570 MISCELLANEOUS 



irresolution of the commander of our squadron; and in 1696, Eng- 

 land had the mortification to know that France took from us all our 

 settlements in Newfoundland, except Bonavista and Carbonier. 



The English, however, soon repossessed themselves of St. John's 

 and all the other places taken by France. But, at this period, that 

 nation began to evince a spirit of determination to become mistress 

 of all America; and the fisheries of Newfoundland, as appears fully 

 by the celebrated marine ordinance of Louis XIV., drawn up under 

 the great Colbert, were not the least objects of her ambition. 



In 1690, the statute 10 and 11 William and Mary, cap. 25, entitled, 

 "An Act to encourage the trade of Newfoundland," passed; but as 

 the substance of this act appears to embody the policy of former 

 times, it tended to no purpose other than to legalize misrule, and 

 the capricious will of ignorant men, invested accidentally by it with 

 authority. 



These persons were distinguished by the dignified titles, or rather 

 nicknames, of admirals, vice-admirals, and rear-admirals. The mas- 

 ter of the first fishing vessel that arrived, was the admiral ; the next, 

 vice-admiral; and the third, rear-admiral, in the harbours they fre- 

 quented. Few of these men could write their own names ; and from 

 this circumstance alone the absurdity of investing them with power 

 must be apparent. 



The report made in 1701 by Mr. George Larkin, who went to the 

 American settlements to make observations for the information of 



government, contains many remarks that deserve attention. He 

 Mind Newfoundland in a very disorderly and confused condition. 

 The woods were wantonly destroyed by rinding the trees. The New 

 England men (as is their custom now, in 1828, in many of our har- 

 bours) sold their commodities cheap, in general ; but constrained the 

 purchasers to take certain quantities of rum, which the inhabitants 

 sold to the fishermen, and which tempted them to remain on the 

 island, and leave their families in England, a burden upon the parish. 

 The inhabitants also sold rum to their servants, who got into debt, 

 and were forced to hire themselves in payment, so that one month's 

 profuse living often left them in bondage for a year." 



The fishermen from New England were accustomed to inveigle 

 away many of the seamen and servants, with promises of high wages; 

 but these men were generally disappointed, and in the end became 

 pirates. The inhabitants he represents as a profuse sort of people, 

 who cared not at what rate they got into debt; and that, as the act of 

 King William gave the planters a title, it was much to be regretted 

 that proper regulations were not made for their government, more 

 particularly as the island, from its having no civil power, was then 

 become a sanctuary for people who failed in England. 



Upon complaints being made to the commander on the station, it 

 had been customary for him to send his lieutenants to the different 

 harbours to decide disputes between masters of fishing vessels and the 

 planters, and between them again and their servants; but upon such 

 occasions, Mr. Larkins alleges those matters were conducted in the 

 most corrupt manner. He that made a present of most quintals of 

 fish, was certain to have a judgment in his favour. Even the com- 



8 This has been common in all the British American colonies and prevails 

 to this day. 



