough. They had but a bare subsistence. They had no schools for their children, and no ministers of religion among them. All around were the dense woods, extending to the sea-shcre, with a few paths cut through them. Before them was the great ocean, from which alone they were permitted to draw their means of subsistence. Their treatment was so harsh that if, in these days, the inmates of a prison or a workhouse were to be treated in like fashion, the public 1729.] CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 85 would raise a sliout of iiuliguation. How could they advance iu any of the arts of civilized life ? They still held on, however ; and, conscious that they had right on their side, they courageously resisted their selfish op- pressors. The day of deliverance at last dawned. The British government at length found out that they had been misled and deceived by the representations of in- terested, selfish men, both in regard to the country and its fisheries. Restrictions on the settlement of the isl- and were slowly removed one after another. The obnoxious statute of William III. was, however, left un- repealed, and greatly hindered improvements. It was not till less than eighty years ago that the last of these unjust laws was repealed, and people were allowed to [)osse8s land and build houses, and take some steps tow- ards self-government. 12. The change for the better was brought about by the commodores and captains of the royal ships, which were periodically appointed to this station. They saw the terrible injustice which was inflicted on a patient, inoffensive people. One of them, named Lord Vere Beauclerk, a clear-headed, benevolent nobleman, made such strong representations to the Board of Trade that they appointed Capt. Henry Osborne to be the first governor of Newfoundland. The merchants protested against the appointment, but in vain. The new gov- ernor arrived in 1729. 13. A new era now began. Newfoundland, for the first time, was recognized as a British Colony. Though the Fishing Admirals were not abolished till long t'fter- wards, they were now under control, and their power was more limited. The sufferings of the people were not ended, but they were diminished. The naval gov- ernment of the island, under admirals and captains of 1 ,' f if •p^- 86 QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION I iiEl.i 11^^ If'' ii -■,-,] 1 II f , '\ lf?f i the British navy, now began, and was continued for many years. It was far from being the most desirable way of governing a colony ; but it was a great improve- ment on anything yet enjoyed. The new system at least prepared the way for a local civil government, and finally for political freedom. In 1729, when the first governor arrived, the resident population had grown to be six thousand strong. 14. Whatever may have been tlie wrongs inflicted on the early settlers, we should clearly understand that no man or body of men, now living, should be held accountable for what was done in those distant days. The injustice of former ages has happily been rectified. The merchants and capitalists of to-day are men of a very different spirit and are in a very different position from those who once carried on the fisheries from England. They have no connection with old oppressions. Between them and the people of to-day the relations are cordial and friendly. Both can now unite for the ad- vancement of their common country. Resentments and animosities between the two classes are, happily, things of the past. ; QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER IX. 1. Give the population of Newfoundland in 1654; 1680; 1698. Did many come from England annually? 2. How did English merchants carry on the fishery? Wiiy did they oppose the settlement of the island? In what state did they wish it kept? / '. '^: ■-■ -"V^i 3. How did the merchants persuade the English government to prevent people from settling? 4- What did the unjust laws forbid in order to prevent settle- ment? How long did these laws continue in force? 6. Did any persons make homes for themselves? AVhat shows their vigour of character? Wliat hardships had they to ! .' '. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 87 endure? What order was issued in 1670? By whom? Who was to carry it out? 6. What prevented its full operation? How long was it till its revocation? What advantage did the merchants gain? What compromise was allowed? What proposal about women was after- wards issued? 7. Mention one of the laws about criminals in the reign of Charles I. How did the authority of the Fishing Admirals arise? 8. What did the Act of William HI. establish? Why was the arrangement unjust? 9. How did the Fishing Admirals behave? What was their character? 10« Describe the sufferings of the resident population. What did they ask for? Why did the merchants oppose a gov- ernor? What use did they want to make of the island? 11. What was the condition of the settlers? What did the British government at length discover? What was done? 12. How did the change for the better come about? Who was the first governor, and what the date of his appointment? 13. Were the Fishing Admirals abolished? What was the benefit of the new government? 14. Is any one now living to be held accountable for the wrongs of the past? MAP QUESTIONS. — CHAPTERS VIII. AND IX. Where is Placentia? Bay of Bulls? Carbonear? Bonavista? Describe the position of Ryswick. (See note, Chapter VIII.) NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. —CHAPTER IX. Lords of Trade and Plantations. —This Board was created to take charge of the colonies in America, but was of no service to them, la one of his speeches in the House of Commons, Burke said of it : "This Board is a sort of temperate bed of influence, — a sort of gently- ripening hot-house, — where eight members of Parliament receive sala- ries of a thousand a year for a given time, in order to mature, at a proper season, a claim to two thousand, granted for doing less, and on 88 CHRONOLOGY. the credit of havini:^ toiled so lon^ in the inferior laborious department." " It is a Board which, if not minchievoua, ia of no use at ally This Board issued the inhunaan order to Sir John Berry to burn the houses of the residents in Newfoundland and drive out the settlers. In 1676, six years after, John Downing, a resident, by his strong appeals, succeeded in procuring an order from the king to annul it. Sir Joshua Childs, the principal merchant connected with the fisheries in England, was the means of procuring this barbarous edict from the Lords of Trade. He must have realized much wealth from the fisheries, for, when his daughter married the eldest son of the Duke of Beaufort, he gave her a poi'tion of £r)0,0{K). He had fish-ponds in Epping Forest, " many miles in circuit." He was also engaged in the East India trade. ^%M hi i' (IS! ' I ': ■ \w •I CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY. —FROM 1600 TO 1700. A.D. 1593. Richard Apsham's expedition to Newfoundland. 1603. James I., King of England. 1607. Jamestown founded in Virginia. 1608. Quebec founded by Champlain. 1609. Hudson River discovered by Henry Hudson. 1610. Guy's settlement in Conception Bay. 1613. First child of European parents born in Newfoundland. 1615. Whitbourne's commission to Newfoundland. 1618. Sir Walter Raleigh beheaded. 1620. Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in New England. 1623. Sir George Calvert's patent for colonization of Newfound- . -i land. 1625. Charles I., King of England. 1630. Arrival of first Irish settlers in Newfoundland. 1636. Rhode Island Colony founded. 1638. Sir David Kirk's patent in Newfoundland. Connecticut founded. 1641. Montreal founded by the Jesuit Fathers. 1642. Civil War in England between Charles I. and the Parlia- ment. ^ ^,;.:, .„;.„., - \W6. Louis XIV., King of France. " .; ,; Union of the New England Colonies. 1645. Battle of Naseby. — Close of the Civil War. 1649. Execution of Charles I. KMINENT PERSONS. 89 1668. Death of Cromwell. 1660. Placentia founded by the French. Charles II., King of England. 1665. Great Plague of London. 1670. Sir John Berry ordered to destroy settlements in New- foundland. 1673. Marquette and Joliet's discovery of the Mississippi. 1679. Habeas-corpus Act. 1685. James II., King of England. 1688. English Revolution, — Expulsion of the Stuarts. 1689. William III. and Mary, Sovereigns of England. 1696. Nesmond's Repulse at St. John's, Newfoundland. First capture of St. John's by the French. 1697. Treaty of Ryswick. EMINENT PERSONS FROM 1600 TO 1700. Ben Jonson ; Massinger ; Jeremy Taylor ; Milton ; Locke ; Moliere ; Kepler ; Sir Isaac Newion ; Turenne ; Bayle ; Dryden ; Bunyan ; Reubens ; Vandyke ; Inigo Jones ; Sir Christopher Wren. T^^^PK" 90 EFFORTS TO CONQUER NEWFOUNDLAND. [1697. CHAPTER X. FRO]»I 1697 TO 17»4. !' i' m\ Ilii ite' liliii RENEWED EFFORTS OF THE FRENCH TO CONQUER NE WFO UNDLA ND. TREATY OP UTRECHT. — DISPUTES CONNECTED WITH IT. — CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GOVERNORS AND FISHING ADMIRALS. — COMMISSION OF OYER AND TERMINER. 1, We must now take up the history of the island from the treaty of Kyswick, in 1697. The thirty years which followed constituted the darkest and dreariest period in the experience of the oppressed settlers. Their difficulties and sufferings were such that it seems marvellous that they were not driven to settle in some more favorable region, and to abandon in despair the effort to make homes for themselves in Newfoundland. 2. The peace between England and France, secured by the treaty of Ryswick, was of short duration. In 1702, in the commencement of Queen Anne's reign, war recommenced. The French were strongly established in Placentia and other places along the southern shore. From these centres they carried on their fisheries round the island, and greatly interfered with the English and resident fishermen. Captain Leake, a distinguished naval officer, was sent to check their encroachments. He destroved several of their settlements on the southern shore, and dismantled their fortifications at the Island of St. Pierre ; but he left them still in possession of their chief stronghold, Placentia. An unsuccessful attempt was made to reduce this place in the following ilii 1754.] EFFORTS TO VONQVFR NEWFOUNDLAND. Dl year. Then the French became bolder and more con- fident, and at length determined to seize the whole island. Thev attacked St. John's, but were there re- pulsed. Then the}' assailed the smaller settlements, burn- ing and destroying, inflicting great miseries on the people and carrying off a number of them as prisoners. Under the protection of their war-vessels, they carried on their fisheries in the northern harbours. A force was organized in St. John's which made a successful raid upon these French war-ships and captured six out of ten of them. Two years after, in 1708, the French, in the middle of winter, despatched a force from Placentia, which landed within fifteen miles of St. John's, marched overland, surprised the unprepared garrison, and capt- ured the place. Then they assailed Carbonear ; but once more, the brave defenders beat off the French. Newfoundland was now, for a time, lost to the British empire. 3, But if the arras of France were successful in these petty conflicts they sustained terrible reverses on the continent of Europe. In four great battles, the famous English commander, the Duke of Marlborough, so shattered the military power of France, that Louis XIV. was glad to accept terms of peace on terms very disad- vantageous to himself. This war was brought to a close by the celebrated treaty of Utrecht (pronounced ()-o-trekt) , which marks a very important era in the history of Newfoundland. By the provisions of this treaty the French agreed to surrender all their possessions iji New- foundland and the adjacent islands, and to retire from Placentia. Thus the sovereignty of the whole island was secured to England. 4. But, though the French had no longer any territo- rial rights, unfortunately for the peace and prosperity :iii Si'i % i HiS li;. ii, I' 92 EFFORTS TO CONQUER NEWFOUNDLAND. [1097- of the colony this treaty gave them the right of fishing and curing fish on tlie western and northern shores of the island. Thus the people were doomed still to be hindered in their industrial labours by the presence of the i^'rench, when it would have been an easy matter, in drawing up the treaty, to get rid of them entirely, and make the island truly an undivided possession of Eng- land. The piivilege thus given to the French has led to disputes, which are not settled to this day. The French have ever since tried to maintain that the treaty gave them the sole right of fishing along a certain part of the coast, and therefore that Newfoundland fisher- men had no right to fish in these waters. On the other hand, Newfoundland denies that any such exclusive right was given by the treaty, and holds that her people have a right to fish concurrently, or side by side with the French, so long as thej*^ do not interrupt their fishing operations. 6. England has never admitted the exclusive right of the French to these fisheries. In order, however, to preserve peace, she has discouraged Newfoundland fish- ermen from going on this portion of the coast, leaving the whole question unsettled from generation to gen- eration. The consequences have been most injurious to Newfoundland. Her people have been virtually' ex- cluded from the best portion of the island, which has been left in a wilderness state ; and they could neither prose- cute the fisheries there, nor settle the lands, or carry on mining or other industries. 6. In spite of all these difficulties people began to settle on that portion of the coast where the French had these fishing-privileges. They continued to in- crease, year after year, and at length numbered nearly nine thousand persons. They were without laws or \W ' nr>i,] EFFORTS TO CONQUER NEWFOUNDLAND. 93 magistrates ; without roads, schools, or any civilizing in- fluences. At last the coudition of these outlaws could no longer be overlooked. The British government, only so lately as 1878, permitted magistrates to be appointed, and custom-houses built. Four years later they allowed the local government to issue grants of land and licenses for mining. They also permitted the people to elect two representatives to the House of Assembly. Thus the shadowy claims of the French to control the land were forever set aside. This was a most important step, as it incorporated this region with the rest of the island, and placed it under the jurisdiction of the local govern- ment, giving the people the rights of citizens. The only question now awaiting settlement has reference to the "exclusive" and "concurrent" right. There is reason to hope that this too will be satisfactorily ar- ranged. Then " the French Shore Question," as it is called, will be finally disposed of. 7. We saw, at the close of last chapter, how the British government, in 1729, at length appointed a governor of the island in the person of Captain Henry Osborne. This step greatly alarmed the merchants, lest it might interfere with their profitable and uncon- trolled dominion over the people and the fisheries. Accordingly, they set themselves vigorously to work to counteract the measure, and to prevent any lawful authority from taking root in the country. They con- tinued to support the tyrannical jurisdiction of the de- tested Fishing Admirals, and refused to recognize the newly appointed authority. 8. Captain Osborne, on his arrival, proceeded to divide the island into districts, and appoint justices of the peace, selected from the best classes of the people, with constables under them. The Fishing Admirals i -r 94 EFFORTS TO CONQUER NEWFOUNDLAND. [1697- I' . t :!fw< 1 , Sf l:g' ; ' ■ |]'- ' iisi ■ !' % : i; 'I; fiercely opposed the exercise of authority by these jus- tices, and declared their appointment was illegal. They told the people the justices were usurpers, and endeav- oured to bring them into contempt. 9, Unfortunately, the new system had been intro- duced by " an order in Council," whereas the Fishing Admirals claimed that they had been appointed by an Act of Parliament, and, therefore, had superior au- thority. The conflict between the two went on for nearly fifty years, the governors sustaining the justices, and the West Country merchants backing the Fishing Admirals. The good efl:'ects of the appointment of a governor were thus greatly impeded. Besides, he only resided in the colony about three or four months in each year, returning to England in October. It was not till 1818 that a resident governor was appointed. 10, Thus, for another half century the people had to suffer imder cruel misrule. It was then, indeed, no longer illegal to settle in the country ; but still no per- mission was yet given to cultivate the soil, and no stage could be erected for handling fish by the residents till their lords and masters from England had been accom- modated. Besides, the fishermen were so poor that they had to obtain advances in provisions and clothing, at very high prices, at the beginning of each fishing-season, and at the close to pay for them in fish, the price of which was fixed by the supplier. Thus arose the "supplying system," which kept the fishermen con- stantly in debt and dependence. The adherents of the old system never ceased their attacks on the new, and were constantly petitioning the home authorities to have it altered or extinguished. But the British government were firm in their refusal to withdraw the small measure of civil government granted to the colony. The right 1754.] QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 95 prevailed. Slowly, and step by step, improvements came. The resident population increased in numbers and influence. The Fishing Admirals and their sup- porters saw it was useless to continue the conflict, and at length they and their claims to authority fell into well- merited contempt, and passed into oblivion. 11, The year 1750 witnessed another important step in the extension of civil government in the Island. Hitherto all criminals had to be sent to England for trial. Witnesses had also to procee'^ there, at great ex- pense and inconvenience. Justice was often defeated, and great hardships endured. Successive governors had pointed out this evil. At length, in 1750, Captain Drake, the governor, was authorized to establish a court in which all criminal cases could be tried within the bounds of the colony. Those who presided in this court were called "Commissioners of Oyer and Ter- miner." 12. In 1754 the representative of the Baltimore family presented a claim to be put in possession of the province of Avalon, on the strength of the original grant of 1623, to the first Lord Baltimore. The appli- cation was rejected by the law officers of the Crown, on the ground that the Baltimore family had not held possession for 130 years, and that later grants had set their claim aside. No more was beard of the matter. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER X. 1 , What was the condition of the resident people for thirty years after the treaty of Ryswick? 2. When did war recommence? Where were the French eHtablished in the island? Who was sent to remove them, and what did he do? Describe the movements of the French. What did war-ships from St. John's accomplish at the North? When ^ 96 NOTEH AND EXPLANATIONS. ■i< 1 was St. John's taken the second time by the French, and how? What of Carbonear? 3. What led to the treaty of Utrecht? What were its pro- visions as regards Newfoundhand? 4. What fishing privileges did the French acquire by the treaty of Utrecht? What have been the injurious effects of giving the French such privileges? What do the Frencli claim by this treaty? What is the viow of Newfoundland on this point? 6. What has England do in connection with these privi- leges? What injury has the colony suffered? O. In what state were people living on the so-called " French Shore"? When were magistrates first appointed there? When were the people there allowed to send representatives? When were land grants allowed? What important change is thus made? 7. Who supported the Fishing Admirals against the governors? 8. What improvements did Captain Osborne effect? 9. What advantage had the Fishing Admirals in the contest? How long did it last? Did governors live in the if r.nd? When was the first resident governor appointed? r. O, Describe the condition of the people at this time. How did the " supplying system " arise? What were its effects? What was the end of the Fishing Admirals? 11. What great improvement camo in 1750? 12. What claim did the Baltimore family make? Why was it refused? MAP QUESTIONS. Describe the position of the island of St. Pierre. Of Utrecht (see note). On what part of the coast have the French fishing, privileges in Newfoundland? I I NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER X. French Claims. — Lord Palmerston's note to Count Sebastiani, the French ambassador, in 1838, on the subject of the French claims to an exclusive fishing right in Newfoundland, may be regarded as conclu- sive. In it he says : "The British (lovernraent has never understood the declaration to have had for its object to deprive the British subje ts of the right to participate with the French in taking fish at sea off that coast, provided they did so without interrupting tlie French cod-fishery." ! '.•:' TT^ CHRONOLOGY. 97 He further states that in no p\iblic document or Act of Parliament " does it appear that the right of French subjects to an exchisive fishery, either of codfish or fish generally, is specifically I'ecognized." Utrecht is the capital of the Dutch province of that name, which lies between Holland, Gelderland, and the Zuyder-Zee. The city is divided into two parts by the Rhine. At the British minister's house in Utrecht, in 1713, was signed the treaty which ended " the War of the Spanish Succession," or, as it is called in America, ** Queen Anne's War." The Duke of Marlborough's great victories were Blenheim (17v)4) ; Ramilies (1706) ; Oudenarde (1708) ; Malplaquet (1709). CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY, 1700 TO 17C0. A.D. 1702. Anne Queen of England. 1704. Gibraltar taken by the English. Battle of Blenheim. 1707. Union of English and Scottish Parliaments. 1708. Second Capture of St. John's by the F'rench. 1713. Treaty of Utrecht. 1714. George I., King of England. 1715. Louis XV., King of France. 1725. Death of Peter the Great. 1727. George IL, King of England. 1729. Captain Henry Osborne first governor of Newfoundland. 1733. Colony of Georgia founded. 1745. Louisburg taken by the English under Pepperel and Warren. 1748. Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle ; Louisburg restored to the French. 1750. Court of Oyer and Terminer established in Newfoundland. 1759. Quebec taken by Wolfe. 1760. George III., King of England. EMINENT PERSONS, FROM 1700 TO 17'^0. Sir Robert Walpole ; William Pitt ; Swift ; Pc^)" ; Hume ; De- foe ; Gibbon ; Voltaire ; Rousseau ; Montesquieu ; Franklin ; Maria Theresa Wesley; Whitfield; Johnson; Goldsmith; Franklin; Wolfe. T^ 98 ''THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR." [1756. CHAPTER XI. FROAI 1T56 TO 1775. " THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR." CAPITULATION OF LOUISBURG AND QUEBEC. — CAPTURE OF ST. John's by the French. — their expulsion. — TREATY OF PARIS. — LABRADOR ADDED TO NEW- FOUNDLAND. — INTRODUCTION OF CUSTOMS AND THE NAVIGATION LAWS. — RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN NEWFOUNDLAND. 1, The final struggle between England and France for the control of North America commenced in 1756. The contest is known as " The Seven Years' War." War- like operations on both sides began on sea and land ; but the chief battle-ground was America. William Pitt, " the Great Commoner," as he was called, assumed the guidance of affairs, as Prime Minister of England. He began the campaign by an expedition against Louisburg, in Cape Breton, a strong fortress held by France. The military command of this expedition was given to Colonel Jeffrey Amherst, Colonel James Wolfe being second in command, and Admiral Boscawen commander of the fleet. Louisburg was captured, and two years after- wards the fortifications of that formidable fortress were razed to the ground. The crowniftg expedition, in 1759, was directed against Quebec. Wolfe, who had greatly distinguished himself for bravery and skill at the siege of Louisburg, was placed in supreme command. Que- bec fell, and Wolfe " died happy," in the moment of victory, on the Plains of Abraham. The power of France in the New World was completely bvoken. i - .1 1 1775.] ''THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 99 'M The whole of North America passed into the possession of tile British crown. 2. Though tlie French had now lost the magnificent colony of Canada, they still clung most tenaciously to the idea of conquering and holding Newfoundland. They knew its value, in connection with the prosecution of their fisheries, which they still looked to as the great training-school for their seamen. Accordingly, in 1762, they resolved on another expedition for the conquest of the island. A strong naval squadron was collected at Brest, and on the 24th of June, it arrived at the Bay of Bulls. Here a force was landed, which marched over- land, and surprised and overpowered the small garrison at St. John's, consisting of but sixty-three men. The French then proceeded to strengthen the fortifications. Their fleet anchored in the harbour. They succeeded, soon after, in capturing Carbonear and Trinity, and devastated the trade and fisheries, inflicting great sufferuigs on the people. Captain Graves, the Governor, was the.i on his way out from England to the island. On the Banks he was met by a sloop which informed him of the capture of St. John's. Bv this vessel he immediatelv sent de- spatches to Lord Colville, commander at Halifax, who at once sailed with a strong naval force, and blockaded the harbour of St. John's, where the French fleet lay. 3. Meantime Governor Graves landed at Placentia, and proceeded to put the fortifications, which were in a ruinous state, in a proper condition of defence. Lord Colville was speedily joined by Colonel Amherst, with 800 Highlanders, from Louisburg. These troops were landed at Torbay, six miles north of St. John's, under a heavy fire from the French. They advanced on the capital, over hills and very diflficult ground, suftV ' »g '■■ n m \ \ i! i*'i.j m.% JA*^ ).<•»«, ■:1 =1! :^l:= 1 'yi!iBi I!''*. i'!': 4i 100 '*TNE' SEVEN YEARS WAR." [1756- from a continual bush-fire from the French, who had taken to the woods. The galhmt Highlanders then rushed on tlie strong post of Quid! Vidi, which they car- ried, sword in hand. vSignal Hill, a lofty eminence overlooking the harbour, was held by the French, in con- siderable force. Led by Captain Macdonaid, the High- landers charged up the rugged heights, iu the face of a heavy fire from the enemy ; and the hill was taken by storm. The i)rave leader and his lieutenant both fell mortallv wounded. Four men were killed, in the finol assault, and eighteen wounded. In all, the English lost twenty men. 4. The French fleet were now shut in the harbour by Colville's blockading squadron, and their surrender seemed i'^ovitable. But, at tliis critical time, a storm arose, which drove off the English ships. Taking ad- vantage of this, and favoured bj' a fog, the French fleet put to sea, and escaped. The garrison, after a brief struggle, surrendered, on condition that the troops should be conveyed to France. Thus ended the last serious attempt on the part of the French to gain pos- session of Newfoundland. 6. The year in which the French were thus both triumphant and defeated at St. John's witnessed the close of " the Seven Years' War," by the treaty of Paris, in 1763. By this treaty England gained a totality of empire in North America, extending from Hudson's Bay to the mouth of the Mississippi. France renounced all claims to Canada, Acadia, Cape Breton, and New- foundland. Unfortunately, however, this treaty con- firmed and extended the French fishing privileges in Newfoundland, which had been secured by the treaty of Utrecht. The islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, at the mouth of Fortune Bay, were transferred to France, as 1775.] ''THE SEVEN YEARS WAR." 101 a shelter for her fishermen, on condition that no fortifi- cations were to be erected, and that only a guard of fifty men, for police purposes, should be maintained there. This grant greatly strengthened the hold of the French on the island, in connection with their fisheries, and led to perpetual jealousies and discords, greatly retarding the progress of the country. 6. In order to establish at Labrador a free fishery, open to aL British subjects, the whole of its extensive coast was placed under the care of the Governor of Newfoundland, whose title, henceforth, was to be " Gov- ernor and Commander-in-chief in and over the island of Newfoundland, and of all the coast of Labrador, from the entrance of Hudson's Bay to the river of St. John's, opposite the island of Anticosti." This addition con- ferred increased importance on the government of the colony, and led its people, in after years, to prosecute the valuable fishei'ies at Labrador, where, at the present time, one-third of all the codfish exported is taken. 7. Another important step in advance was taken in 1764. On the representation of the Board of Trade a collector and controller of customs for Newfoundland was appointed, and the navigation laws were extended to the island, which was now formally declared to be "one of His Majesty's Plantations" or colonies. This was a fatal blow to the old s^'stem, by which it was kept merely as a fishing-station for the benefit of a few monopolists. 8. A census was taken, at the close of 1763, from which it appeared that the population of the island num- bered 13,112. Of these, 7,500 were constant residents in the island, of whom 4,795 were Roman Catholics, and 2,705 were Protestants. The cod-fishery was in a thriv- ing condition, 386,274 quintals of cod having been made .(Cr*wi-*w.„ 102 "^THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR." [1756- '!': n (■11 «ii: K \i '• 'ill- '1^ s: that year, of which two-thirds were caught and cured by the resident portion of the population, who were gradu- ally getting the upper hand in carrying on the fisheries. Besides, 694 tierces of salmon and 1,598 tons of oil were exported ; and 371 vessels carried on the trade with the mother-country and the New England colonies. The intercourse with Ireland was, at this time, considerable. Numbers of Irish emigrants came out as settlers, and large quantities of fish were sent to Cork, Waterford, and Belfast, the vessels bringing return cargoes of pro- visions. In 17G5 the export of cod was 493,654 quin- tals, being an increase of 145,360 quintals in two years. There was, of course, a corresponding increase in the wealth and general comforts of the people. 9. But, though improvements were thus slowly making wa}', the social condition of the people was still deplorable. The administration of justice, especially in the outlying- settlements, was very defective. The magistrates were often ignorant, incompetent men, who were grossly partial in their decisions, and at times open to bribery. The high charges by employers for advances in food and clothing, at the commencement of the fishing season, often left little at the close to enable the poor fishermen to provide necessaries during the long winter. Too often the fishermen found themselves in debt when the season's work was over. Tempted by want, some of these were guilty of acts of violence or theft ; others fled to New England to escape the miseries of their con- dition. As yet no one could own any portion of the laud for purposes of cultivation ; and if any one enclosed a plot of ground it was lawful for any other who chose to take down such fences and enclosures. The stormy ocean alone was free to the people ; and on its uncertain harvests they had to subsist. The wealth won by their 1775.] 'THE SEVEN YEARS WAR." 103 toil did not remain in the island, but went to enricli other countries. We must admire the spirit and energy of a people who, amid these hardships and tyrannies, continued to cling to the 3oil, and bravely pioneered the Way for happier generations. 10. But at this time another bitter and shameful ingredient was added to their social oppressions. Relig- ious intolerance and persecution broke out, and for over thirty years continued to exert a baneful influence on society, and to sow the seeds of bitterness and strife. The obiects of this intolerance were the adherents of the Roman Catholic faith, and those who subjected them to persecution were the ruling authorities of the colony, who then wielded despotic power. We, who live in hap- pier and more enlightened days, now look back with sorrow and shame upon these deeds of intolerance which we see to have been wrong and unjust. The intercourse with Ireland had led to the settlement in Newfound- land of numbers of Irish, and these were constantly increasing. Some of them had fled from the oppression of penal laws in their own land ; but the exiles met the same spii'it of intolerance in this distant colon}'. The successive governors appear to have regarded these Irish emigrants with dislike and distrust ; and, in order to discourage their coming, and to lessen their numbers, laws were enacted to prevent them from enjoying the exercise of their religious worship. Priests could only enter the country in disguise ; and, if discovered when engaged in je administration of the rites of their relig- ion, were liable to be arrested. Masters of ships were ordered to carry back such Irish passengers as they brought out, at the close of each fishing season. These harsh and unjust regulations continued to be enforced by successive governors As usual, persecution failed 4 4 :\r :\iy 104 ''THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR:* [1756-1775. '^iiiii' ill 111 w- w. to accomplish its object. Emigrants continued to arrive from Ireland in si)ite of the disabilities under which the adherents of Catholieifcm laboured. Their clergy fol- lowed them in disguise, and secretly ministered to their flocks. At length a better spirit prevailed. In 1784 a ro3'd,l proclamation ended forever rehgious persecution. Liberty of conscience was granted, and the free exercise of their modes of worship was secured to Roman Catholics. 11. In judging of these errors of the past let us re- member that the principles of religious freedom are of very slow growth, and even yet are far from being fully recognized in many Christian countries. When these persecutions were going on in Newfoundland the spirit of intolerance was strong in England, and religious freedom was neither understood nor practised. The very men who were most conscientious in maintaining their own religious views were often the most zealous in putting down all who differed from them. Very few had jet learned to acknowledge the great principle that men have a right to worship God according to the way they believe to be best. Some claimed toleration for themselves, but were unable to discover that people who differed from them, were as truly entitled to be tolerated as they themselves were. 12. Our condemnation of these acts of intolerance in the past should be mingled with pity for those who were so blinded as to be guilty of them. Those who now en- joy a clearer light should never lose sight of the great truth that men should be free to hold their own religious views, and to worship in the way which their consciences approve. If this be acted on, harmony, kindness, and mutual good-will among all classes of worshippers will prevail, and sectarian strifes and persecutions will be unknown. .r^ - NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 105 QUFSTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER XI. 1. When (lid the Seven Years* War hejf in? Vr here wao the chief battle-ground? Who was then Prime Minister in England? When was Louisburg taken? Who captured Quebec? What was the result? 2. Describe the capture of St. John's by the French, in 1762. Where was the Governor at the time? 3. Describe the recapture of St. John's by the English. 4. How did the Fresch fleet escape? 5. Give the date of the Treaty of Paris. How did this treaty affect tlie Newfoundland fisheries? O. What addition to the jurisdiction of Newfoundland was made in 17G3? What was the effect? 7. What change occurred in 1764, and what effect had it? 8. What was the population in 1763? Give the exports of that year, and of 1765. 9. What was the condition of the people at this time? Men- tion their disadvantages. 10. What form did religious persecution take, and who suffered by it? Who inflicted it? When did it cease? 11. What led to this religious intolerance? What is the meaning of religious freedom? 12. How is good-will to be maintained among those who differ in religion? Map questions. Describe the situation of Louisburg and Quebec. Point out Labrador, and give its dimensions. (See note.) Where are Bay of Bulls? Trinity? Carbonear? Cork? Waterford? Belfast? NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER XI. William Pitt* — Boi-n in 1708, died 1778. He was one of the most eminent of English statesmen. He was noted for his brilliant powers of debate, his eloquence, and the keenness of his sarcasm. He entered Parliament before he was twenty-one years of age, and took the lead against Sir Robert Walpole. He owes his chief fame as a minister to his conduct of the war in which he found his country involved when he was called to the head of affairs. In 1766 he retired from the House of Commons, — the scene of h"s glory, — and went to the House of Lords as Earl of Chatham. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, and a monument was Mii 1 !1 lOfi NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. I'liiii mm; '!ii-'f ■' erected to hia memory at the public expense. Ills distinguished son, the Right Honourable William Pitt, became Prime Minister in 1783, when but twenty-four years of age ; a post which he held for seventeen years, during a most momentous period in the history of England. He died, in 1806, at the age of forty-seven. General Wolfe. — Born at Westerham, in Kent, in 1727. He dis- tinguished himself in continental wars. Tiie discerning eye of Pitt selected him for the great enterprise against Quebec. On the night of September 12, 1759, Wolfe, with a detachment of his troops, embarked in boats on the St. Lawrence, bound on the desperate enterprise of scalihg the Heights of Abraham. The night \vis clear and calm. Wolfe was in the foremost boat, and as the flotilla dropped down with the tide, his low voice was heard repeating to his officers the stanzas of " Grey's Elegy in a Country Churchyard," which had recently appeared. It may be that a presentiment of his own approaching death gave a mourn- ful pathos to his voice as he uttered the touching words, " The paths of glory lead but to the grave." When he had finished, he added, "Now, gentlemen, I would rather have written those lines than take Quebec to-morrow." When the sun rose next morning the French saw with astonishment the Plains of Abraham glittering with arms, and the British gathered in battle array. The gallant Montcalm marched out to meet his foe. Wolfe, in leading on his soldiers, fell mortally wounded. Ere he breathed his last, one of his oflScers exclaimed, " See, they run ! " — " Who run ? " asked Wolfe. — " The enemy ; they give way every- where." — "Now God be praised," said the hero; "I die happy." Montcalm was also fatally wounded. Being told he could not live long, he replied, " So much the better. I shall not live to see tl 3 surrender of Quebec." " The victory on the Plains of Abraham and the downfall of Quebec," says Parkman, "filled all England with pride and exultation. From north to south the land blazed with illuminations, and resounded with the ringing of bells, the firing of guns, and the shouts of the multitude. In one village alone all was dark and silent amid the general joy, for there dwelt the mother of Wolfe. The populace, with unwonted delicacy, respected her lonely sorrow, and forbore to obtrude the sound of their rejoicings upon the gi*ief for one who had been through life her pride and solace, and had repaid her love with a tender and constant devotion." Wolfe fell at the early age of thirty-four. His remains were brought to England, and interred at Greenwich. Parliament voted him a monu- ment in Westminster Abbey. French Capture of St. John's, 1762. — Anspach, in his " History of Newfoundland," makes honourable mention of two mer- chants whose public sei*vices were essentially useful at this critical time, when the French took St. John's. One of these was Robert Carter, a merchant at Ferryland, who, by his prudence and indefatigable exertions, NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 107 fouiul means to procure a suflScient supply of provisions and other nec- essaries, lor llie support not only of the garrison at the Isle of Itoys, but also of A considerable number of distressed inhabitants, who had retired thither for protection and relief, from the 24th of June to the 9th of October. The other was Cliarlcs Garland, then a merchant and justice of the peace in the district of Conception Bay. C'arbonear Island was then deemed a place where a battery could be useful to the port and to the neighbouring settlements. Mr. Garland supplied, at his own ex- pense, and for a considerable time, a small detachment which he had obtained from bc.ul-quiirters for that small island, with firewood, pro- visions, and additioual pay, until the French took it and destroyed the works and batteries. Mr. (tarland also procured a number of seamen for the English squadron. His services were honourably acknowledged by the government, and he was indemnified for his expenses. On board Lord Colville's Hag-ship, the " Northumberland," when it came to the relief of St. .Tohn's, was Captain Cook, afterwards celebrated for his voyages round the world. He then held the position of *' master " on board the tlag-ship, having entered the navy as a common sailor. Governor (iraves had formed a high opinion of Cook, and secured for him the conduct of a naval survey of Newfoundland, on which he spent three years. His charts of the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador are found wonderfully accurate, even when the work is done over again, with the improved instruments of the pi'esent day. In this arduous service Cook won his first laurels, and proved himself an able mathema- tician. Sir Hugh Palliser, the Governor, had a warm esteem for him. After most distinguished services in exploi'ing the Southern ocean, and charting the Australian coast, he engaged in an Arctic expedition. In 1779 he was killed in an accidental quarrel with the natives of Owhyhee, one of the Sandwich Islands. Labrador. — The great peninsula of Labrador is 1,100 miles in length, and 600 miles in breadth, its area being 420,000 square miles. Only the eastern portion is under the jurisdiction of Newfoundland,' the rest being annexed to the Dominion of Canada. The boundary between the two is a line drawn due north and south from Blanc Sablon to Cape Chudleigh. Such is the extraordinary fish-wealth of Labrador, that between 20,000 and 25,000 fishermen visit its shores during the summer months. It'*, fisheries are now mainly carried on by Newfoundland fishermen. In 1881, over 400,000 quintals of codfish were taken on Labrador, besides liorrings and salmon. The JBsqHimai'iX of Labrador, among whom Moravian mission- aries have long laboured with success, number 1,700; the Indians of the interior 4,000 ; the resident white population on the eastern coast, 2,400. On the St. Lawrence coast there is a population of 4,400 ; making a total of 12,500. The climate is very severe, and the country is unfit to be a residence of civilized man. m ^h ■pp 108 rALLIUJi'Ji'S ACT. [1775. CIIAPTEU XII. FROM 177(1 TO 1814. PALLISLTS ACT. Hi, AMERICAN REVOLUTION. — RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ESTAH- LISHED IN NEWFOUNDLAND. TREATY OF VER- SAILLES. — SUPREME COURT ESTABLISHED. — W^AR WITH FRANCE. — (IREAT PROSPERITY OF THE FISH- ERIES. LA.'D RESTRICTIONS LESSENED. MUTINY DETECTED IN THE GAURISON AT ST. JOHN's. — VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS. - 1, The infant settlements in Newfoundland, now growing into strength and importance, received some recognition and encouragement in 1775. The British Parliament i)assed an act ^vhich was known in the island as " Palliser's Act," as it was drawn up at the recom- mendation of Captain Palliser, who had recently held the ofl3ce of Governor. This act still kept alive the principle of a ship-fishery carried on from England, but introduced some useful regulations. Among other things it di- rected all agreemencs between masters and servants to be made in writing, and that no more than one-half of the wages of the latter should at any time be advanced to them. It also declared that all fish and oil taken and mad3 by the employer should be liable, in the first place, for the payment of the servants' wages. This last provik^ion was especially beneficial, as it secured the payment of the hardly-earned wages of the fisher- men at the Close of the season, and ended the disputes long prevalent between masters and servants on this subject. To insure the return of the fishermen to Eng- INll.J PALLISKIVH ACT. 100 land, this act authorized tlu; niastciH to detain fortv HJiillingH out of their wages for paying their passageH home, liy tlie same act a bounty was given to vessels engaged in the Bank fishery. 2. But now a new source of trouble presented itself, which entailed severe sufferings and losses on the wliole population. A war arose between Great Britain and lier revolted colonies in North America, in 1775. It did not terminate till 17 -^ Then England acknowledged the independence of th «,^d States. The first Congress of the revolted colonics passed a decree forbidding all "^exports to British posscfjsions. This blow fell with spe- cial severity upon the inhabitants of Newfoundland, who, fcA^a lengthened period, had been accustomed to obtain the\r supplies of food from the New England l^'cates. The annual import of such produce amounted, at that time, to £345,000 per annum. Gloom and despondency prevailed throughout the island, owing to the appre- hended scarcity of provisions. The difficulty was met by detaching vessels i''om the fishery and sending them to Ireland for supplies of food. American privateers appeared on the coast, and, entering some of the harbours, destroyed much valuable property. British cruisers, however, were sent, which speedily drove off the priva- teers, capturing and burning a number of them. St. John's was at once put in a state of defence, and a new fort, called Fort Townsend, was erected to protect the harbour. A detachment of soldiers and a supply of arms arrived from England to aid the people in defend- ing themselves. Ships of war were kept constantly cruising around the coast. France declared in favour of the United States, and war was commenced between France and P^ngland. Rear-Admiral Montague, who was then Governor of Newfoundland, captured the isl- no PALL ITER'S ACT. [17T5- I iliilfe i![ii i ands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, which had been ceded to France, and sent nearly two thousand of the French inhabitants home to their own country. 3. At length the unhappy war between England and her colonies ended, in 1782, in the recognition of the independence of the United States. This introduced an immediate change for the better in Newfoundland. Its trade and industries revived. The people were no longer harassed by the attacks of privateers and the dread of invasion. After a time commercial . inter- course with the United States was resumed, and im- portations of food, but only in British ships at first, were permitted. 4. In 1782 Vice- Admiral John Campbell was ap- pointed Governor of the island. The increasing impor- tance of its trade and fisheries had led to the appoint- ment of officers of a higher rank than that of captains and commodores to take charge of its government, tha first of whom was Rear- Admiral Montague. Governor Campbell proved to be a man c" an enlightened and liberal spirit. To him the people were indebted for terminating the reign of religious intolerance and per- secution. He issued an order, in 1784, to all magis- trates throughout the island, which ran as follows : "Pursuant to the Kings instructions tome, you are to allow all persons inhabiting this island to have full li])erty of conscience, and the free exercise of all such modes of religious worship as are not prohibited by law, provided they be content with a quiet and peaceable en- joyment of the same, not giving offence or scandal to government." The year which witnessed this happy change brought the Rev. Dr. O'Donnell, a Roman Catho- lic clergyman, to the island. He at once obtained full liberty oO erect a place of worship, to celebrate mar- V&' I ii' 1814.] PALLISER'S ACT. Ill riages, and to perform all the rites and ceremonies of liis Church. He was the first authorized Roman Catho- lic missionary in the island after it became a purely British possession. In 1796 he was appointed Vicar- Apostolic and Bishop. 5. Clergymen of the Church of England had been labouring in the island from 1703 ; but it was not till 1787 that a Bishop was appointed from Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland was attached to his see. W ;sleyan Methodism in the island dates from 1765, when a single minister, the Rev. Lawrence Coughlan, planted it; but it was not till 1786 that three missionaries aiTived to follow up his labours. English dissent was represented as early as 1775 by a single Congregational Church in St. John's. Governor Campbell, in 1782, renewed permission for a continuation of its services. Thus, happily, all Christian denominations henceforth enjoyed equal freedom i of wciship. 6. The war between P2ngland and France was termi- nated by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. This treaty altered the boundaries of that portion of the ''oast of Newfoundland on which the French had rights of fish- ing. It was agreed that henceforth the French fishing should commence at Cape St. John, situated on the eastern coast of the island, in about 50° of latitude, and going round to the north, and down the western coast, should have for boundary Cape Ray. This change was beneficial, as it defined accurately the boundaries, about which previously there had been man}^ quarrels. 7. The year 1793 was marked by a beneficial change in the administration of justice, which may be truly said to have constituted a new era in Newfoundland. This was the establishment of a Supreme Court of Judi- cature, and the appointment of a Chief Justice. After 7^ f' 112 PALLISER'S ACT. [1775. the authority of the " Fishing Admirals " had come to an end the commanders of the King's ships, visiting the island in summer, were commissioned by the Gover- nor to administer justice. Under the title of "Surro- gates," or deputies of the Governor, they held courts in different places and determined causes. During their absence, in winter, Courts of Session, composed of jus- tices of the peace for the several districts, assumed the administration of justice. The Court of Admiralty had been unduly extending its powers, and frequently came into collision with the other courts, thus causing great confusion and dissatisfaction. The authority of all these courts was brought to an end, in 1793, by the creation of a Supreme Court for tlu; whole island, having full power to try all persons charged with crimes and misdemeanours, and to determine all suits and com- plaints of a civil nature. Chief Justice Reeves was the first presio /!; of the Supreme Court. He was a man of high charac.2r and great legal ability. He published a " Historj^ of the Government of Newfoundland," in which he faithfully and fearlessly laid bare the causes of the evils which afflicted the country. He showed con- clusively that tlie merchant adventurers, for their own selfish purposes, had been endeavouring to keep all power in their own hands, so as to exclude competition from without or within ; and that their policy had pre- vented the settlement of the country and the proper administration of justice. Among the benefactors of Newfoundland, Chief Justice Reeves deserves to hold a foremost place. He effected many beneficial changes in the administration of justice ; but such was the force of old customs that it was not till 1824 that an act was passed completely abolishing the old Surrogates and Sessions Courts, and appointing two judges to assist the 1814.] PALLISER'S ACT. 113 Chief Justice. The whole island was then divided into three districts, in each of which a court was appointed to be held every year. 8. The French Revolution of 1789 must be regarded, in its far-reaching results, as one of the most stupendous events of modern times. The war between France and England, which broke out in 1793, had a most impor- tant influence on the fortunes of Newfoundland. It was anticipated that the French would again try to get possession of the island. Admiral Wallace, the Gov- ernor, called on the people to aid in protecting their homes against a French invasion. They responded to his call in a most loyal spirit. Volunteers flocked to the na- tional standard, and a corps of six hundred men was formed in addition to the volunteer force. The forts were strengthened, and new batteries made ready for action. In 1796 a French squadron appeared off the harbour of St. John's ; but, finding that a hot receotion was prepared for them, they passed on without challeng- ing a shot. They succeeded in burning the defenceless settlement of Bay of Bulls, and, after this small exploit, disappeared. No hostile force has, since that exciting day, fired the warlike ardour of the inhabitants, or threatened the peace of the rising settlements. 9. The gigantic struggle between England and France, which did not end till 1814, gave a remarkable impulse to the prosperity of the colony. England was mistress of the seas ; the French could no longer prosecute the fisheries on the Banks or around the shores of the island. The supply of the fish-markets of Europe fell exclusively into the hands of the Newfoundland mer- chants. Fish rose to an unprecedented price. In 1799, 400 vessels were engaged in the trade of the country, and about 2,000 boats. The export of fish reached lU PALLISER'S ACT. [1775- iill ;^ 500,000 quintals. The capital invested in the fish- eries of cod, salmon, .>d seals was not less than £1,500,000 sterling. The seal-fisher}', which had before been prosecuted only on a small scale, now attained large dimensions, and brought in much wealth. In 1804 the number of seals taken was 106,739. Poi)ulation rapidly increased. In 1804 the resident population was 20,380 ; while the fishermen who re- turned to England at the close of the season numbered over 4,000. In 1807 the population of St. John's had risen to 5,000, and in 1812 to 7,075. The war between England and the United States, which began in 1812, removed the competition of American fishermen, and a complete monopoly of European fish-markets followed. Fish rose to three times its usual price, reaching, at length, forty-five shillings sterling per quintal. Tiie fisheries, too, were abundant during several years. The wages of the fishermen increased in proportion. Large num- bers of emigrants arrived from Ireland. In 1814, 7,000 came, and the following year 4,000 more. From 1812 to 1816^ the population of St. John's nearly doubled. Princely fortunes were made by the capitalists engaged in the fisheries, many of them securing from $60,000 to $100,000 of profits in a single season. Persons who commenced the business entirely destitute of capital shared in these enormous gains, and accumlated large fortunes in a short peri)d. In 1814 the quantity of fish exported was over 1,200,000 quintals, of the value of more than $12,000,000. In 1815 the export was almost as large. But, if the war raised wages, it also im- mensely increased the price of all the necessaries and luxuries of life. Flour was £8 per barrel; pork £12 per barrel. The fishermen spent their wages lavishly at the stores of tiie merchants, never dreaming that tiie good .(■! % 1814.] PALLJSER'S ACT. 115 times were not to last forever, or that a fearful commer- cial crash, destiued to cause much suffering, was at hand. 10. During those years of prosperous fishei'ies and increasing population, from 1796 to 1814, improvements of various kinds were slowly working their way. But the old restrictive system was still maintained in full force, and prevented the people from cultivating the soil, making comfortable homes for themselves, and se- curing their independence. The vast wealth realized by the fisheries went to enrich other lands. No.e of it was spent in the improvement of the island, or for tiie promotion of civilization among its resident population. No other British colony was ever dealt witli so harshly. Millions of money were lavished in promoting the settle- ment of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada ; Init not only was encouragement denied to settlers in New- foundland, but all grants of land were sternly refused. 11. Many of the governors who were appointed, and who held offl(;e for three or four years each, were en- lightened and humane men, and quite alive lO the evils of the system and the miseries which it caused. But they were naval officers, who resided only a few months each year in the island. Naturally they were inclined to sus- tain the old order of things which regarded the country as a fishing-station, and a training port for seamen, not as a home for a civilized community. They, therefore, strictly enforced the policy which reserved the shores of the island for the use of the migratory fishermen from England, and denied all applications for land grants. 12. As an illustration of the working of the system, two instances may be mentioned. In 1790 Governor Milbanke discovered that a house had been erected in St. John's without permission. He innnediately issued orders to the sheriff to pull it down, declaring that no ' I J '»' ' mil if? '»7 It 116 PALLI SEE'S ACT. [1775- I!::; property in land would be allowed except it were actu- ally employed in connection with the fishery. In 1799 Governor Waldegrave found, on his return from his winter sojourn in England, that a fence and two sheds had been put up during his absence. He sharply re- buked the sheriff for his laxity, and ordered both erec- tions to be removed. Yet he was an intelligent, humane man, and was the first to institute charitable societies for the relief of the poor, with whose deplorable condi- tion he showed much sympathy. He also did what he could to promote education, and he secured the erection of a new church in St. John's. But the governors of those days considered that loyalty to England obliged them to enforce the harsh system, however hardly it pressed on the people. 13. Good influences, however, were at work among the people, who hnd long been suffering from social dis- advantages. In many of th«3 smaller settlements suc- cessive generations had hitherto lived and died without education, or almost any religious instruction. It is not wonderful that, among a people so circumstanced, irre- ligion, immorality, and disorder should have prevailed, more or less. But now a change for the better com- menced. Churches had been springing up in various localities ; and, in connection with these, secular and Sunday schools were opened for the education of the young. Clergymen, both Protestant and Catholic, left the old country to minister to the spiritual wants of the long-neglected people. Amid hardships and privations of the severest kind these good men toiled with com- mendable devotion among their flocks. Under all these beneficial influences a striking change for the better was gradually effected. 14. A serious alarm was created, in the year 1800, 1814.] P ALL! SEE'S ACT. 117 by the discovery of a mutinous plot among the soldiers stationed at St. John's, composing the Royal Newfound- land Regiment, which had been enlisted chiefly from among the populace. The conspirators appear to have had sympathizers and adherents among the more turbu- lent and ignorant of the lower classes, who were pre- pared to act in concert with the mutineers. Their plan was to desert with their arms, and, being joined with their friends outside, to plunder St. John's, and after- wards escape to the United States. Had the conspiracy not been detected in time, terrible results would have followed, involving robber}^ and assassination. The discovery of the plot was made by the Roman Catholic Bishop, Dr. O'Donnell, who promptly informed the commanding officer of the impending peril. Prompt measures were taken. The ringleaders among the soldiers were tried by court-martial and executed. The regiment was relieved by another from Halifax, and the alarm speedily subsided. All classes felt and acknowl- edged the debt of gratitude due to Bishop O'Donnell for his conduct on this occasion. To mark their sense of his patriotic conduct the British Government bestowed on him a pension of £50 per annum, an inadequate re- ward for such an important service. 15. During the administration of Governor Sir Erasmus Gower, which commenced in 1804, a very important improvement was effected in St. John's. Previous to this time the principal buildings of the town were huddled into a small space, extending around the margin of the harbour, and at no great distance from high-water mark, there being no permission co erect permanent dwellings elsewhere. Governor Gower suc- ceeded in obtaining the consent of the British ministry to a new arrangement, by which the grounds near the ^i! 118 PALLISER'S ACT. [1T75- W : !• water were reserved for the purposes of a mercantile port ; and the land higher up was sold, in small lots, for the erection of houses. The improvement of the town dates from this more liberal arrangement. The prohibi- tion against building had led to the erection of wooden huts in a narrow space, and in such a way as to present a continual danger from fire. In one place, the thor- oughfare was not more than six feet wide. All the streets were narrow, unpaved, and unlighted. 16. Thus the old system of prohibiting the erection of houses, without a written permission from the Gov- ernor, at last received its death-blow. Governor Sir John Thomas Duckworth, who arrived in 1810, carried out this great improvement, by leasing the ground around the har- bour for wharves and sites for mercantile [)remises. At the close of his term of office he reported to the British government that the resident population had now so largely increased that the fisheries were mainly carried on by them, and that it was vain to attempt lessening their numbers or checking their increase. He recommended that all impediments to the cultivation of the soil should be removed, ^o that the population might provide for their wants by agriculture as well as fishing. His suc- cessor was authorized to carry out these suggestions ; but he did so with a very niggardly hand. Small plots of ground, four acres in extent, were granted on short leases, and witli a rent attached. There were no roads, and yet, under these unfavourable conditions, the applica- tions for land were more numerous than could be met. It is evident that, with such restricted land-grants agri- culture could make little progress. The illiberal policy continued still for more than twenty years ; and was only effectually ended when the colony obtained a legislature and the power of self-government. :is!; ■!' ; I 1814.] QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 119 17, Governor Duckworth proved to be a ruler pos- sessed of activity aud intelligence. He made a voyage to the northern settlements and Labrador, in order to acquaint himself with the condition and wants of the people. He endeavoured to establish friendly relations with the Red Indians of the country ; but his efforts unfortunately failed. He established a hospital in St. John's, which proved to be a great boon to the poorer classes of the city and its suburbs. His memory is still deservedly held in respect. 18. The years 1805 and 1806 witnessed the introduc- tion of two of the great resources of civilization, — a post-office and a newspaper. Previously, letters were sent by any casual conveyance ; now a postmaster was appointed, and merchant-vessels carried the mail-bags. The first newspaper was he " Royal Gazette." It was published by John Ryan, and is still in existence. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER XII. 1. What was the effect of Palliser's Act? . " 2. When did the American Revolution begin? How did it aflfect Newfoundland? How was the island defended? 3. When was the independence of the United States acknowl- edged? What good effects followed to Newfoundland? 4. What important proclamation did Governor Campbell issue in 1784? What was the result to Roman Catholics? What Catholic clergyman arrived? 6. When was the first Bishop of the Church of England ap- pointed? Who planted Wesleyan Methodism? Give the date of Congregationalism ? 6. What change did the Treaty of Versailles make ? 7. What great improvement came in 1793? Who was the first Chief Justice? Mention what he did for the good of the people. 8. What great war began in 1793? Who invaded the island? What happened? 9. What effect had this war or Ll.c condition of the colony? Describe its prosperity. Whatemigia.its arrived in 1814? What were the exports in 1814 and 1815? «i 120 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. '\m 10. Whatwere the grievances of the people during this period? 11. Why did the Governors sustain the old order of things? 12* Mention some instances of restrictions in land grants. 13. What good influences were at work? 14. Give the particulars of the mutiny in 1800. Who dis- covered it? How was he rewarded? 1*>. What improvement came in 1804? 1 0. What report did Governor Duckworth make of the colony ? 17. What did he do for the good of the country? 18. What improvements came in 1805 and 1806? NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER XII. French Fisheries in Newfoundland Waters. — The impor- tance attached by F ancc to these iisheries may be judged from the fact that, in fortifying Louisburg, in Cape Breton, she spent over a million sterling. " This," said Abbe Raynal, '* was not thought too great a sura for the support of the fisheries, for securing the communication between France and Canada, for obtaining a security or retreat to ships in time of wai-, coming from tlic Southei'n islands." In the confusion which fol- lowed the Frcn(;h Revolution, bounties were discontinued, and in conse- quence, the number of French fishermen engaged in these fisheries fell from 15,000 in 1777, to 3,400 in 1793. Subsequently, they were abandoned almost entirely till the return of peace in 1814. At the present time the number of French fishermen engaged in the Newfoundland Bank and Shore fisheries is over 7,000 , and the average value of their catch is £280,000 sterling. Chief-Justice Reeves. — lie deservedly holds a first place among the benefactors of Newfoundland. His able " Ilistbry " elFectually opened the eyes of British statesmen to the evils of the existing system in the island; and by his personal, judicious efforts, he accomplished much good. Of the Fishing Admirals he said, " They are ever the servants of the merchants. Justice was not to be expected from them ; and a poor planter or inhabitant, who was considered little better than a law-ln'eaker in being such, had but a small chance of justice, in opposi- tion to any great west-country merchant. They considered that New- foundland was theirs, and that all the planters were *o be spoiled, and devoured at their pleasure." The term "planter" in Newfoundland means a sort of middle-man, who obtains supplies for the fisheries Irom the merchant, and employs fishermen to whom he distributes these supplies, in the locality where he resides. At the end of the season he sells the fish he has collected to the merchant, and pays the fishermen their wages. At first the mer- chants and their immediate servants were the only classes of pei'sons ■I ■ i NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 121 ? engaged in the fisheries. Then a third class was added, called " Bye- boat keepers," who also kept a certain uumber of servants and were supplied by the merchants, to whom they sold the produce of their voyage. In course of time these became resident " planters." Fires in the woods arc very common in Newfoundland, and destroy an immense araoimt of timber. In the summer of 1812, which was unusually hot. Harbour Grace had a narrow escape from J • m$ 1 ■1: j ! '1 ^ 1 11-, It ■ i ^ most welcome gift. The British government sent prompt and liberal aid. The Governor, the merchants, and the wealthier classes exerted themselves to relieve tlie wants of the more destitute portion of the people. A number of those had been left without homes removed to the out- harbours, and some went to other countries. 9. Though there were a few instances of disorder arising from the pressure of want and misery, the people, on the whole, met their calamities with fortitude and patience. It was not long till the dark hour became brighter, and began to pass away. The seal and cod fisheries of 1818 were unusually successful. All over the commercial world prosperity began to revive. The price of fish in thre home and foreign markets rose considerably. The people who had sufl:'ered so sorely took fresh courage, and soon industrial activity was everywhere visible. The inhabitants of St. John's set to work to clear away the blackened ruins ; and, phoenix-like, the town soon rose from its ashes. The streets were widened, precautions against fire were taken, and more substantial dwellings replaced the old wooden structures which had furnished fuel to former conflagrations. 10. Admiral Pickmor^ ha^ >)een Governor during those calamitous years. He was the first resident Governor, — the practice formerly being that the governors arrived in July or August, and left for England in October or No- vember. Henceforward they were required to reside in the island. Governor Pickmore died in St. John's in Februar}'', 1818, and his remains were sent to England for interment. He was succeeded in July of the same year by Sir Charles Hamilton. 11. St. John's was rot the only place which suffered by fire. In 1816 a fire broke out in Carbonear which de- stroyed sixteen houses and much property. The Metho- 11 ^U 1861.] COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. 129 dist church was one of the buildings consumed in this fire. The parish cliurch of Harbour Grace, which had recently been enlarged, was burned towards the close of the same year. 12. Though the country had begun to recover from these severe blows yet the effects of those three years of adversity were felt long afterwards, and greatly re- tarded the progress of the colony. The losses sustained by the working-classes reduced many of them to a state of poverty ; and each winter season, owing to partial failures of the fisheries, numbers became dependent om public charity. Relief of this kind, extended to abie- bodied men, had u demoralizing effect, destroying their self-respect and self-reliance, and rendering them reckless and improvident. The governing powers, in after years, found great diflSculty in dealing with this constantly recurring pauperism, which became a heavy burden on the revenue of the countrv. Still, it is not to be won- dered at that these public calamities should have created a serious amount of poverty. Almost universal bankruptcy had deranged business from one end of the island to the other, and an enormous amount of capital had been swept away by fires. But all diflSculties were met with spirit and energy, and were eventually overcome. 13. Up to this time the people had no voice in the management of their own aflfairs. The power of the governors was absolute, and their rule a despotism . They were generally inclined to sustain the old order of things, and, as a rule, were opposed to changes and improve- ments which the altered circumstances of the colony demanded. A desire for self-government now took possession of many minds. In 1821 an agitation was begun for the introduction of sucli institutions as would confer on the people the power of making their own laws, Mil 1 } .;! itfs; 130 COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. [1814. iii iH : llii I and, through their chosen representatives, regulating all matters affecting their well-being. Such a desire was a proof of advancing intelligence and self-reliance among the people. At first the British government would not listen to the petitions for local self-government. The supporters of the old despotic system in the colony were opposed to it ; and it required an agitation of ten years to secure this right. 14. The administration of justice was greatly im- proved, in 1824, by an act of the British Parliament which provided that the Supreme Court should be held by the Chief-Justice and two assistant judges. The island was divided into three districts, in each of which a Circuit Court was appointed to be held annually, by one of the judges, from the decisions of which an appeal to the Supreme Court was permitted. A Court of Civil Jurisdiction was also instituted for Labrador. This arrangement secured for the people the pure adminis- tration of justice, on the principles of English law, — one of the greatest blessings. 16. In 1825 Sir Thomas Cochrane was appointed Governor. By his commission it was ordered that a Council should divide with him the responsibility of his government. Before this time governors had been sole rulers, acting on their own discretion. This Council, nominated by the crown, consisted of the three judges and the commander of the garrison stationed at St. John's. It constituted a decided improvement on the old despotic system, and proved to be the first step to- wards! government by representatives chosen by the peoi^-... '■■' • •v.'v-;-^^ ■-: V- ---; "•:. '^ 16. Sir Thomas Cochrane proved to be an excellent Governor. He made liberal grants of land, though his leases contained unwise restrictions. He saw the neces- 1861.] COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. 131 sity of roads, if agriculture was to make any progress. His government was rendered memorable by the con- litruction of the first roads in the island. . It speaks volumes for the injustice with which the colony had been treated, when, notwithstanding all the wealth drawn from its fisheries, two hundred and forty-two years elapsed from its annexation to the British Crown, by Sir Hum- phrey Gilbert, till the construction of the first road. One of Governor Cochrane's ronds extended to Portugal Cove, nine miles distant from bt. John's ; another to Torbay, and another to Waterford Bridge. Along these roads farms were speedily laid off; neat cottages and farm-houses were erected, and cultivation advanced. A foundation was thus laid for future improvements ; and people learned by experience the value of roads. Gov- ernor Cochrane also commenced and completed a hand- some Government House in St. John's, at a cost of £30,000, which amount was furnished by the British Government. 17. Meantime, as the ideas of the people continued to advance, and the prospects of the country brightened, the desire for local self-government began to pervade the minds of all classes. Public meetings on the subject were held ; petitions to the British Parliament poured in ; and the force of public opinion at last became irresistible. In 1832 the great boon of Representative Government was bestowed on Newfoundland. The island was di- vided into nine electoral districts, each of which. was to have one or more representatives, according to popula- tion. Every man who had occupied a house for a year preceding tha day of election, and who was twenty-one years o^ age, was entitled to a vote. The year 1833 markea a new era in the history of the colony. On the first day of that year, the Governor, with all due pomp ■4; 132 GO MM ERG I A L DJSA S TERS. [1814- ijH ''in III ■ '' ■Hi and ceremony, opened the first Local Legislature e people had now obtained the power of making ' >vvn laws, expending their revenue, and guiding . own affairs. Sucli a power, once granted, could never be per- manently withdrawn. It might be abused, and be attended by heavy drawbacks, but the advantages were altogether in favor of self-government. It has been found to be the great school for developing the energies of a free people, and promoting national progress. 18. The long-drawn battle between the merchant- adventurers, who carried on the fishery from England, and the resident population was over long since. The hardy settlers were conquerors, and now held the fishery entirely in their own hands. The English Bank fishery declined rapidly after the close of the last war with France. Before that date nearly four hundred vessels fitted out in England were employed in the Bank fishery, and two-thirds of the fish exported were taken on the Banks. Then came a sudden change and a fall in the price of fish. The English could not compete with the French and American Bank fishermen, who were sus- tained by large national bounties which gave them a premium on the fish caught. In the resident fishermen of the island, who carried on the fisheries in boats around the shore, the English Bankers had also formidable rivals, who gradually gained the superiority. The English Bank fishery dwindled away, from these two causes. In 1832 only a dozen small schooners prosecuted the Bank fishery ; and in a few years more it became totally extinct. The Newfoundland fishermen, living near the fishing-grounds, were able to compete successfully with the French and Americans, who had to make long and expensive voyages to the Banks. As their numbers increased their annual catch of fish improved, till they exported yearly over a 1861.1 COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. 133 million quintals of fish, taken around the shores of tiie island and on the coast of Labrador. The average catch was thus equal to that of the palmy days of the English Bank fishery. There was this further advantage, that the wealth now amassed in the fisheries was less likel}' to be carried away to other lands, and that more of it would remain among those whose labours had won it, and who would employ it in the improvement of the country. 19. Newfoundland, having passed through periods o"" oppression and trial, had now attained to a position of freedom ; and its Legislature, composed of representa- tives chosen by the people, was the safeguard of its Hberties. The people were no longer subject to the knavish and despotic " fishing-admirals," or to the quarter-deck mandates of their successors, the captains and commodores of the royal navy, who regarded the inhabitants as " subject to naval discipline." The rule of a few merchants, armed with the ordinances of '' the Lords of Trade and Plantations," who once controlled the whole business of the island, and even the domestic life of the residents, had closed long since. The boon of self-government placed the destinies of the people in their own hands, and awakened new life and self-reliance among them. They now began to feel that for them- selves, their children, and their country a brighter and better future was opening up. 20. They had yet to learn, however, through bitter experience, that freedom is a gift which may be readily abused, and that its benefits can only be enjoyed when moderation, intelligence, and morality guide the conduct of its possessors. The years which followed the intro- duction of representative government in Newfoundland were, unhappily, marked by strife and bitter contentions, leading to social discords, and, at times, to scenes of '5^1 ! 134 COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. [1814- ■i 1 '•': Z i turbulence and disorder, in connection with the elections of representatives. This was the price which had to be paid for liberty, and it proved to be heavy. To under- stand the causes of these troubles it must be remembered that the population of the colony was composed of two great bodies, differing in race and religion, whose numbers at this time were nearly equal. Half of the inhabitants were Roman Catholics of Irish descent, among whom it might naturally be expected memories of Old-World strifes, wrongs, and oppressions would be rife. The other half were Protestants, of English descent, who were, for a long time, accustomed to hold the ascendency. These were headed by a wealthy mercantile class, who were not disposed to give up their time-honoured claim to rule. Further, as we have seen. Catholics had been, at one cime, harshly persecuted ; and, though this had ceased long since, the memories of old wrongs and grievances were not yet effaced. 21. When, then, representative government was intro- duced old jealousies and distrusts were revived. Each party dreaded the political superiority of the other, and each sought to gain the controlling power. Religion was unhappily dragged into the political arena. A licentious press stimulated the strife, and the worst passions were evoked. The peace of social and commercial life was disturbed by the political excitement of the hour. Some outrages, which were perpetrated by the more ignorant and turbulent, added fuel to the flame. Over this period of political and religious contention it is better to draw a veil, and consign the memory of it to oblivion. It produced only evil results, rancour, hatred, and evil pas- sions and seriously retarded the progress of the country. 22. It should be understood that these contentions were only seriously felt at election seasons, which re- 1861.] COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. 135 curred at intervals of four years ; and that tlie stormy passions tlius evoked quickly subsided, and that the people forgot their differences, and lived in harmony. Apart from these political turmoils the population was orderly, and serious crime was almost unknown. Grad- ually both parties learned the folly of such proceedings and the injury they entailed. Each learned to respect better the rights of the others, and to recognize the equality which the constitution established. As kindly feelings prevailed a good understanding was restored, and old strifes were forgotten. In the present day the love of country is gradually rising above these strifes and contentions, and the people are learning that their true happiness is to be attained by living together peacefully, and labouring together to promote the interests of their common country, and to secure for it a high place among the rising communities of the New World. We can hardly expect that these political and sectarian strifes will disappear all at once. They have, unhappily, reappeared at intervals since the times we are describing, and always with injurious results. But, as intelligence spreads, and higher feelings are called into play, they will disappear forever. 23. Notwithstanding these political disturbances the benefits of self-government were soon felt by the pass- ing of many useful measures in the Legislature. An act was passed for the erection of light-houses at various points along the coast. An annual vote of mopey for the promotion of education was adopted. An academy, for the promotion of a higher education, was established in St. John's. In 1834 Sir Thomas Cochrane was suc- ceeded by Captain Prescott, as Governor, liberal grants of land were made to hundreds of poor families. The House of Assembly voted £30,000 for roads and bridges. 130 COMMEIiCIA L DISA S TERS. [18H. 24. In 1841 Sir Joliii Iliirvey was appointed govern- or. He iiseil enlighteued and energetic efforts to pro- mote agriculture and tlie sectlement of the country. lie I'ounded an agricultural society, which accomplished nnich good. The Legislatuie appropriated £40,000 for roads and bridges, — a proof of the wonderful revolution people's ideas had undergone since the days when the country was pronounced unfit for settlement, and only valuable as a rock on which fish might be dried. To remove all impediments to agriculture an act was passed which secured the sale of all crown lauds, at a moderate price, to settlers. This proved to be an invaluable boon to the country. Other improvements followed. In 1840 a mail sailing-packet was a[)pointed to ply fortnightly be- tween St. John's and Halifax ; and, in 1844, this was followed by the first steam-packet bearing a mail for Newfoundland. 25. While the country was thus prospering and im- proving, another tenible calamity from fire, greater by far than au}^ of the preceding visitations, fell upon the capital, inflicting terrible losses, and for a time checked all progress. On the 9th of June, 1840, a fire broke out in the western end of St. John's which swept everything before it, and, before night closed in, three-fourths of a wealthy and populous city were a smoking mass of ruins. The rapidity of the terrible conflagration was owing in part to a high wind which prevailed at the time, and which hurled the blazing brands far and wide, and also to the fact that the greater part of the houses were wooden. Even the mercantile establishments, built sub- stantially of stone and brick, presented no barrier to the progress of the fierce conflagration, and, with a single exception, they were totally destroyed. Nearly all the public buildings except Government House perished. 186 (.] COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. \\M The Po8t-office, Savings-bank, Rank of British North America, Custom-house, rolice-oHlcc, Exchange Huikl- ings. Ordnance Store, and man}' others were burned to the ground. To add to the terrors of the scene, while the red tongues of flame were leaping from street to street, the huge oil-vats on the side of the harbour took tire. Liquid flames spread over the whole surface of the water, and set fire to a number of vessels. Before the dav closed twelve thousand people were homeless, and prop- erty valued at a million pounds sterling was destroyed. 26. Still there was no abject despair amo*ig the people though their condition was sufliciently dishearten- ing. Vessels were at once despatched for provisions. When news of the terrible calamity reached England a sum of £5,000 was sent for immediate relief, and Parlia- ment voted £25,000 more. To this was added a very large sum collected in the churches, under the sanction of a letter from the Queen to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The neighbouring colonies sent liberal con- tributions. Cheered b\' this generous sympathy, the inhabitants at once set to work to rebuild their city. A law was enacted prohibiting wooden houses in the busi- ness part of the town, and enforcing increased width of the streets. Some years afterwards an abundant supply of water was introduced ; so that St. John's is now as secure against fire as any other city of the New World. A recurrence of such a terrible conflagration as that of June 9, 1846, may be regarded as impossible. A much handsomer city has arisen on the ruins of the old, having ia^proved sanitary arrangements, and abundant supply of excellent water and safeguards against fire. 27. Another public calamity was destined to mark the memorable year 1846. On the 19th of September a storm of unexampled severity swept over the island, causing i*i ! 138 COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. [1814- an immense destruction of shipping-houses, fishing-stages and flakes, boats, and bridges, and in many instances engulfing the fruits of the fishermen's toils during the previous summer. These two calamities, in a single year, were a serious drawback to the prosperity of the colony for a long time. 28. Sir Gaspard Le Marchant was appointed Gov- ernor in 1847. Previous to his arrival, a strong agitation had sprung up in favour of what is known as "Responsible Government," a form of which had been already con- ceded to all the other North American colonies. The object was to attain a more complete power of self- government than the Constitution of 1832 had secured. The appointments to the principal offices in the colony were still held by the Crown, and were disposed of by the Governor and his Council. Under "Responsible Government," all such appointments were to be at the disposal of the part\' which commanded a majority in the Legislature. It was thus simply government according to the wishes of the people, as expressed in the choice of their representatives, and the executive were made respon- sible to the House of Assembly. This very reasonble demand was resisted for a time ; but at length conceded in 1854. Charles Darling, Esq., was sent out as the successor of Ker B. Hamilton, Esq., to introduce "Re- sponsible Government." ' 29. The British Government entered into an agree- ment with the French, in 1857, for the purpose of settling disputed points in connection with the Newfoundland fish- eries. The terms of this agreement, when made known, were regarded as very unfavourable to the interests of Newfoundland. A storm of opposition arose, and dele- gates were sent to remonstrate with the British Govern- ment. The clauses in the agreement which gave offence ! l:; 1861.] COMMERCIAL DISASTERS. 139 were at once withdrawn, and the Secretary of State for the colonies, in a despatch to the Governor, gave the assurance that " the consent of the community of New- foundland is regarded by Iler Majesty's Government as an essential prelimiuarj' to any modification of their territorial or maritime rights." This, of course, was a complete guarantee of the power of the colonj to regulate its own affairs, existing treaties being duly respected. 30. " Responsible government " worked well. Educa- tion was fostered and extended ; more light-houses were erected to protect the mariners around a dangerous coast ; steam communication, both internal and foreign, was improved ; a telegraph line was built across the island. An increasing revenue enabled the Legislature to under- take these works of public utility. 31. The year 1858 was marked by a great and important historic event. A sub-marine cable was suc- cessfully laid from the Irish coast to the eastern shores of Newfoundland, a distance of 1 ,640 miles. On the 5th of August, 1858, the great enterprise was accomplished ; and the first telegraphic message between the Old World and the New was flashed across the island which Cabot had discovered three hundred and sixty-one years before. The fine geographical situation of Newfoundland, reach- ing out so far towards Europe, presented facilities for establishing communication by telegraph between the two hemispheres. Soundings previously taken in the Atlantic had proved that between Newfoundland and Ireland there is a great level submarine plain, a thousand miles wide, admirably adapted by the hand of Nature for the recep- tion of the cable which constituted a nerve of communica- tion between the two worlds. But for these facilities such communication might have been delayed for many years. 140 QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. [1861. 32. lu 1800 His Royal Highnees the Prince of Wales visited St. John's on iiis way to Canada. He met witli a most loyal and enthusiastic welcome from all classes of the people. 33. The year 1861 was darkened by political com- motions, in which the old animosities, which had been long dormant, were once more revived. A change of government had taken place, and general elections were held in April, 1861. In a work like the present, designed mainly for the use of the young, it would not be profit- able or desirable to dwell upon the scenes of tumult and violence which unhappily took place. It is enough to mention that in Harbour Main one life was lost, and that in St. John's, during the suppression of a riot by the military, who were called out, three persons were killed and several wounded. Harbour Grace also was the scene of serious disturbances. The fact that for more than twenty vears afterwards no similar scenes occurred at elections, may be hopefully regarded as a proof that a better spirit is prevailing, and that old animosities will gradually be forgotten. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER XIII. 1. In what condition was the com ry in 1814? 2. What effect liad the Treaty of Paris on the fisheries? What advantage had French and Americans in the fishery? 3. When did thp commercial crisis arrive? What caused it? Describe its effects on Newfoundland. What was the loss of the middle and working classes? 4. How did the fishermen suffer? What was done to remove some of them? 5. Describe the fire of 1816. 6. What disturbances followed? 7. Describe tlie losses by the fires of 1817. How many per- sons were houseless? 8. Who sent relief to the people? li 'i'" QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 141 9, How did the people bear their troubles? What improve- ments in the town were made on rebuilding? 10. Who was the first resident Governor? What other towns suffered by fire? What injurious effects followed the losses by fire? What change in the form of government was now asked 11. 12. 13. for? 14. What beneficial change in the Supreme Court came in 1824? 15. Who was Governor in 1825? What change was made in the form of government at that date? 16. When were roads first made? Where did the first roads reach to? 17. When was representative government granted? What was its effect? Who obtained votes? 18« Wliat was the change made in the mode of conducting the fisheries? Was it beneficial? What destroyed the Bank Fishery? 19. How did disturbances arise from the introduction of representative government? 20. What divided the people and caused contentions? What evils were caused? What is the duty of people in order to pre- serve peace? 21. Mention improvements under representative govern- ment? . 22. Under Sir John Harvey's government what improve- ments took place? 23. What calamity happened in St. John's in 1846? De- scribe the fire. What buildings were burned? What was the loss? 24. What relief was sent? , , 25. What injuries were done by the storm of 1846? 26. What is " Responsible Government," and when was it granted? 27. Give an account of the Convention about the fisheries in 1857. 28. What improvements followed Responsible Government? 29. What great event happened in 1858? 30. What marked 1801? 31. Describe the troubles in the elections of 1861. i,l If (r! 11 m !'•• 142 NOTEH AND EXPLANATIONS. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER XIII. Commercial Panic of 1815-17. —The sufferings of the people during the couuncrcial disasters which followed the close of the French war, in 1815, aggravated as they were by three sucrossive conflagrations in St. John's, were terrible. The high wages during the prosperous years had attracted large numbers of emigrants ; and these continued to arrive during 181'), when the collapse in the fish-trade occurred. Fam- ishing multitudes crowded St. John's in the following winter. Captain Buchan, the officer in charge of the troops, put his men on short rations, and drew from the commissariat stores 500 tierces of flour to be baked into biscuit, which was doled out to the stai'ving applicants. The merchants and wealthier inhabitants did all in their power to relieve the wants of the people. Their own stock of provisions was nearly ex- hausted, and their purses drained by such constant contributions as were called for. The spring of 1817 was dismal in the extreme. Enormous ice-tields around the coast stopped navigation for three months, and the sealing-vessels were so late in getting to sea that they returned with only 37,000 seals, — a poor return for their labours. The summer of that year was almost as dismal as the winter had been. The catch of codfish was small, and the price low. Multitudes were unemployed. Then came the terrible fires of November, 1817, and the direst suflferings among the people. From the outports came piteous appeals to the Governor for uid to save the lives of the starving inhabitants. The winter was one of the severest on record. The harbour of St. John's was frozen to the very entrance, the ice being several feet in thickness. It was at this critical time that the benevolent people of Boston, hearing of the dire disti'ess in Newfoundland, raised a liberal subscription, and freighted a vessel with provisions for the relief of the sufferers. Fortunately, this vessel arrived in the middle of January, before the ice had closed navigation. She had on board 174 barrels of flour, 125 bags of meal, 11 tierces of rice, 27 barrels and 963 bags of bread. The whole was consigned to Governor Pickmore, to be distributed among the poor. In acknowledging the timely offering the Governor said: *' I confess myself unable to express in adequate terms, on behalf of those whose relief has been the object of the humane consideration of the inhabitants of Boston, the feelings which their generous act has excited. Individu- ally I desire to offer ray warmest acknowledgments to them, and shall not faU to conjmunicate to His Majesty's government this spontaneous act of liberality, which, in its effects, I trust, will tend to increase and cement more firmly the relations of friendship which now so happily subsist between the two nations." The foregoing words were written by Admiral Pickmore only a month before his death. He was the first governor who resided in the NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 143 island clurin<^ the winter. He was well advanced in years ; and the troubles and anxieties of his position during' those trying times wore out his strength. He died on the 24th of February, 1818. His remains, after lying for a time in the vault of the church, were place I on board His Majesty's sloop " Fly," with eveiy mark of respect from the inhabitants, whose gratitude he had won by his untiring efforts to mitigate their suf- ferings. This took place on the 10th of March. So intense was the frost, as has been already stated, that, though several hundred men were employed in cutting a'passage through the ice in the harbour, for the "Fly " and other vessels which were ready for sea, three weeks were spent b(!- fore the object was accomplished. The ice was from three t) five feet thick, and the distance to cut the channel was about a mile. The " Fly " reached England in twenty -eight days. The sealing-vessels made their way through these ice-channels, and soon returned well loaded with seals. An abundant cod-fishery fol- lowed, as generally happens after a severe winter, and the products brought much better prices. Hope revived in the breasts of the much- enduring people, and they went to work with renewed energies. The rich resources of the fisheries and their own native pluck and energy wei*e such that calamities, however severe, could only prove temporary in their eflfects. Prosperity began to dawn, and their sufferings were forgotten. It is curious to note the line of action taken by the merchant-advent- urers who still carried on the fishery from England at this critical time. They still ret-ained their old hostility to a population resident in the island, and were as jealous as ever of its interference with their monopo- ly. When the commercial crash took place they brought the distressed condition of the colony before the British House of Commons, and a select committee was appointed to investigate matters. Before this com- mittee the merchants appeared, and asked that either a bounty should be given them to enable them to compete, on equal terms, with the French and Americans ; or that the principal part of the inhabitants of New- foundland, then numbering 70,000, should be transported to Canada and the Lower Provinces. This removal of the inhabitants had been their favourite remedy for the relief of the fisheries for ages before. In 1670 it is on record that '* the merchants, ownera, and mastera of ships, and in- luibitants of the western parts of the kingdom, adventurers to Newfound- land, petitioned Charles II., that the resident inhabitants and their lUmilics, then amounting to 3,171, should be removed to Jamaica, St. Christopher's, or some others of His Majesty's plantations." The "Merry Monarch " declined to carry out this humane suggestion; and now the descendants of the same " adventurers " actually repeated the proposal in lbl7, when 70,090 people would have to bo deported. Of course the House of Commons paid no attention to this outrageous * 4 144 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. demand, nor did they give a bounty to the merchants, which it was their real object to gain. They wisely left the colonists to grapple with their diflBculties, and to conquer them by their own industry and perseverance. The consequence was that the fishery from En^^'land, by the merchant- adventurers, declined rapidly, «nd finally ceased, while that carried on from the shores of the island expanded and prospered, and, with the aid dta-ived from agriculture, mining, and other resources, now sustains a population of 197,r)89. Cultivation of the Soil.— The "merchant-adventurers" were never weary in repeating to the British Government that the soil of the island was utterly unfit for cultivation. Their object was to prevent set- tlement, and, for this purpose, to obtain from the government enact- ments prohibiting any enclosures of land. It was naturally said, if nature has already prohibited cultivation and doomed the island to bar- renness, why need human laws raise fui-ther difficulties ? As a specimen of the mercantile view of the matter we may quote the words of a Mr. George Kempt, a merchant, who was examined before the Parliamentary Committee of 1817. He said : " The island is composed of rock of gran- ite and slate, with a veiy small surface of soil ; in many places none at all, and in very few above two or three inches. The only places where there is any quantity of soil sufficient for c\\\ii\a.Won are the bogsfhni these cannot be drained. There is no limestone in the island, and no source of manure except a little sea-weed or the refuse of the fish. I beg, therefore, to suggest how much more eligible it would be for Government to carry the inhabitants " (at this time 70,000 in number) •'to New Brunswick or Upper Canada." This veracious gentleman wanted to keep the island as a rock on which the servants of west-country merchants might dry fish, and to build up handsome fortunes for their employers. Only twenty-five years afterwards. Sir John Harvey became gov- ernor. He had enjoyed a large experience in the neighbouring provinces, and, in addressing the Legislature in 1843, he said : " Here I will not deny myself the satisfaction of recording this public declaration of my conviction, derived from such observation and information as a residence in the island for upwards of a year has enabled me to acquire : that both as respects climate and agricultural capabilities Newfoundland, in many respects, need not shrink from a comparison with t'le most favoux'ed prov- inces of British America. Its summers, though short, enjoy an extraor- dinary degree of vegetative power, which only requires to be duly taken advantage of; its winters are neither unusually long nor severe, and its autumnal seasons are as open and as fine as those of any of the surrounding colonies. In point of rich, natural grasses no part of Brit- ish Noi*th America produces greater abundance. Newfoundland, in fact, appears to me to be calculated to become essentially a rich grazing countiy; and its varied agricultural resources appear only to require ■^r-'-f- N0TE8 AND EXPLANATIONS. 145 roads and settlements to force them into liighly remunerative develop- ments." Later stiii came the geological sui'vey under Mr. Murray, who de- clared that, in the principal valleys alone, there were three taillious of acres of land well adapted for settlement, without taking int3 account areas fitted fur grazing, which were of very large extent. And yet for a long period these mercantile monopolists were able to dupe the British government and people, until it became a settled belief that this la.rge i:>land, with a healthy climate and good soil, situated in a temperate hXi- tude, presented insurmountable obstacles *o agriculture. It is but justice to state that the pioneer of agriculture in Newfound- land, in 1806, was Dr. William Carson, a native of Scotland, who for many years practised as a physician in St. John's, and was succeeded by his son. Dr. Samuel Carson. He courageously denounced the iniq- uitous laws which prohibited the cultivation of the soil, and by tongue and pen assailed the venerable system. He ran no small risk of being transported for his temerity, which, in those days, was regarded as treason against the government and mcrcantocraoy. He persevered, however ; declared that the soil was equal to that of his native Scotland, and would weil repay cultivation. He was regarded as a visionary, and subjected to ridicule and the coarsest abuse. But he lived to see his views approved by a large majority. In 1819 he obtained from the governor a grant of a tract of waste land near St. John's, where he cleared and cultivated a valuable farm, and practically illustrated his doctrines. Two other agri- cultural pioneers may be mentioned : Mr. II. P. Thomas, a merchant, in 1827 cleared 250 acres, four miles from St. John's, and occupied it sev- eral years, until it repaid the whole of his outlay, when he leased it to a Scotch farmer, who is said to have cleared £4,000 during his occupancy. Mr. Robert Pack, merchant, of Carbonear, also obtained a grant of waste land, a mile from that town, which he brought to a state of excellent cul- tivation. These good examples stirred up the fishing population to enter on the cultivation of the soil, and the enclosure and reclamation of land rapidly advanced. It must be remembered, too, that these experiments were made near St. John's, where the soil is, perhaps, the poorest in the island. Now, by cultiv.ation, the whole country round is transformed into smiling farms and covered with homesteads. When so much can be done with the poorest soil, what may be expected when the fertile valleys of the interior, where the harsh winds from the Atlantic are not felt, and whei-e a higher temperature prevails, are occupied and cultivated ? The climate of the interior and of the western coast is unaffected by the Arc- tic current, which chills the eastern shores, and is much more favourable for growing and ripening crops of all kinds. The Banks of Newfoundland. —The Banks of Newfoundland are the most remarkable submarine elevations in the world. They are at some distance from the shores of the island, the nearest being less ''rfff ti \^ J: 146 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. BM: than 100 miles distant. It was once supposed that they had been formed by masses of sand and rock, borne thither by the river St. Lawrence, the Gulf Stream, and the Arctic current. It is now known that they arc immense rocky elevations, forming submarine plateaus, whose eastern and southern boi'dei-s descend steeply to a great deptli. The Great Bank extends over fully 9 degrees of latitude from north to south ; from east to west it covers in some places 5 degrees. The depth of water on the Bank varies I'rom 50 to 360 feet. Beyond the Grand Bank to the eastward lies the Outer or False Bank, upon which the sea is from 600 to 900 feet in depth. To the west there are several smaller banks. At the west end of the Great Bank soundings have shown a depth of 9,000 feet. The depth around the Bank is from 10,000 to 10,000 feet. The fishing- grounds do not extend over the whole Bank, but have an extent of about 200 miles in length and 67 in breadth. For nearly 400 years this " cod-meadow " has been fished by large fleets of various natious, without showing any decrease in productiveness. The cod taken on the Banks are larger and finer in quality than the fish taken on the shores of the island or on I^abrador. They are known as *' Bank-fish." An average of thirty Bank cod, when dried, will make a quintal. They bring a higher price than shore fish. The prevalent opinion is that the Bank cod arc a dilferent species from those taken on the shore. The eminent Swedish naturalist, Sars, has recently proved bj' his researches that this is a mistake, and that the shore and Bank cod are really the same species. The Bank cod are merely the mature, full-grown cod that have reached their fourth year or upwards ; their habits at that age leading them to prefer the Banks to the shore as feeding-grounds. The two-year old and three-year old cod remain on the shore all the year, passing to and from the shallower water. When four years old their reproductive instincts are developed ; and after spawning they retire far from the coast, and are found on the submarine slopes and valleys of the Great Banks. On the Labrador coast and on Fininark, in Norway, great numbers of small cod are taken, from 18 to 22 inches in length; and these are probably schools in their second or third yea , which in a season or two, when mature, will change their mode of existence and become Bank fish. The cod begin to appear each year, on the coast of Newfoundland, about the 1st of June, and are preceded by enoi'mous schools of capliu, on which they feed. On the coast of the island the fishing-season lasts about 143 days ; on Southern Labrador, 87 days ; on Northern Labrador, 52 days. In October the cod begin to retire to their winter feeding- grounds in deep water, vrhere they remain till the following June. Their migrations are thus from the deep water to the shallower water near the shore, which, being wanner in summer, is favourable for spawning. Each colony of cod appears to have its own winter feeding-ground, in deep water, at no great distance from the coast, and passes thence to its § CHRONOLOGY. 147 summcr-fecclinf? and spawning-grouiuls by the shortest route. It is a peculiarity of the coil, and of all fish, that they icturu to the locality where they were spawned to " repeat the story of tlieir hirth " hy a continua- tion of the species. Hence the same varieties of cod are found on tlie same fishing-grounds year after year, and are easily distinguisiiahle, one from the other; those taken at the north of the island, for example, being different from the southern varieties. CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY. — CHAPTER XIIL A.D. 1815 1816 m Commercial disasters in Newfoundland. Admiral Piekraore, first resident governor in Newfound- land. 1816-17. Three great Fires in St. John's, N.F. 1817. Death of the Princess Charlotte. 1819. The Atlantic first crossed by Steam. 1820. George IV. began to reign. 1821. Death of Napoleon Bonaparte, at St. Helena. 1824. Supreme Court reorganized in Newfoundland. 1825. Louis XVIII. died. First roads made in Newfoundland. 1827. Battle of Navarino. ' • * 1829. Catholic Emancipation granted. • 1830. William IV. began to reign. First Railway opened between Liverpool and Manchester. Charles X., of France, dethroned. 1831. First Appearance of Cholera in England. 1832. First Reform Act passed in England. Representative Government granted to Newfoundland. 1833. Slavery abolished by England. ' . 1837. Queen Victoria began to reign. The Papineau and McKenzie Rebellion in Canada. 1839. Penny postage in England. First Afghan War, 1840. Marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The two Canadas united. 1842. The Ashburton Treaty between England and the United States. 1842-49. •* Amalgamated Assembly " in Newfoundland. ■^ I !#• !i' 148 CHRONOLOGY. Vi \\ 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1861. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855. ' 1857. 1858. 1861. Famine in Ireland. Great Fire in St. John's, N.F. Repeal of the Corn Laws. Responsible Government granted to Canada. Responsible Government granted to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. ' Third French Revolution — Louis Pliilippe dethroned. First Submarine Cables between England and France. First Great Exhibition in London. Responsible Government granted to Prince Edward Island. Submarine Cable between England and Ireland. North-west Passage discovered by McClure. Responsible Government granted to Newfoundland. Reciprocity Treaty between United States and British Provinces. Russian War — Battles of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman. Fall of Sebastopol. Death of Czar Nicholas. Mutiny in India — Massacre of Cawnpore — Sieges of Lucknow and Delhi. Great Eastern Steamship launched. First Atlantic Cable laid. Ameri'*an Civil War commenced — ended 1865. Death of Prince Albert. 1861.] IMPORTANT EVENTS. 149 :ii CHAPTER XIV. FROM 1861 TO 1884. IMPORTANT EVENTS. FAILURE OF THE FISHERIES. — DESTITUTION AND SUFFERING — EVILS OF PAUPER RELIEF, — FIRST MINE OPENED — GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. — OCEANIC AND COASTAL STEAM SERVICES. — IMPROVEMENT IN THE FISHERIES. FIRST RAILWAY. DRY DOCK OPENED. 1, It now remains briefly to narrate the most important events in the history of the colony during the last twenty- four years. The first nine years of that period were marked by unproductive fisheries, which caused wide- spread destitution and much suffering among the people. Since 1855 a practice had grown up of distributing, out of the public funds, relief to those who were in want during the winter season. This dangerous system of giving pauper-relief to able-bodied persons soon pro- duced most injurious results. Many speedily learned to rely on this relief, and to look for it as a right each winter season. In consequence they became indolent and reckless, and made little effort to provide for them- selves by honest labour and economy. So numerous became the applicants for relief that at length they ceased to feel any shame at being placed on the pauper- iist. Ere long nearly a third of the entire revenue was required for the relief of the destitute. The evil had reached such dimensions that the government found great diflSculty in dealing with it, especially when repeated failures of the fisheries had impoverished large 150 IMPORTANT EVENTS. [1861> '■■\ ' numbers of the fishermen, who had no other means of subsistence. 2. Sir Alexander Bannerman, the Governor, when opening the legislative session in 1860, referred to tliis condition of the working-classes, and urged that " no pains should be spared to give encouragement to agri- culture, and to every other source that can give employ- ment to the labouring classes, to prevent as far as possible their resorting to pauper relief." The revenue of 1861 fell to £81,000, and the public debt, which had been mainly incurred in meeting the necessities of the destitute, now amounted to £180,000. The Governor's speech, in 1863, again announced " wide-spread pauperism," in consequence of the failure of the previous year's lisheries. In 1864 Mr. Anthony Mus- grave was appointed Governor. He had to repeat the same sad tale for four successive years, in addressing the legislators. No improvement in the fisheries took place, want among the people deepened and extended, and the financial condition of the conntrv became worse and worse. During this period of depression large numbers of the people emigrated to the United States and Canada, despairing of their prospects in the colony. 3. The cause of these sufferings was very easily dis- covered. The great bulk of the i^eople were entirely dependent on the precarious fisheries, and, when these gave poor returns, the}' had no other resource on which they could fall back. The population had been steadily increasing. The census of 1857 gave the total population of the island as 124,288. The census of 1869 showed that the population had increased to 146,536. Mean- time the products of the fisheries had fallen off, and it became evident that a rapidly increasing population could no longer be sustained by a single industry. The . i M %. i. . 4,, l'^J-:-j,£->*' ■♦4'A\vi"'*'- I?'' /■■,V^V'/^.■.^,:i i-r:,\^'ti ■•■,f,. :)\' 1^ BBTT'S COVB UARBOUA, NOTBK UA'MK BAY. mi 1884.] IMPORTANT EVENTS. 151 plain remedy lay in opening up other sources of em- ployment for the people. The soil and climate were well adapted to the requirements of the farmer ; but the old restrictive system had repressed agriculture in for- mer periods, and the want of roads still rendered it impossible to settle the fertile valleys of the interior. With rich natural resources all around, large numbers of the people were sinking into destitution and misery. To all discerning minds it became clear that the remedy lay in promoting the cultivation of the soil, and encour- aging other industries of a local kind, in which the sur plus population might find remunerative employment. 4. It was at this dark period in the history of the colony that a most important discovery was made,' which aided largely in bringing about an improved con- dition of affairs, and in diffusing new spirit and energy among the people. This was the discovery of valuable mineral deposits on the shores of Notre Dame Bay, leading to the introduction of mining enterprises. The first copper-mine was opened at Tilt Cove, in the year 1864. The honour of being the pioneer in mining be- longs to Mr. C. F. Bennett, who for a length of time was almost alone in prosecuting the search for minerals in the island. The honour of being the actual discoverer of the first copper-mine belongs to Mr. Smith Mackay. In 1857, when exploring in the northern part of the island, Mr. Mackay found what proved to be a large deposit of copper ore, at a little fishing hamlet called Tilt Cove. It was not worked effectually by Messrs. Bennett and Mackay, the proprietors, till 1864. At the close of 1879 this mine had yielded neary 52,000 tons of ore, valued at more than a million and a half of dollars. In 1876 another copper-mine was opened at Bett's Cove, which, at the end of 1879, had yielded V. i w 152 IMPORTANT EVENTS. [1861' m HI I 125,556 tons of ore, valued at $2,982,836, The total quantity of ore exported up to the close of 1879 was valued at $4,629,899, or nearly £1,000,000 sterling. A third mine was opened at Little Bay, in 1878, which proved to be more valuable than either of the others. Various other mines have been worked with more or less success, and mining is now an established iudustry in the island, which ranks sixth among the copper-producing countries of the world. It is now known that there are in Newfoundland over 5,000 square miles of mineral lands, in which there can be little doubt rich discoveries await future explorers. 6. The beneficial effects of this new industry were speedily felt. Hundreds received remunerative employ- ment at the mines. Capital was attracted to the coun- try. Large amounts of money were distributed as wages. The working-classes were better provided with the necessaries and comforts of life. A more hopeful and enterprising spirit was awakened ; and greater con- fidence in the future of the colony bep;an to be felt. 6, These hopeful views regarding the natural capa- bilities of the country were greatly strengthened and extended by the results of the geological survey of the island, which was commenced, under the auspices of the government, in 1864. This survey was conducted by Mr. Alexander Murray, assisted latterly by Mr. James P. Howley. The work was prosecuted for eighteen years. For the first time the natural resources of the country were examined and reported on by well-quali- fied, scientific men. People learned from the reports of this survey, published yearlj', and on authority that could not be questic ied, that the interior of Newfound- laud contains many fertile valleys, in which thousands of industrious settlers may find homes ; extensive forests 1884.] IMPORTANT EVENTS. 153 of great value ; beds of coal, marble, and gypsum ; and mineral tracts which the labours of many generations are not likely to exhaust. Messrs. Murray and Howley's reports showed that there are nearly three millions of acres more or less adapted for settlement, and immense tracts fitted for raising sheep and cattle. It is now placed beyond all doubt tliat the island presents a prom- ising field for mining enterprises, and contains enough of fertile land to sustain a large population in comfort. 7. The year 1869 brought a favourable turn in the tide of affairs, in the shape of abundant fisheries, — the first for nine years which could be called generally suc- cessful. Many of the people had been devoting them- selves more to the cultivation of the land, and the harvest of thir. year was good. The improvement in the fisheries in 18G9 proved to be the commencement of a series of productive fisheries, which continued up to the summer of 1884, when a decline took place. This increase is accompanied by an advance in the price of the coci-lishery products in foreign markets. The sun of prosperity once more began to shine. The wonderful elasticity of the business of the country was shown in its rapid recovery from depression. Harvests proved to be fairly good. The revenue derived from duties on im- portations increased as the people were able to purchase more freely the necessaries and comforts of life. In 1871 the revenue amounted to £207,790, — the largest ever received. The new industry of mining advanced . rapidly. The improved condition of the revenue per- mitted increased grants to be made for the construction of roads, bridges, wharves, light-houses, and other works of public utility. 8. A general election took place towards the close of 1869, when Sir Stephen Hill was Governor. The impo**- 154 IMPORTANT EVENTS. i [1861- tant question was then submitted to the electors, whether steps should be taken to unite the colony with the newly formed Dominion of Canada, so as to constitute one of its provinces. The results of the election showed that a large majority of the people were opposed to confedera- tion with Canada. So strongly did public feeling show itself that the question of union with the Dominion has ever since been entirely laid aside. 9. In 1873 direct steam communiQation with England and America was established. The arrangement entered into with the Montreal Steamship Company, for the con- veyance of mails, passengers, and goods, secured fort- nightly calls of homeward and outward bound ships of the Allan Line, at St. John's, during nine months of the year, and monthly trips, via Halifax, during the remain- der. The latter have recently become fortnightly trips also. The trade and commerce of the country were greatly benefited by this improved means of communica- tion with the outside world. Local steam communication between St. John's and the most important towns and settlements north and south was also improved and ex- tended. The interests of education were not forgotten. The legislative grant for the support of schools and academies was increased to $93,952 per annum. In 1881 there were in the island 416 elementary schools, attended by 24,292 pupils, and 674 pupils attending the academies ; while there were 84 pupil teachers under training, to take charge of schools. In St. John's, factories of various kinds began to spring up, affording increased employment to considerable numbers. These have proved so successful that every year witnesses an increase of their number. 10. These were all substantial and cheering improve- ments, indicating an advance of the colony in all the 1884.] IMPORTANT EVENTS, 155 great essentials of civilization. But the greatest stride in progress still remained to be taken. iVhile in all the neighbouring colonies extensive lines «>f railway had been constructed and worked most advantageously, in Newfoundland not a mile of railway had yet been built. Now, however, when a knowledge of the great natural resources of the country had been diffused, and when the necessity of providing new means of employment for the increasing population had secured the attention of thoughtful men, the construction of a railway, to open up the country to industrial enterprise, began to be discussed. At first many objections were raised, and- many shrank from the proposal, believing a railway to be unnecessary, and beyond the means of the colony. New projects of this kind are sure to encounter more or less opposition. The question, however, still pressed for solution: "What are we to do in the future, with our ever-increasing population, who cannot find suste- nance from the employment furnished by the fisheries ? Here are fertile lands and great forests. How are we to bring together the idle hands and the unoccupied lands ? " The project of a railway continued to grow in public favour, and, at length, in 1875, the Legislature voted a sura of money for a preliminary survey of a line from St. John's to St. George's Bay, which was carried out the same year. It was afterwards found that the British Government could not be induced to sanction the con- struction of this line, as its terminus would be on the so-called " French Shore," regarding which negotiations with France were then in progress. The matter, there- fore, had to be laid aside for a time. 11. In the summer of 1876 the Fishery Commission, in connection with the Treaty of Washington, met in Halifax. The Hon. W. V. Whiteway was the delegate 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 156 IMPORTANT EVENTS. [1861- M iiUHi mm \ i ,.; ■ • k ; il » 1 •% ii from Newfoundland. The Commission awarded five and a lialf millions of dollars as compensation for fisheries' rights extended to the United States by the Biitish Provinces. Of this sum Newfoundland received one million dollars. 12. Sir John Hawley Glover was appointed Governor in 1876. He proved himself to be possessed of en- lightened and progressive views, and energetically urged forward public improvements. In order to acquaint himself with the condition of the country and the wants of the people he made repeated voyages to different places around the coast. In the autumn of 1878 he mad? a journey across the island from Hall's Bay to Baj* of Islands. In opening the Legislature, the following year, he said : " My visit forcibly impressed me with the rich agricultural resources of this portion of the island, and the value of the forest lands, — provisions of nature destined soon to attract and reward large numbers of industrious settlers." , 13. During the legislative session of 1880 decisive steps were taken towards the construction of a railway. Sir W. V. Whiteway, prea\ier, moved that the colony should, out of its own revenues, construct a railway of about 340 miles in length, from St. John's to Hall's Bay, in the mining district, having branches to Harbour Grace, Brigus, and other centres of population. Such a line, he showed, would open up the fertile lands in the valleys of the Gambo, Gander, and Exploits, and would connect the mining region and various populous districts with the capital. The question was referred to a joint- committee composed of members of both branches of the Legislature. Their report was highly favourable to the construction of this line of railway, and recom- mended that £1,000,000 sterling should be borrowed on 1884.] IMPORTANT EVENTS. 157 the credit of the colony, aud the work at once com- menced. Jn the following year, 1881, the Legislature entered into a contract with " the Newfoundland Rail- way Company " for the construction and operation of this line, for which they agreed to give the company an annual subsidy, and also grants of land on each side of the railway. On the 9th of August, 1881, the first sod of OOVERNMBNT HOVBB. the railway was turned. The event marks an important epoch in the history of the colony. In December, 1884, the first 86 miles of the line were completed and opened for traffic, between St. John's and Harbour Grace, — the second town in the island. Large sums of money were paid to the labouring-class who were employed on the work, while the trading-classes also shared in the benefits. 14. In 1881 Sir Henry Fitzhardinge Maxse was ap- pointed Governor. At the opening of the Legislature, in 1882, Sir F. B. Carter, who acted as administrator of the government, in the absence of the Governor, caused by ill- 158 IMPORTANT EVENTS. [1884. health, announced in the opening speech that the imperial authorities had at length authorized the local government to make land grants and issue mining licenses on that part of the coast on which the French have fishing- privileges. He also stated that the people residing on that part of the coast were in future to elect two repre- sentatives in the House of Assembly. Thus the boon for which the people of the colony had been pleading in vain for many years was at length granted. All restric- tions on the exercise of territorial rights were removed, and nearly one-half the island, hitherto closed, was now thrown open for settlement and industrial enterprise. 16. Another great public work was entered on in 1882. This was the construction of a dry-dock in the harbour of St. John's. The Legislature entered into a contract for its construction and operation with Messrs. , J. E. Simpson & Sons, of New York. The cost of the construction, with all the necessary workshops and apparatus, was $550,000. The contractors afterwards agreed to take a lease of it for ten years, at $15,000 per annum, which leaves but $9,000 a year of interest to be paid by the colony. It is one of the largest and finest docks in the world, being 600 feet in length, 132 feet at its widest part, and having a draught of water of 25 feet over the gate-cill at high water. It is suflScient to admit the largest ocean steamer afloat, except the " Great East- ern." The work was commenced in May, 1883, and com- pleted in December, 1884, when it was formally opened by the entrance into the dock of H.M.S. " Tenedos," in presence of an immense concourse of people. In 1883 Sir Henry Maxse died in St. John's, after a lengthened illness. Soon after. Sir John H. Glover was reappointed as Governor. He arrived in July, 1884, and received a cordial welcome from all classes. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 159 QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER XIV. I, In what condition was the colony from 1860 to 1869? Point out the evils of giving pauper relief to able-bodied persons. 2* What was the revenue and what the public debt in 1801? Who was Governor in 1864? What was the result of the depres- sion then existing? 3. Point out the causes which led to the impoverished condi- tion of the people. What was the remedy? 4. When and by whom was the first copper-mine discovered? Who was the pioneer of mining? Describe the amounts yielded by the mines till 1879. What is the extent of the mineral lands? 6, What benefits flowed from the mining industry? O. Describe the commencement and results of the geological survey. What are the agricultural capabilities of the island? 7. When did the fisheries begin to improve ? Describe the results. 5. What question was decided in the elections of 1869? O, Describe the arrangements for oceanic and local steam services. What improvements in education were effected? Give the number of schools and pupils. What was the benefit of fac- tories? lO. What great step in progress was next taken? What necessity for railways existed? Point out their benefits. When was the first survey made? II. What was the Fishery Commission? What its award to Newfoundland? 12* Who was made Governor in 1876? What did he say of the country which he explored? 13. Who proposed, in the Legislature, the construction of the first railway? Describe its progress. When was it opened to Harbour Grace? 14. Who was Governor in 1881? What important change in connection with the so-called "French Shore" was made in .1881? 15. What great public work was entered on in 1882? Giye the particulars of the construction of the dry-dock. 4l 160 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS.— CHAPTER XIV. St. John's Water- Works. — The terrible devastations wrought by lire in the capital at lcn;,'th taught the people the necessity of intro- ducing 9'ich a supply of water as would prove a safeguard against the destroyer. After the great fire of 1846 the city was rebuilt on an improved plan, the streets were widened, and tire-breaka provided. Wooden buildings in the business part of the city were prohibited. It was not, however, till 1860 that the present abundant supply of excellent water was secured. The water is conducted in pipes from Windsor Lake, five miles distant from St. John's, and situated at a height above it of 600 feet. The pressure is thus so great that there is no need of engines, as water from the hydrants can be thrown over the highest buildings. The supply of water is abundant, and the consumption uurestricted. Three millious of gallons arc run off daily in the city. The water is soft, pure, and excellent for all household purposes. There are efficient volunteer fire-brigades. No fire of any considerable extent has occurred since the introduction of the water, and few cities enjoy greater security against fire, notwithstanding that two-thirds of it c<.nsist of wooden houses. The water-works were constructed by a joint-stock company, with a capital of $400,000, the interest on which is guaranteed by government at the rate of five per cent., and paid by a rate levied on the consumers. The importance of such a supply of Avater cannot be overrated, as it has greatly improved the public health, and promoted habits of cleanliness among the working-classes, as well as provided a security against fires. The reduction in the rates of fire insm-ance since the new supply of water covers the water-rates. History of the Seal-Fishery. — While the cod-fishery has been prosecuted for nearly 400 years, the seal-fishery is not more than 80 years old, and may be said to date from 1805. Hackluyt, the historian of the early voyagers, tells us that " in 1593 there were on the shores of the island of Ramea, within the Straits of St. Peter, on the back of New- foundland, chiefly in April, May, and June, multitudes of amphibious creatures called vaccoe marinm^ or morses, the two large teeth of which, resembling ivory, and their oil were considered as valuable articles of commerce; that Captain Drake found there a ship belonging to the inhabitants of St. Malo, almost full-freighted with morses ; that he also obseived several whales of an enormous size, together with great num- bers of seals and porpoises, of which they killed several." Up to 1774 this fisheiy referred to by Hackluyt was prosecuted around the island. ! The " sea-cow or morse " of those days was the walrus, and was valuable for its oil, skin, and tusks, the latter furnishing the best ivoiy. These tusks, two in number, hang from the upper jaw, and by them the walrus lifts itself on the ice. Gradually the animal became extinct in those seas, NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 161 and is now confined to the Arctic regions. A whale-fishery was carried on from 1760 for a number of years in the gulf and river of St. Law- rence, to which the New England people at one time sent from 60 to 80 vessels annually. A few whales are still taken in Fortune Bay, but the fishery is now unimportant. The first mention of a seal-fisheiy is by L'Abbe Baynal, who tells us, that, as early as 1763, some English fishermen used to repair to certain parts of the coast of Newfoundland, during winter, for the prosecution of the seal-fishery. This was an inshore net-fishery, and was curried on upon a small scale, and is still followed along shore, in some favourable localities. The fishermen place their nets between the shore and the islands or rocks lying at a shoi-t d'^tance from it, and the seals, in passing these narrow places, are caught. The next step in the seal-fishery was the shooting of seals from large boats, which left port about the middle of April. As late as 1795 the whole catch of seals was under 5,000. Soon after, the sealing-boats gave place to small schooners of thirty to fifty tons, canying twelve to fourteen men each, and not leaving port till after March 21st. Conception Bay led the way in this new industry, and its people showed much energy, and many of them became wealthy in the prosecution of the seal-fishery. In 1807 about fifty of these small schooners were engaged in seal-hunt- ing from various ports. It proved so remunerative that its growth wa» rapid. In 1805, 81,088 seals were taken; in 1815, 126,315; in 1820, 213,679; in 1830,558,942; in 1840, 631,38o; in 1844, 685,530 seals, the largest number ever taken in one year. In 1857 there were nearly 400 vessels, of from 80 to 200 tons, engaged in the seal-fishery, their united crews numbering 13,600 men, the total catch of that year being close on half a million seals, worth $1,700,000. The catch of seals has not increased since that date, and occasionally it has fallen low, as in 1882, when only 200,500 seals were taken, and in 1884, when 238,587 were taken. In 1863 the first steamer took part in this fishery. Since then the number of steamers has i*apidly increased, and the number of sailing vessels has steadily diminished. The same work is now done by fewer hands, so that fewer men find employment in this industry. It is not un- likely that in a few more years this fishery will be entirely canied on by poweiful steamers. In competition with steamers, sailing-vessels have but a poor chance of success. About 8,000 to 9,000 men are now engaged in it. Sailing-vessels are permitted to leave port for the ice- fields on the 1st of March ; steamers cannot leave till the 10th of March. In 1881 there were 24 steamers employed, but their number has since been reduced. Seven of those sealing-steamers come from Dundee, Scotland, each spring, and take their crew in Newfoundland, When the seal-fisheiy terminates, these steamei's proceed to the Arctic whale- fishery, returning to Dundee in October. '!*''-I 162 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. The Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. — These little islandsj, at tlie mouth of Fortune Bay, as we have learned in the coui-se of this history, were cet'ed by Great liritain to France as a shelter for her fishermen. They are thus the only existing relics of the once great French empire in America, which stretched from Hudson's Bay to the mouths uf tiie Mississippi, comprising the present British possessions in North America and the great valley of the Mississippi, — or about one- half of the North American continent. The fleur-de-lis had to withdraw from these regions one after the other, and now it only waves over these insignificant rocky islets. The British Lion has taken all, and left to France only the privilege of fishing on a portion of the coast of New- foundland, with St. Pierre and Miquelon for a shelter. To France those islands are of great value. Under the shadow of the tri-colour lives here a little world of fishermen, who, amid the perils of a stormy sea, ply their avocation. From the encompassing waters France derives an important part of her food supply. To their ports Spain sends yearly enormous quantities of salt, for preserving the precious gifts of the sea, which are 'found here in inexhaustible abundance. Thousands of French fishermen repair to these bleak islets, not only to gather the sea-harvest, but to train themselves, by battling with the billows, for service in the navy of their country. The group of islets consists of St. Pierre, Grande-Mi quelon, and Petite-Miquelon or Langlade. The resident population now amounts to 5,000. Since 1783 the Grande and Petite-Miquelon have been united by a sand-bank. They are distant 135 miles from Cape Ray and Cape Race, the south-western and south-eastern extremities of Newfoundland. Great Miquelon is not more than three-fourths of a league in length. St. PleiTC is much smaller, but contains the capital of the same name, and is three times more populous than the former. The Governor of the whole group resides at St. Pierre. The town is surrounded by low hills. In the fishing season it presents quite an animated appearance, being crowded with the floating population from France, which greatly exceeds the resident inhabitants. Vegetation on the islands is of the poorest description, only a few garden vegetables being grown. The climate resembles that of the ports on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Dense fogs prevail in summer, and often hang over them for days in succession. St. PieiTC is the only good harbour. Fifty or sixty fishing vessels are often seen lying securely in its waters. The other harbours are unsafe when cei-tain winds blow. More than three-fourths of all the codfish consumed in France come fh>m St. Pierre and Miquelon. Official returns show that during the five years, ending in 1871, the catch of cod here averaged 15,425,086 kilo- grams. The same returns show that, for the five years ending in 1874, the avei-age number of vessels employed was 76 ; of boats, 690 ; the total tonnage of which was 12,386 ; and the number of men employed, 5,335. CHR0N0L007. 163 In 1808 a French Cable Company was forn.cd to lay a sub- marine cable between Breat and St. Pierre, and I'roin the latter island to Duxbury, Massachusetts. This cable was successfully laid in 1869, three years after the successful establishment of telej;raphic coram.uiiication between Heart's Content, Newfoundland, and the British Isles, in 18()(S. Previously, in 1858, a cable had been laid over the same route, between Ireland and Newfoundland, but worked only for a short time. CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY. — CHAPTER XIV. A.D. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1869. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1876. 1876. 1877. 1878. 1881. 1883. 1884. Prince of Wales married. ■ * Canadian Confederation carried in Quebec Conference. First copper-mine opened in Newfoundland. Geological survey commenced in Newfoundland. President Lincoln assusvsinated. Dominion of Canada proclaimed. — Intercolonial Railway authorized. Second Reform Act in England. — Household suffrage in boroughs. Irish Church disestablished. Newfoundland rejected confederation with Canada. Treaty of Washington. British Columbia entered the Dominion. Vote by ballot in England. Prince Edward Island entered the Dominion. Ashantee War. First government railway surrey in Newfoundland. Fishery Commission met in Halifax. Russo-Turkish War. Treaty of Berlin. Second Afghan War. Zulu War. Second Irish Land Act. First sod of Newfoundland Railway turned Aug. 9th. Dry-dock, St. John's, N.F., commenced. Third Reform Act in England. — Household suffrage in , counties. Redistribution of seats. Railway to Harbour Grace opened. Dry-dock, St. John's, opened. -fr*>**v^-*-»«»i<- ^Z^^S^Z^iSiF' ^ 164 CONCLUSION. CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION. m III 'I M '11 H i RETROSPEOT AND PROSPECT. — PROGRRGS OF THE COLONY. — IMPROVEMENTS IN ST. JOHN's. GENERAL PROS- PFRITY OF THE PEOPLE. — A GREAT FUTURE IN STORE FOR NEWFOUND^AND. 1, We have now bought the history of the oldest British colony down to the latest date. We have seen the vicissitudes and trials through which it has passed ; the misgovernment which so long retarded its prosperity ; the adversities from which it ever rose triumphant. In battling with their difficulties we have seen how its people gained in energy, courage, and intelligence, and won their freedom by their activity and patient endur- ance. A brighter and happier future now opens before them and tLoir children. Their country is advancing in importance and strength, — in all that constitutes the essentials of well-])eing for a free people. They now regard it as a home for themselves and their posterity, which, by industry and wise guidance, may be beautified <:.nd developed into greatness, and made a country which will occupy a proud position among surrounding com- munities. 2. Thac Newfoundland has recently made great and substantial progress, especially during the last twelve years, cannot be denied by any one acquainted with its condition. A glance at its capital furnishes abundant proof of this. The town of Si. John's, which, at the be- ginning of this century, was a small collection of mean, wooden nouses, huddled into a narrow space around the GONGLVSION. 165 harbour, without auy sanitary arrangements, and con- tinually subject to devastations by fire, has grown into a well-built, prosperous city, of more than 30,000 inhabi- CHUUCU or ENGLAND CATHEDRAL, ST. JOHN'S. »'( tants. It possesses two stately cathedrals, handsome churches, creditable public halls, an atJieiinpuni building, banks, stores of all kir 1.-,, mercantile premises, and sho;)S of imposing dimensions, comiuodious and woll- .J^^-y ''*S '■ffc ■'T7~ 166 CONCLUSION. ;iHB{l li; I^H il 1 ;i :Hl i'^ ' rVHB |:i^B ^IhH H ^IH i ^^^1 : It i^^^^^^P i^^IBi >(■' , i^l^HI 1l'' ' ^^Hi ■( r built houses, extensive wliarves. Every year witnesses the erection of new and better houses for the accommo- dation of the increasing population. Its factories of various kinds, its iron foundries and machine-shops, give employment to large numbers, and testify to the healthy growth of native industries. Its supply of ex- cellent water is abundant. Its harbour cun boast of what is believed to be the largest dry dock in the world. A railwa}' has been commenced, which, in the course of years, will connect it with all the centres of population throughout the island. A busy, thriving population throng its streets. Its trade is very large. Lectures, concerts, and social entertainments of all kinds show that its people are advancing in culture and education. Its charitable and benevolent institutions and societies furnish ample proof that the poor are cared for. Nu- merous schools and academies show that the interests of education are not overlooked. Many improvements have yet to be introduced ; many reforms are needed ; but that genuine and striking progress has been made every one must allow. This is a guarantee of greater progress in the future. 3. Other towns throughout the island are sharing, more or less, in tiie spirit of progress ; and, as they are more brought into connection with the capital, civilizing influences will be more felt. Harbour Grace is a hand- some town of nearly 8,000 inhabitants ; the streets are vade and well laid out. It is lighted with gas, and has an excellent system of water-works. Carbonear has also obtained an abundant supply of good water ; and will soon be reached by the railway. In Placentia, Trinity, Bonavista, Catalina, Twillingate, improvements are steadily making way. ' 4, Turning to the general conditi(m of t'u^ colony we ":\'r. '('..'■_' ' . ' . , - ■,-■■, ,Jf.* t — . CONCLUSION. 1(57 see on all hands evidences of progress. The revenue has more than doubled within the last twenty years, and now reaches nearly a million and a quarter dollars annu- ally. As it is derived mainly from duties on importa- tions, the increase of revenue shows an improvement in the condition of the people and in their means of pur- HOMAN CATHOLIC CATUKDKAL, ST. J0HM'». chasing the necessaries and luxuries of life. Taxation is less than in any other British colony. In 1883 the total value of imports was $9,131,464; of exports, $7,996,- 795. In 1870 the value of exports was $6,984,543 ; of imports, $6,655,849. The increase in thirteen years m significant. In 1884 the value of the exports was $9,061,186. On December 31, 1883, the registered ton- nage of the colony was 1,988 vessels, of which 27 were 168 CONCLUSION. steamers, having a tonnage of 91,767 tons. In the same year 55 new vessels were built in the country, their tonnage being 2,330 tons. At the beginning of this century the whole population was 20,000 ; now it has reached 197,589. 5. That the cod-fishery, the staple industry of the country, is not declining is evident from the fact that, in 1883-84 no less than 1,733,417 quintals of dried cod- fish were exported, so that the catch in 1883 was the largest on record. In that year the volume of trade (im- ports and exports combined) was in value $17,128,259, — an amount not reached in any previous year. Road- making has been carried on since 1825, and now over $100,000 annually are spent in making and repairing roads and bridges. There are at .present about 727 miles of postal roads, and 1,730 miles of district roads, while many more miles are in course of construction. The fine steamers of the 4^11an Line make weekly calls at St. John's., and afford speedy means of communica- tion with Britain and America. Local steamers connect the principal outports with the capital. All these indi- cate an increase in wealth and in the appliances of civilized life. 6. As yet only the fringe around the coast of the island is occupied. The fertile hinds, the great forests of the interior, are still untouched. The mineral treas- ures are barely opened ; the coal-beds are yet undis- turbed. When these are turned to account the population of the island will be reckoned by millions. Sooner or later this great island is destined to be overspread by a thriving, industrious population who will utilize its splendid resources. 7. Thus fucts warrant us in predicting a great future for Newfoundland. In its treasures of sea and land, of CONCLUSION. 109 forest and mine, Nature lias bestowed on its people a noble heritage. The riches of its encompassing seas are - f r-« ^r^^-^ COCHBANE-STREET METU0UI9T CHUKCH, BT. JOHN'B. inexhaustible, — '* greater than the gold and silver mines of Mexico and Peru." Three centuries have failed to show any diminution in their value, though ever-increas- ing drafts have been made on those treasures of the 170 COl^CLUSION. deep. The Great Banks, 600 miles in length, with their swarming fish-life, are but a day's sail from the shores of the island. In its dependency of Labrador the colony has another fishing-ground of incalculable value. In the summer of 1883 there were taken on Labrador 650,000 quintals of codfish, and the total value of its produce that year was $2,592,000. The seal-fishery, prosecuted at a time when no other marine industries are practicable, yields an average of a million and a quarter of dollars annually. The geographical position of the island for commercial purposes could not be surpassed ; it is but 1,640 miles from the coast of Ireland ; it commands the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; its noble bays stretch their arms inland from 50 to 100 miles ; its harbours are among the finest in the world. Before many years have passed, a steam-ferry will connect it with the eastern terminus of tlie Canadian system of railways. Among the wonders in store for the future it is not impossible that the shortest and safest travel- route between the Old and New World should yet be found across the Island of Newfoundland. 8, The present population of Newfoundland has sprung from two of the greatest and most energetic races of the world, — the Saxon and Celtic. In the healthy, invigorating climate of the island the blood has not CD O deteriorated. Its climate is admirabl}^ fitted to nurture a people of great physical power and mental energy, who will be able to hold a distinguished place among the English-speaking communities of the New World. To this end they should take care that their educational system shall keep pace with their material prosperity ; that no child shall be allowed to grow up in ignorance ; and that due provision be made for the higher education which is needed to promote the intellectual hfe of the :. / conclusion: 171 people. Many of the troubles of the past have arisen from differences in race and religion among the people. Thence have come, at times, jealousies, antipathies, and ^ fe ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ST. JOHN'S. injurious contentions. In the better spirit which now prevails these will gradually disappear. The distinc- tions of English, Scotch, and Irish, Protestants and Catholics, will merge into the common name of New- < ( 172 CONCLUSION. foiindlauders, which till will be proud to bear ; and the love of a common country will obliterate Ihe differences ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, HARBOUR QRACE. 4\i%:i^i and rivalries of the past. Then the great rivalry will be as to who can turn to the best advantage the gifts of Providence, and most effectually advance the best inter- ests of a free, united, and happy people. ;y>-" T 'J ' QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 173 be of QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION ON CHAPTER XV. 1. What of the better future now opening for Newfoundland? 2. Give proofs of recent progress in the capital. Enumerate the public buildings. What shows social advance? 3. What improvements have been made in other towns? 4. What proofs of progress does the condition of the colony show? Give the value of imports and exports in 1870 and in 1883, What was the value of exports in 1884? Give particulars of the shipping. * 5. How many quintals of codfish were exported in 1883-84? What of roads? 6. What are the prospects of settling the interior? 7. Why may we believe in a great future for Newfoundland? Show the value of the Labrador fisheries, and of the seal- fishery. Show the advantages of the geographical position of the island. Why is it likely to be the shortest travel-route between Europe and America? What of the people and their future? What has been the cause of social disturbances in the past? How are these to be avoided in the future? 174 NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. — CHAPTER XV. The People of Newfoundland — Their Physique. — New- foundlanders are, in their general physique, a powerfully built, robust, and hardy race. They and their fathers have buffeted the billoAvs, fought the terrible ice-floes, and drunk in the health-giving sea-breezes Engaged largely in open-air occupations, and breathing an invigorating atmosphere, a strong, energetic race has grown up, who arc well-fitted for the world's i*ough work. From the hardy, much-enduring race who have been developed here, often fighting cold and hunger, drawing their scanty subsistence mainly from the boisterous seas, fearlessly pursuing their avocations amid storms and ice-fields, will spring a people who, when duly educated and cultured, may be expected to play a worthy part in the world of the future. The noblest nations of the earth, past and present, were not nurtured amid the flowers of the south, but in the cold and stern north, where nature had to be conquered by labour and sweat of brow, and where the barren wilderness had to be transformed by hard toil into the waving cornfield. Kingslcy, in his " Ode to the North*East Wind," says : — Let tbe luBcious soutb-wiDd Breathe In lovers' sighs, 5^, While the lazy gallants Bask in ladles' eyes. What does he but soften Heart alike and pen? ' Tia the hard, gray weather Breeds hard Englishmen. What's the soft south-wester? 'Tie the ladies' breeze, Bringing horae their true loves Out of all the seas ; But ibc black north-easter, Through tbe snow-storm hurled, Drives our English hearts of oak Seaward round the world ! Come as came our fathers, Heralded by thee, Conquering from tbe eastward, Lords by land and sea. Come, and strong within us Stir tbe Vikings' blood, Bracing brain and sinew,— Blow, thou wind of God ! :i^-K'-s*t "/ It NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. 175 Names of Places* — The changes in names of places arc curious, and soractiiues ditlicult to trace. Carbonear was formerly written Carboucir, and was originally Carboniero (Spanish or Portuguese evidently). Torhay, in old books, is Thorne-Bay. Bay of Bulls is said originally to have been Baboul Bay; others make it a corruption of the French Bale de* Boulea. Trcpasscy Bay, Anspach says, was formerly Abram Trepasa^. Fcrrausc was anciently Fermose or Ferraosa, — beauti- ful. Renewcs, formerly Renowcs. or Rcneau's Harbour. La Poile, so named by the French from its supposed resemblance to a frying-pan. Great Burgeo Island is also called Eclipse Island, from the fact that Captain Cook observed an eclipse of the sun there in 1765. Point EnragLC, so named from its exposed situation. Cape Spear, near St. John's, was originally Cape Esperc or Espoir, or Cape Hope. Great Bruit, great noise ; Rose Blan(;hc, white rose ; Bay-of-Cinq-Ccrfs, or Five Stags, explain their own origin. The small river which falls into the head of St. John's Harbour was once called Little Castor's River, a name not heard now. Richard Ilakluyt, whose narratives of early voyages and dis- coveries are so valuable, and so often quoted, was a clergyman of the Church of England, and at one time prebendary of the cathedral of Bristol. lie was born in 1553, and studied at Christ Church, Oxford. He made a special study of geography, or cosmography, as it was then called, and was made a lecturer on this subject at Oxford. He took an active part in encouraging and directing the spirit of discovery in those days. He was associated v.ith Sir Walter Raleigh in his effort at planting Vir- ginia. In 1589 he published his " Collection of Travels," in one volume, folio, which he afterwards enlarged and published in three volumes, folio, under the title, " The Principal Navigations and Discoveries of the Eng- lish Nation, by sea or overland to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compass of these 1500 years." Hak- luyt also published or edited translations of several foreign nan-atives of travellers, from which was published a " Selection of curious, I'are, and early voyages, and histories of interesting discoveries, chiefly published by Ilakluyt, or at his suggestion, but not included in his celebrated compilation : 4to, London, 1812." He died in 1616, and Avas burie.l in "Westminster Abbey. His accounts of the early voyages to Newfound- land and the ac^acent countries are of great value. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I '^ IIIM |||||M illM m 12.2 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ■*l 6" ► p /} iff /}. A '8 length of submarine cables laid up to 1883 . . 60,000 k. ' . - ' • ; - * . '•, i ■ Y ^ ' ,*i ■ ' •■ \ PRO.TECTEI) I.IN'KS. ' . ! , , , , _ Kuota. Total cable distance from England to China, via Canada, 7,920, Hong-Kong, China, to New Guinea . . . ... 2,000 'HI New Guinea to Port Darwin, in Australia . . . 800 Total cable distance from England to Australia, via Canada, 10,780 ... ..... , . -.-..s J :^ APPENDIX II. VALUE OF THE FISHERIES, . •■■ .''-.-'V . .;. 'K ^^ The principal commercial fishes taken from the waters around Newfoundland and Labrador are the cod, the seal, the herring, the salmon, and the lobster. The cod- fishery is by far the most important, its products aver- aging in value three-fourths of the entire returns of the fisheries. If we take three years, ending in 1882, the total value of the codfish taken in that time was $18,102,728, so that the average annual value of the cod-fishery at present is $6,034,242. This calculation includes the dried codfish exported, the quantit}' con- sumed by the population, and the oil extracted from the fish. VALfTK OF THE FISfT FRIES. 187 FRENCH COD-FIsnERIP:S. The value of the codfish taken by the French on that portion of the coast of Newfoundhiiul over which their fishing privileges extend is at present $279,436 per annum. In addition the French carry on the Bank fishery. In 1879 they had employed in the Bank and shore fishery 7,1G8 men, 177 vessels, of 27,8G5 tons, and the quantity of codfish taken was 369,628 quintals, the value of which was $1,342,544. SEAL-FISHERY. The average number of seals taken in three years, ending 1881, was 435,413; their annual average value was $1,026,896. HERRING-FISHERY. The chief centres of the herring-fishery are Labrador, St. George's Bay, Bay of Islands, Fortune Bay. The average annual value of the herrings exported and con- sumed in the countiy is $581,543. ;,^fi SALMON-FISHERY. U ' The average annual value of the salmon exported is $114,505. . . ■ > r LOBSTER-FISHERY. ' ' ?^ ' The annual average value of lobsters exported is at present $104,184. The foregoing figures show that the total average value of all the fisheries is close on eight millions of dollars per annum. M - 1} "1,1 i ■V. if ■'i i ■ 188 APPENDIX, NUMBER OF FISHERMEN. According to the census of 1873 there were 45,845 persons employed in fishing and curing fish. At present that number has increased to about 54,000. In 1874 the number of able-bodied fishermen in the colony was 26,377 ; at present they number about 33,000. li I. APPENDIX III. AORICULTURAL RESOURCES. , The best answer to tiie assertion, so often repeated, that the soil of Newfoundland is unfit for cultivation, is that, even on th limited and imperfect system now pursued, the average annual value of agricultural prod- ucts is $612,350 ; and the value of the land now under cultivation, together with the cattle, sheep, and horses, is $2,500,000. The geological survey has shown that in the regions near and surrounding St. George's Bay, including the Codroy valleys, there are 730 square miles suitable for settlement. Bay of Islands, including tiie valley of the Huraber, Deer Lake, and Grand Lake, contains 630 square miles suitable for settlement. These valleys are, for the most part, covered with Valuable timber. In the Gander, Gambo, and Terra-Nova valleys there are 1,700 square miles available for settlement. The Exploits vallej' nnd Red Indian Lake, with tiie lands surrounding the estuary of the Exploits, contain 1,620 square miles. Thus, in these great valleys alone, we have 4,650 square miles, or 2,976,000 acres, fit for settlemeut, and capable, when cultivated, of sustaining i i comfort a large population. ^■'•■'1- A GRICUL TURA L RESOURCES. 189 In .'iddition to these large o,nd extensive tracts there are many smaller portions of excellent soil around the heads of the bays, along the margins of the smaller rivers, and on several of the islands. When we add to these the land already under culture around tho various settle- ments, and the wide area in the peninsula of Avalon, which is admirably adapted for cattle and sheep raising, we have 2,000,000 acres more ; or, in all, 5,000,000 acres fitted for agricultural and griizing purposes. What the interior proper ma}^ contain is yet unknown. * ^ « m- .;■:;.. .",.':■,.•:- 'iv-^^*.,■.v.:' forests. ■?.:;;.. .:■.- -,....' .1. -.■,,.■■ " The chief varieties of forest timber are white-pine, white and black spruce, tamarack or larch, fir, yellow and white birch. In the Gander districts alone there are, according to the geological survey, 850 square miles of pine :ands, or, including some of the neighbour- ing regions, a total area of 1,000 square miles. Mr. Murray pronounces this a splendid lumbering region, where an immense timber trade could be successfully carried on. Groves of pine are occasionally found here in which the average girth of trees is nine feet, and many individual trees reach twelve and even fourteen feet. Other timber regions are the valley of the Exploits, Red Indian Lake, the valley of the Humbcr, and the valleys around St. George's Bay, and in the Codroy dis- trict.. The soil in these districts, when cleared, will yield cereal and other crops in abundance. \l4 » m. ' . 190 APPENDIX. m ;;1 ■'■,'*'■ i-(->.?';^^ APPENDIX IV. MINERAL RESOURCES. *i \^^:H;.; So far as explorations and mining operations have gone Newfoundland ranks high among the copper-pro- ducing countries of the world. The chief seat of copper- mining is around the shores of Notre Dame Bay. The ore is found in connection with the serpentine rocks, and these rocks are spread over an area of 5,000 square miles, most of which is yet unexplored. Up to 1879 the value of copper and nickel ore exported was S4,629,889, or nearly £1,000,000 sterling. Gold has been found, but as yet only in small quantities. Rich deposits of lead-ore have also been found in several places, especially at Port-a-Port. Gypsum is found in immense developments, and marbles on both eastern and western shores. Roofing-slate is another valuable material found in abundance. The coal area of St. George's Bay is 25 miles wide by 10 in length. m APPENDIX V. f:r GOVERNMENT. ^ '^ The form of government consists of a Governor, who is appointed by the crown, and whose term of office is usually about six years ; an Executive Council, repre- senting the part}' commanding a majority in the Legis- lature, and consisting of seven members ; a Legislative Council, or Upper House, of fifteen members, nominated Iff fil' GOVERXMENT. 191 by the Governor iu Council, and holding office for life ; and a House of Assembly, of thirty-three members, elected every four years by the votes of the people. The seventeen electoral districts, sending thirty-three members, are divided as follows : — St. John's, East St. John's, West Harbour Grace . Carbonear Harbour Maine . Port de Grave . Bay de Verds . Trinity Bon a vista . Tvvillingate and Fogo Ferryland . Place ntia and St. Mar Burin Fortune Bay Burgeo and La Poile St. George St. Barbe . v's Members. . 3 . 3 . 2 . 1 . 2 . 1 . 1 . 3 . 3 . 3 . 2 . 3 . 2 . 1 . 1 . 1 \ • -/ An Act of the Legislature, passed in the session of 1885, gives one additional member to each of the three districts of Harbour Grace, Bay de Verds, and Twillingate and Fogo, in consequence of the increase in their population as shov.n by the Census of 1884. The House of Assembly will in future consist of 36 members. The right of voting is conferred on every man who for one year immediately preceding the day of election has occupied a dwelling-house .fithin the island, either as owner or tenant- 11 11/ ■i I H 192 APPENDIX. The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief -Justice and two assistant judges, appointed by the crown. The Court of Labrador has civil and criminal jurisdiction over such parts of Labrador as He within the govern- ment of Newfoundland. It is presided over by one judge, who is appointed by the Governor in Council. APPENDIX VI. • ; '\ EDUCATION. ■ The interest in education is deepening and extending. A liberal provision is made for it by the Legislature, amounting now to $93,952 per annum. The improve- ments already secured afford sufficient guarantees of future progress. Each religious denomination receives a grant for education from the public funds in pro- portion to its numbers. Separate Boards of Education in the different districts have charge of the schools. Three superintendents are appointed by Government, — one for Roman Catholic schools, one for Church of Eng- land, and one for Wesleyan schools. . , ,: In 1881 there were in all 416 elementary schools. Of these 157 belonged to the Church of Englnnd, 158 to the Roman Catholics, 99 to the Methodists, and 2 to the Congregationalists. The total number of pupils in the elementary schools was 24,292. " The Colonial and Continental Church Societ}','* originally " The Newfoundland School Society," has done much for the cause of education in Newfoundland. It commenced operations in 1823, and ma}' be said to have initiated common-school education in the island. It has still 20 schools in operation, attended by 2,295 EDUCA TION. 198 scholars. Its central school, in St. John's, is largely attended, and is used by the Church of England Boards of Educatioij as a training-school for their teachers, male and female, twenty teachers being sent out every year. The Christian Brothers have in operation a school in St. John's, attended by about 400 ^yupils. The school- rooms nre admirably arranged and equipped ; the in- struction imparted is deservedly spoken of in the highest terms, and an excellent educational work is carried on. The academies and grammar schools are attended by 674 pupils. There are but two grammar schools, — one in Harbour Grace and one in Carbonear, — both of which are well conducted, and have rendered, and continue to render, good service to the cause of education. The four academies are in St. Joiin's, and are conducted on the denominrvtional principle. They are well-managed, efficient institutions, having each a full staff of compe- tent teachers, and imparting a superior education. All of them prepare pupils for the universities. St. John's has lately been made a centre of the London University, and already two pupils from the Roman Catholic Acad- emy, or St. Bonaventure College, and two from the Wesleyan Academy, have passed the matriculation ex- aminations with much credit. >» 194 APPENDIX. :.;••-•'■•■' 3 , i|!i APPENDIX YII. •' 'i ■ '■-•■■ ■'■'■ ' '■ '- • ■ ■■.■' ','. ■ tV'X'^:' ■ RELIOTOUS DENOMINATIONS. > ; i f ! CHURCH OF ENGLAND. \l''''' ''^ '■■'■'";■''.'/. :•';■'/ " The Societ}' for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts " first sent a missionary to Newfoundland in 1703. In 1787 the first colonial bishopric was created, — that of Nova Scotia, to which Newfoundland was attached. It was not, however, till 1827 that Bishop Inglis, of Nova Scotia, was able to visit this por- tion of his extensive diocese. He found but 9 clergy- men and missionaries in the whole island. In 1839 Newfoundland and the Bermudas were erected into a separate diocese, and the Rev. Aubrey S. Spencer was appointed Bishop of the new See. In 1844 Bishop Spencer was succeeded by Dr. Edward Feild, of Queen's College, Oxford, who continued Bisliop till his death, in 1876. His successor was Dr. J. B. Kellv, who was compelled by failing health to resign, in 1877. In 1878 he was succeeded by the Rev. Llewellyn Jones, D.D., who is now Bishop of the diocese. The diocese is now divided into 8 deaneries, and the number of clergy is 50. The total number of churches in Newfoundland and Labrador is 102. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. b: X^ BS . ,'{ i. fcr;; 'r ■■, f«" ' W Hi i. The Roman Catholic Church in Newfoundland was first publicly organized in 1784, by the appointment of Dr. O'Donnell, as Prefect Apostolic, by Pope Pius VI. In 1796 Dr. O'Donnell was appointed Vicar Apostolic RELIO. US DENOMIXATIOXS. 195 and Bishop. In 1807 he was succeeded by Dr. Patrick Lambert, who held office till 1817, when Dr. Thomas Scal- lan was appointed Bishop. He died in 1830, ard was succeeded by Bishop Fleming, who heF office till 1850, when Dr. Mullock was appointed as his successor. He held office till his death, in 1869, and in 1870 the present bishop, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Joseph Power, was conse- crated, in Rome, by His Eminence Cardinal Cullen. In 1856 Newfoundland was divided into two dioceses, St. John's and Harbour Grace, Dr. Dal ton being the first Bishop of the latter ; and his successors were Rev. Henry Carfagnini, and Dr. Macdonald, who is the present Bishop. In the St. John's diocese there are now a cathedral, 26 churches, besides chapels, 29 priests, a college, 13 convents, and a female orphanage. In the diocese of Harbour Grace there are a cathedral, 14 churches, besides chapels, 16 priests, and 5 convents. In the prefecture apostolic of St. George, West New- foundland, there are 3 churciies and 3 priests. WESLETAN METHODISM. — '; The Rev. Lawrence Cochlan was the first Wesleyan missionary, in 1765. In 1814 Newfoundland was con- stituted a separate district, with a superintendent. In 1840 there were 14 ministers and 10 local preachers. At present Newfoundland is constituted a separate conference, with a president, and is divided into 3 districts, — St. John's, Carbonear, and Bonavista. The total number of ministers is 49 ; of churches, 44. CONGREGATIONALISM . Congregationalism dates from 1775. In 1779 the Rev. John Jones was ordained iu England to be minister of a M- ] 196 APPENDIX. church in St. John's. There are now two additional Congregational churches, — one at Twilliugate ana one at Rendell Harbour, and two mission statioub at For- tune Bay. ;r^^ PRESBYTKRIAI.ISM. Tlie first Presbyterian church was organized in 1842, of which the Rev. Donald A. Fraser was minister. A Free Church Presbyterian congregation was formed in 1848, in St. John's, and a second, in Harbour Grace, in 1855. The two congregations in St. John's united in 1877, and built St. Andrew's Church. There is a Presbyterian mission station at Bay of Islands, and another at Little Bay Mine. pi ill e»v.. POPUL \ TION. 197 '■y\t APPENDIX YIII. POPULATION, The earliest estimate of the resident population of the island was made in 1G54, when it was ascertained that there were 350 families, in 15 different settlements, numbering about 1,750 persons. In 1G98 the population was 2,G40. In 1763 the population was 7,080 ; in 1785, 10,000; in 1804,20,000; in 1825, 55,719; in 1832, 60,000; in 1836, 75,094; in 1845, 98,703; in 1857, 124,288; in 1869, 146,536; in 1874, 161,374. The The census of 1874 gave the numerical strength of the different religious denominations as follows : — Roman Catholics . Church of Eno;land Wesleyans Presbyterians Congregationalists Baptists and others 64,317 59,561 35,702 1,168 461 165 The following is an abstract of the census taken in 1884. It will be seen from it that the increase during the last decade has been 36,209 or 22.43 per cent. As the immigration during that period has been very small, and has probably been more than counterbalanced by the emigration, the increase shown by the recent census has been solely from natural causes, and proves that the people are in a healthy and fairly prosperous condition. Few countries have a normal rate of increase so high as Newfoundland. I J: 198 APPENDIX. Abstract of Census of 1874. DiSTRICtS. St. John's East St. John's West Harbour Main Port-de-Grave Harbour Grace Carbonoar Bay-de-Verds Trinity Bay Bonavista Twillingate and Fogo Ferryland Placentia Burin Fortune Burgco and I^a Poilo ' St. George's and St. Barbe Total Labrador Total Total. Church of Eng- hind. 17.811 12,7G3 7,174 7,910 13,055 5,488 7,434 15,677 13,008 15,135 G,419 9,857 7,678 5,788 5,098 8,G54 158,958 2,422 3,985 2,551 1,716 3,415 7,239 939 439 8,417 6,800 6,989 173 1,351 1,633 4,391 4,216 3,768 58,072 1,489 Roman Catho lie. 161,380 59,561 11.200 8,746 5,361 2,002 4,013 2,189 1,775 1 ,583 2,599 1,956 6,246 8,254 2,689 1,387 125 3,716 Metho- dist. 1,838 1,088 97 2,501 1,615 2,362 5,220 5,663 3,531 6,172 239 3,351 8 731 991 63,841 35,407 476 64,317 Others. 295 35,702 788 378 1 188 8 14 18 18 13 5 2 26 179 1,638 162 1,800 ' In 1874 St. George's and St. Barbo were not separate districts, and, for com- parison, their population is also united in the table for 1884. St. George's has a total population of 5,535, of which 3,393 is Roman Catholic, 1 ,878 Church of Eng- land, 147 Methodist. St. Barbe has a total population of 6,498, of which2, 910 is Church of England, 1,639 Methodist, 1,872 Roman Catholic. • y V0 ',7' population: 199 o « as 03 u a M -H O 00 r-t i^ irj « 00 CCCOMCOCO-^COQOIO O CO * * O '— •* -H i-H # ♦ o n 00 « 5>i lo CO 1— I t". iM »« .-1 o eo r-1 rt 1— 1 «0 o O I'. 00 o CO CO CO N 1-1 c I- co" o a irS O i.-T 110 CO 00 CI 10) O O • t< C>l 00 -t" »fl (M CO CO ■* CO lO O CO 1- «0 • 0 • f to eo" 1-^ o I-H eo I-H •2S cocoo-H ci^ I- Qi u d •<*-t '•til-OCI* rHi-Ht-C50 »-H r-< I— 1 fH I— I O o cst^'iO'-HCiir^oco'— iio»-. -Tt^oo^Cioo 00 O O CO CO CI CO t^ 00 t^ >0 -«♦< Oi «C >-H 00 o c>_as_i-^o o ■* 00 eo t- i-H »n i^ f-i r— t^ lO CO --H CO 00 i-T cCao^ r-^rSiQiCi-^ CI «o_ o a 0'*ci :c CO « CI 1^ »iO o t— I I— I 1— " ,— ( JO o CI CO S o Ol--0>Ct^-*CO>r5CI050COO'*-^CO ■»t<3i>— ix^HCiooaooot^cod'---.o o CO CO 00 00 o I- o ■* o OS CO oo C5 o CO eo M 00 uo 05 o ej o H '55 1 a ^ o V a ■2-5""^ = o S « JH — O Q H.^. QO 00 *.| ^ y S Co CO t^ ^ ■^ ^ r'i C -^ ° • ^ ;c3 *^ 4) ■o 'I^ <», 5 3> ja a 2 o S > -^ - "S * I.S a I fl ^ « § ^ 4, .2 o'^'ffl'^ ^ 35»^J3 tt « s I ^'.2 • O 5 fi " 5 §-1 S " O! C5' 4. Ji, ?! a b -, 61) u O o STJ '-'xW s *« ® .0-' --^sa II «H I II' ; 200 APPENDIX. m .^J .-i ^ APPENDIX TX. f,. , ' :' REVENUE, IMPORTS, AND EXPORTS. In 1880 the revenue was $897,474 ; in 1881, $1,003,- 803; in 1882, $1,119,385; in 1883, $1,251,987; in 1884, $1,170,602. < ' ; '^ " "^ ■ " • The exports in 1881 were, in value, $7,648,574; in r 1882, $8,228,291; in 1883, $7,996,795; in 1834, . $9,061,186. ■ ' ■ - • .. • '' •. ■■ The imports in 1880 were, in value, $6,966,243 ; in 1881, $6,863,708; in 1883, $9,181,464. .' . , : The public debt in 1881 was $1,351,008, or about %1 per capita. A sinking-fund has been established for its liquidation. APPENDIX X. i -^r \ LIST OF PREMIERS UNDER RESPONSIBLE /: ' GOVERNMENT. ^ 1854. — Hon. Philip Francis Little. 1858. — Hon. John Kent. 1861. — Hon. Hugh Hoyles (afterwards Sir Hugh). 1865. — Hon. F. B. T. Cnrter (afterwards Sir F. B. T.). 1869. —Hon C. F. Bennett. 1873. — Hon. F. B. T. Carter. 1878. —Hon. W. V. Whiteway (afterwards Sir William Vallance Whiteway) . 1882. — Sir William V. Whiteway. 1885. — Sir William V. Whitewav riST OF GOVERNORS OF NEWFOUNDLAND. 201 y. APPENDIX XI. LIST OF GOVERNORS OF NEWFOUNDLAND, Appointed. , , 1729. — Captain Henry Osborne, R.N. 1731. — Captain Clinton. 1734. — Captain Lord Viscount Miiskery. 1737. — Captain Vanburg. ,, 17-40. — Captain Right lion. Lord G(M)rge Graham. 1741. — Captain lion. John Byng. 1744. — Captain Sir Charles Hardy. 1749. — Captain Lord George Brydges Rodney. 1750. — Captain Francis II. Drake. 1753. — Captain Bonfoy. 1755. T— Captain Dorril. •.; 1757. — Captain Edwards. 1760. — Captain Webb. 1761. — Captain Lord Graves. 1764. — Captain Palliser. 1769. — Captain Hon. John Byron. 1772. — Commodore Molyneux, afterwards Lord Shuld ham. ; 1775. — Commodore Duff. - ' 1776. — Rear- Admiral Montague. > 1779. — Rear- Admiral Ed w ards . ■ 1782. — Vice-Admiral John Campbell. 1786. — Rear-Admiral Elliot. 1789. — Admiral Mark Milbanke. 'y " 1792. — Admiral King. ' : >, 1794. — Admiral Sir James Wallace. 1797. — Vice- Admiral Waldegrave. 1800. — Vice-Admiral Pole. 202 APPENDIX. Appointed. 1802. — Admiral Lord Gambler. 1804. — Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower. 1807. — Admiral HoUovvay. 1810. — Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Duckworth. 1813. — Vice-Admiral Sir Richard G. Keates. 1816. — Vice-Admiral Pickmore. 1818. — Captain Bowker (Administrator). 1818. — Admiral Sir Charles Hamilton. 1825. — Captain Sir Thomas Cochrane. 1834. — Captain Henry Prescott. 1841. — Major-General Sir John Harvey. 1846. — Lieutenant-Colonel Law (Administrator). 1847. — Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant. 1852. — Hon. James Crowdy (Administrator). 1852. — Ker Baillie Hamilton. 1857. — Hon. Lawrence O'Brien (Administrator). 1857. — Sir Alexander Bannerman. 1864. — Hon. Lawrence O'Brien (Administrator). 1864. — Anthony Musgrave. 1869. — Sii Stephen J. Hill, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1876. — Sir John Hawley Glover, K.C.M.G. 1880. — Sir Fred. B. T. Carter (Administrator). 1881. — Sir Henry Fitzhardinge B. M-ixse. 1883. — Hon. Edward Morris (Administrator). 1883. — Sir Fred. B. T. Carter (Administrator). 1884. — Sir John H. Glover, K.C.M.G. i-y; / {■fC:.: PRESS NOTICES. BY TH£ SAMS AUTHOR, Price Eighteen Suillinqs Sterling, NEWrOUNDLAl^D, THE OLDEST BRITISH COLONY. LONDON : CHAPMAN AND HALL, 1883. I American Edition, Revised and Enlarged. BOSTON: DOYLE & WHITTLE, 1883. 450 Pages. Price $2.50. MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Opinions of the Eng^lisli Press. {From the Fortnightly lievieio.) This work on Newfoundland is a difficult task, extremely well executed. Take it all in all it is an admirable account of tlie oldest English Colony, plainly written, pleasantly illustrated, and unique aa the best, as it is undoubtedly ihe most recent work on the country. (From the London Academy.) A section is devoted to the interesting history of Newfoundland, the oattlcs of the early settlers for their freedom, their patient loyalty under many provoca- tions to a contrary course, the attempt to make it a mere flsliintf station. But the section to which the reader will turn with most zest is that on the fisheries. In no other work is the Newfoundland staple trade treated so fully and so well ; and these chapters alone would give the volume a lasting value. The physical geography of the country is amply described. The ethnology Is excellent, and the meteorological remarks are useful. It is an admirable book, worthy of soon attaining the second edition, which will give the writer an opportunity of still further improving it. It is illustrated with some spirited wood-cuts. (From the Pall Mall Gazette.) An interesting and well- written work Mr. Harvey is eminently Qualified, by long residence and scientific attainments, for the collection of local etails and statistics ; and even those who are not personally interested in ihe future of the colony will find much to please and instruct them in his descrip- tions of the aborigines, the ec»3nery, the fisheries, and, above all, the gigantic cuttle-fish, which he was the first to rescue from the domain of romance and introduce into the domain of authentic natural history. i {From the London Graphic.) A volume vhich is not only very readable, but one to be set aside after read- ing as a staudaru work of reference on the resources of a somewhat neglected country. 2 PRESS NOTICES. w j m if !j|i M ■ 4' - {From the London Spectator.) If the general public will read this interesting book about that despised country it will clear up their hazy notions in a very Burprising and agreeable manner The descriptions are very clear and interenling, and the chapters on seai-fiishing are among the very best parts of the book With these short extracts we will take our leave of a most entertaining and useful book, which we hope will lind a great many readers both in England and in Newfoundland. {From the St. James's Gazette.) A complete and graphic account of the discovery, at the close of the fifteenth century, of what is now the oldest dependency of England; and its history and progress are traced through nearly four hundred years The Ncfwfoundlanders seem now to be fairly on the high road to that prosperity which was su long denied them, and which this interesting book shows that they merit. {From Land and Water.) The story of Newfoundland constitutes one of the most interesting chapters in the history of the New World. It is told so attractively and completely that we doubt if it will ever require retelling. It may be supplemented, but not superseded. {From the European Mail.) No more interesting work has ever come under our notice than this We may add that it is highly instructive, full of eloquent and graphic descrip- tion, and teeming with historical facts and useful statistical information hitherto beyond the reach of the general public. There is a handy and useful index, and some capital illustrations. {From the London Daily Telegraph.) This volume is composed in a very hopeful spirit as to the lUture of the colony, and is well calculated to interest its readers in a country which pos- sesses much natural beauty and great unexplored and undeveloped resources. {From the Scotsman.) The book is a piece of solid workmanship. It traces not only the history of the foundation and progress of the colony, but enters fully into the physical geography and topography of Newfoundland, its agricultural, mining, and fish- ing resources. • {From, the London Daily News.) The work leaves no part of the field unexplored, even the political and finan- cial affairs of the island being treated in some detail. Altogether, this is not only a work of interest to the general reader, but by far the most complete account of Newfoundland that has yet appeared. {From the London Standard.) The cod-fisheries of Newfoundland are almost worthy of a book to them- selves ; and when we add to them the seal-hunting, the salmon and caribou and ptarmigan, leading u? from trade to sport, and showing us the capabilities of this great island, we are led into soraetning like enthusiasm about the great and unknown estate long held by us The book is one to be recom- mended to all readers. , {From London Society.) ■■-■ We can heartily recommend this Iiandsome and exhaustive volume, recently published by Messrs. Chapman and Hall. , , , ^,,, ,. . {From Figaro.) The book has many merits whicii will commend it to the reading public. It is not only free from the cardinal vice of dulness, but is instructive and, in many respects, entertaining. PBESS NOTICES. (From the Literary World.) An exceedingly interesting and valuable book. It is illuntrated with photo- graplis and sketcheu made for tlie work, whicli give it great interest and value. iFrom the London Mining Journal.) An interesting and useful volume. {From the Birmingham, Daily Post.) A handsome volume of more than 500 pages, liberally and admirably illus- trated, — a remarkably readable work The chapter on the fisheries is one of the most valuable and original in the volume. Even more interesting is the seal fishery, of which so little has hitherto been known. These chapters alone will make this volume very welcome to all readers, as an original and brilliiuit description of the great fasheries of the world. (From, the Leeds Mercury.) The work is eminently readable, the style being easy and the selection of material judicious. It is rendered the more attractive by a series of illustra- tions. The work, indeed, leaves little to be desired. (From the Nottingham Guardian.) A very valuable contribution to the literature of our oldest colony. The work will, we liave no doubt, live long. It will be some lime before any other writers venture to tread in the footsteps of the present writer. 8 of and 5om- ntly Opinions of the American and Colonial Press. (From, the JHantic Monthly.) An interesting work by a painstaking student, who sets about a thorough representation of the country. (From the New York Herald.) The best account of Newfoundland ever printed. (From the New York Evening Post.) The book is indeed good and interesting, and well-written, but is without the smallest bit of imagination or fancy to mislead the reader. It is no Sir John Mandeville's tale of things seen golden-purplish and out of shape through an ill-fitted spy -glass. It has in it all the earnestne^ } of conviction and of faith in the holding of strong facts. The book does n ., make the strangeness of the story. The book only puts the case to the world of readers in a plain unvar- nished way, in good English, and with good sense, and proves it and makes it clear by ample testimony and figures. (From the Republic, Boston.) The historical part of the work has been not only well done, but is highly creditable for its broad, liberal, and comprehensive grasp of religious and political events, in which the temptations to become partisan have been admira- bly avoided. . . . As a book of reference, "Newfoundland" will be found simply invaluable. It is profusely aud capitally illustrated, elegantly printed, and neatly aud servlceably bound. (From the Wheelman.) It is, we must confess, one of the most fascinating histories we ever read. (From the Boston Transcript.) There is a fine unity in the work ; it reveals no awkward teams, and the whole ia absorbingly interesting. r r- li III li iffii Ml. ! J'l t i il. PRESS NOTICES. {From the Bosiort Saturday Evening Gazette.) T " the most important work hitherto published about Newfoundland. The nr ials have been gathered for the most part on the spot, and every publica- tion dealing with the subject has been carefully studiecT and utiUzed, togutlier with all public records and ot|;i6r documents. (From the Boston Pont.) It is the only thorough, comprehensive, and reliable work upon the great island that has ever been published. (From the Cincinnati Gazette.) It is a complete and very creditable work. {From the Boston Pilot.) The republication of the book in this country is timely, and we bespeak for it a hearty recognition. {From the Toronto Globe.) It is one of the most valuable additions to the literature of the British colonies which has ever appeared. The Rev. Mr. Harvey is a recognized authority on all matters connected with Newfoundland. He has resided there for more than a quarter of a century, and no man living is more intimately .vcquainted witii its history, resources, and possibilities. His letters to the •• Globe," some years ago, will be long remembered. They were a revelation to all classes in the com- munity. To most of us he was, in a very real sense, the discoverer of New- foundland. The book has already attained well-merited popularity. {From the Montreal Gazette.) The Rev. M. Harvey, having been for many years our Newfoundland corres- pondent, will require but few words of introduction from us. His letters to this journal have been admired and enjoyed by hundreds of readers, as well for the valuable information of which they were full, as for the clear and systematic manner In which the writer dealt with all objects that occupied his attention. We are simply stating the truth when we say, that there is no one living could be better fitted by ids wide and Intimate knowledge of the country, its people, and resources, as well as by judgment, taste, and ability as a writer, to con- tribute to a work of this kind than he Is. . . . The history is an exceed- ingly well-told story. The other sections of the work are of no less interest. No one who desires to know the truth about Newfoundland, Its capabilities and prospects should fail to secure a copy. {From the Quebec Morning Chronicle.) It is one of the most Instructive and Interesting books that the press of Eng- land has given us for a long time. ... It will do for Newfoundland what "Wallace's Russia" has done for that vast empire, and what "Dent's Last Forty Years" has done for Canada. Every chapter reveals a monument of labour on the part of the author. No pains have been spared, evidently, to secure accuracy in every detail. We can cordially commend this valuable book k } our readers. {From the Ilalifaz ifoming Chronicle.) The whole work Is as interesting as a novel, and all who wish to become con- versant with " Ye Antlent Colonye" of Newfoundland phould possess them- selves of a copy of this able and instructive work, of which the above is but an imperfect and meagre description. {From the Newfoundlander.) It is no disparagement of the labours of earlier authorities to say that. In point of general usefulness at the present day, they are quite surpassed by the volume now before as. . . . It comes out at a most opportune period; and all who seek to form just opinions of the pasi, present, and future of the colony should f)osscB8 a volume which Is not loss Inviting in Its external get-up, than in the Iterary impress stamped upon Us pages. ^^IlliJ, '-];•■ '^rVH^:'^^--r^t-