13 



Yet, at Newfoundland, the privilege of fishing on a pnrt of the east- 

 ern coast from Cape Bon;ivista to the; northern point, and thence ;dong 

 the western shore as far as Point Richc, was granted to the subjects of 

 Louis. It is to be observed that Enghind reserved tlic exclusive use of 

 the fishing-grounds considered the best, and also the territorial juris- 

 diction ; that the French were not permitted to settle on the soil, or 

 erect any structures other than fishermen's huts and stages ; and that 

 the old and well-understood method of fishing was to be continued with- 

 out change. 



By one party this adjustment of a vexed question was deemed fa- 

 vorable to England and just to France. But another party insisted 

 that their rival, humbled by the terms of the peace in other respects, 

 should have been recjuired in this to submit to her own'doctrines and 

 to an unconditional exclusion from the American seas. The opponents 

 of the treaty did not view the case fairly. The cession of Acadia was 

 supposed to include the large island of Cape Breton ; and, this ad- 

 mitted, the French were to be confined to a region from which their 

 further, or at least considerable, interference with vessels wearing 

 the English Hag was hardly possible : while, with regard to that very 

 region, it should be recollected that, though England claimed New- 

 foundland by the discovery of Cabot and the possession of Gilbert, no 

 strenuous or long-continued opposition had been made, at any time, to 

 all nations fishing, or even forming settlements, there; and that France 

 was entitled to special consideration, inasmuch as her establishments 

 for conducting the fishery had been held without interruption for more 

 than half a century, and had been recognised at the peace of Ryswick. 

 Besides, she had captured several English posts in addition, and, in 

 fact, was in actual possession of a large part of the island and its val- 

 uable appendages. 



The party in opposition assailed the ministry in terms of bitter de- 

 nunciation. It was said that they "had been grossly imposed ujon," 

 that they "had directly given to France all she wanted," and that the 

 concessions were "universally and justly condemned." Such are some 

 of the words of reproach tliat appear in an official report. In the po- 

 litical ferocity of the time. Lord Oxford was impeached; and it is 

 among the charges against him that, "in defiance of an express act of 

 Parliament, as well as in contempt of the frequent and earnest repre- 

 sentations of the merchants of Great Britain and of the conmiissioners 

 of trade and plantations," he, Robert, Earl of Oxford, and Earl Morti- 

 mer,* had advised his sovereign that "the subjects of France should 

 have the liberty of fishing and tlrying fish in Newfoundland." 



* Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer, a distinguished minister of state in the 

 roiKii (if (/ufM'n Anne, was born in KHil. "After thf! peace of Utrecht, the tory statesmen, 

 ha\iiiK nil l<>i)t;er ajjprehensionfi of duiiijer from abroad, began to quarrel amoiif,' ibeniselves 

 and tlie two chiefs, Oxford and IJcdingliroke, especially, became personal and puliticjil foes.' 

 8oon alter the sucoeHsion of (uiorge 1, Oxford was impeached of high -treason by the Hous(i of 

 Coinmoiis, and was committed to the Tower. The Didte of Murlbonnigh was among hia 

 enemies. Holinghroke tied to the continent. Oxford was tried l)efoii' the House of Peers in 

 1717, and acipiilted of the f;iimes alleged against him. He was the friend of Pope, S\\i(t, 

 and oilier literary nn-n of the time. Hi; died in 17'J.l. His son Kdward, the second Karl of 

 Oxford, and Karl Mortinwr, was also a great ami liberal patron of literature and learned men, 

 and completed the valuable collection of manuscripts which ho commenced, and which is now 

 LQ the iJrilibh Museum. 



