ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 289 



\vhich, it is faid, coming to the knowledge of the 

 American commifTioners> they immediately, and 

 without the knowledge of the French minifters, and 

 contraiy to orders from congrefs, fuddenly figned 

 the provifkmal articles with our negotiator, who (ig- 

 norant of the above circumftance, although -known 

 to many at Paris) had explained that he was ready to 

 fign on any terms, and readily gave up the New- 

 foundland fifhery. ''' 



This fifhery, thus fecured to America, by a fuddcn 

 manoeuvre of her able negotiators, will, it is hoped, 

 contribute to keepthofe dates quiet in time coming; 

 for, it is not to be fuppofed that Great Britain, Ire- 

 land, Nova Scotia, and Canada, will agree in any 

 future treaty, to the participation of this valuable 

 branch, by any power whatever, France only cx- 

 cepted. 



Ireland, though prohibited from thofe fifheries, 

 carried on a clandefline trade, by connivance of the 

 commodores on the Newfoundland ilacion, who re- 

 turned the Irifh veffels as Englifh; and under this 

 precarious indulgence, their fifhery laboured till the 

 year 1774, when goYernment liftened to the prefling 

 intreaties of certain friends of Ireland, and abolifhed 

 all diftincYions between Britim and Irifh fhipping ; 

 fince which period, the Irifh Newfoundland fifhery, 

 aided vigoroufly by parliament, hath been carried to 

 a confiderable height, and is annually increafing. 



The particulars of this diftant fiihcry are fully 

 ftated by Lord Sheffield, Mr. Chalmers, and the 

 Abbe Raynal ; but however flattering it may appear 

 in a commercial view, the fifheries around our own 

 ifland have a preferable claim to public attention, 

 and parliamentary fupport. From the former, our 

 navy receives a precarious, and at beft, a (lender 

 fupply of feamen 5 from the latter it is manned with 

 a race of veterans, invincible in war, and whofe ap- 

 proach in the day of battle, flrikes the boldcft enemy 

 TV i th fear and trembling. 



T The 



