32 
rary, some of them for the purposes of shelter, others for the 
purpose of trying their luck on the adjoining fishing grounds, — 
which, it is to be understood, are not in the harbours, but outside — 
of them. There are already a few French fishermen in these - 
harbours, fishing on the adjoining grounds. A conflict might 
no doubt arise between the French and English fishermen upon 
the old question of exclusive or concurrent rights of fishing. But — 
this dispute could only arise out of actual or attempted operations © 
on the fishing grounds. While the English vessels are in the ~ 
harbours, no question as to “interruption” or interference could 
possibly arise. But it has been the practice for many years past for — 
the French naval officers to enter the harbours in question, and to 
compel by force, or threats of force, every British vessel in the 
port, whether intending to fish in the adjoining “grounds” or not, 
to take up their anchors and forthwith leave the port! To 
describe the French officer as taking upon himself the combined — 
functions of judge, jury, and sheriff would convey the idea of — 
a travesty or burlesque upon the forms of justice; but in this — 
case, the defiance of every principle of law and justice is so 
flagrant that it does not even admit of the association of the idea 
of the form or semblance of a legal or judicial proceeding. The 
right of the Newfoundland fishing vessels to occupy those har- — 
bours in the manner described is as clear, as undoubted, and as — 
unqualified as those of the French war-ship; they have never even 
been formally or seriously questioned. The conduct of the French 
officer in these cases is utterly without the: shadow of a pretext of 
warrant or justification. But, so far as we know, against these 
acts, which are of constant and frequent recurrence, there has 
been no protest or objection on the part of the British officers 
who are charged with the “ protection” of the rights of British — 
subjects under these treaties, and redress for these wrongs has — 
been impossible. 
STILL ANOTHER CLASS OF WRONGS. 
The next large and important class of cases of wrong and 
hardship to the colonists are those in which the British officer — 
is actively concerned, and in which redress for wrongs done 
to the British subject is out of the question. Our object — 
here is, as we have already stated, not to make the British © 
officer either personally or officially the subject of attack or — 
