BBITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHEB COBBESPONDENCE, ETC. 569 



In the course of about twenty years after Lord Baltimore planted 

 Ferryland, about three hundred and fifty families were settled in 

 fifteen or sixteen parts of the island ; and a more decided interest in 

 its affairs was taken than at any former period. This led, on the 

 part of the inhabitants, to apply for some civil magistrates, to de- 

 cide matters of dispute or disorder among them; but the measure 

 was strenuously opposed by the merchants and shipowners in Eng- 

 land concerned in the trade, who petitioned the Privy Council 

 against the appointment of any governor to manage the affairs of 

 Newfoundland, and the prayer of this petition was absurdly enough 

 granted. 



In 1674, however, farther application, by petition to the king, was 

 made for a governor; and the petition being referred to the Lords 

 of Trade and Plantations, their lordships proposed that all planta- 

 tions in Newfoundland should be discouraged, and that the com- 

 mander of the convoys should compel the inhabitants to depart from 

 the island, by putting in execution one of the conditions of the 

 western charter. His Majesty was induced to approve of this re- 

 port; and under its sanction, the most cruel and wanton acts were 

 committed on the inhabitants ; their houses were burnt, and a variety 

 of severe and arbitrary measures resorted to for the purpose of driv- 

 ing them from the country. 



The extent to which the cruelties committed on the inhabitants 

 had been carried, induced Sir John Berry, the commander of the 

 convoy, about this time to represent to government the policy of colo- 

 nizing Newfoundland. His advice, however, was not attended to. 



In 1676, on the representation of John Downing, a resident in- 

 habitant, his Majesty directed that none of the settlers should be 

 disturbed. But in the following year, in pursuance of an order in 

 council that had been made on the petition of the western adven- 

 turers, the Committee of Trade, &c., reported, that notwithstanding 

 a clause in the western charter, prohibiting the transport to New- 

 foundland of any persons but such as were of the ship's company, the 

 magistrates of the western ports did permit passengers and private 

 boat-keepers to transport themselves thither, to the injury of the 

 fishery; and they were of opinion that the abuse might hereafter 

 be prevented by those magistrates, the vice admirals, and also by the 

 officers of customs. 



A petition, on the part of the inhabitants of Newfoundland, soon 

 followed this representation; and in order to investigate the matter 

 fully, it was ordered that the adventurers and planters should each 

 be heard by their counsel. The question was thus seriously argued, 

 and afterwards referred, as formerly, to the Committee of Trade; 

 but no report seems to have been made on this occasion, and no steps 

 for regulating the settlement or fishery of Newfoundland were 

 adopted, until the Board of Trade, instituted in January 1697, took 

 up the subject, among others that came under their province. They 

 made a report, which, however, applied more to the defence of the 

 island, than to its civil regulations, and went no farther than to ex- 

 press an opinion, that a moderate number of planters, not exceeding 

 one thousand, were useful in the construction of boats, stages, and 

 other necessaries for the fisheries. The English, in 1692, made a 

 feeble attempt to take Placentia, then commanded by the Baron La 

 Hontan from France. This was unsuccessful, in consequence of the 



