16 ni.STOKICAL SKETCH. 



than once they were si)ee(lily driven out and their expeditions 

 resulted in diffajipoiiitnieiit. 



TREATIES OF UTRECHT ANI> PARIS. 



Tlie Treaty of Utrecht (1713) marked an important era in the 

 liistory of the island. By one of its provisions the French agreed 

 to surrender all their possessions in Newfoundland and the ad- 

 jacant islands, and to retire from Placentia. Thus the sovereignty 

 of the whole island Avas secured to England. But even after 

 France liad fought her last battle on the heights of Abraham, and 

 her white flag no longer waved on the continent of North Am- 

 erica, she clung jiertinaciously to the idea of conquering and 

 holding Newfoundland, well knowing its value in the prosecution 

 of her fisheries, which she still i-egarded as the great training 

 school for seamen. So late as 1702 they organized a final expedi- 

 tion for the conquest of the island. They succeeded in capturing 

 8t. John's which was weakly garrisoned ; but it was soon wrested 

 from them by a strong British force desi)atched from Halifax. 

 Thus ended the last attempt of the Frencli to gain jiossession of 

 the island. The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended "the seven years 

 war," and France I'enounced all claims to Canada, Acadia, Cape 

 Breton and Newfoundland. 



TRENCH TREATY RIGHTS. 



Unfortunately, however, these treaties failed to deliver the 

 Colony from the French troul>les which had so long disturbed the 

 settlers and retarded the prosperity of the country. Though the 

 Treaty of Utrecht left the Fi'ench no territorial rights, it gave 

 them tlie right of fishing and curing fish on the western, northern 

 and north-eastern shores of the island. This, which was con- 

 ceded at first as a privilege, encouraged tlio Fi-ench to push their 

 claims to the sole right of fishing on the treaty-shore which the 

 colonists strenuously rejmdiated. Bitter disputes have thus been 

 engendered, which have gone on till the ])resent hour and ai-e 

 still unsettled. The practical effect of this unfortunate concession 

 has been that the people of Newfoundland have been A'irtually 

 exclude(l from the fairest ami most vaUuible i)ortiou of tlie 



