From A. D. 1728, to Stat. 15 Geo. 3. PART III. the fish, and oil for their wages; and, to fecure the execution of this act, penalties were annexed to the various provifions, and a jurisdiction given to the court of feffion, and vice-admiralty to enforce thofe penalties. PART PART IV. Import of live Stock,&c.-Reprefentation on a Bill brought in by the Western MerchantsThree Acts paffed-Complaints about Courts -Review of the Courts at Newfoundland -Fishing Admirals-Surrogates-The Governor holds a Court-Courts of ViceAdmiralty and Seffions-The Governors ceafe to hold Courts-Court of Common Pleas inftituted-Complaints against itReprefentation-And At paffed for a Court of Civil Jurifdiction. D From Stat. 15, D. 1793. URING the last five or fix years that PART IV. the board of trade continued in exiftence, there appears nothing of import- Geo. 3, to A. ance upon the books refpecting this trade and fishery. That board was abolished in 1782. It was not till June 1784, that a committee of council was appointed by his majefty for matters of trade and plantations. PART IV. From Stat. 15, D. 1793. In this interval, the war had determined, and the independence of the United Gen. 3, to A. States of America had produced, a new pofition of affairs in that part of the world, by which Newfoundland was affected, as well as the other parts of his majesty's territories in America. One of the first queftions that was occafioned by this revolution was, the supply of provifions for Import of live Newoundland and the fishery. These had Stock, &c. before the war, come in a great measure from the Colonies that were now feparated; and before the new fituation of things was quite understood, this fupply, it was thought, might still be occafionally permit ted, and, in a case of distress, had actually been reforted to. The western merchants took alarm at the appearance of an intercourfe being allowed between the United States and their fishery; they presented memorials to have a ftop put to it; they alledged the place might be supplied from Great Britain or Canada. The allegations on both fides, of thofe who argued for a supply, under certain limitations, from the United States, and of those who were wholly against this intercourse, led to long examination of witneffes, and various confiderations of policy, before the lords of the Geo. 3, to A, the committee *. This ended in the com- PART IV. mittee refolving, in January 1785, to re- From Stat. 15, commend to his majefty, that a permiffion 33. should be given to import bread, flour, and live stock, in British bottoms, which ships should clear out from the king's dominions in Europe, with a licence from the commiffioners of the cuftoms, which should be in force for feven months. As this licence was to be for feven months, and the temporary act for regulating the intercourse with the United States would expire in less time, it was fuggefted by the attorney and folicitor general, whether it might not be better to pass a special act for this purpose. The committee accordingly recommended to his majesty, that a bill to that effect fhould be proposed in parliament, but that it fhould be in force for that feafon only. Such an act was accordingly paffed; namely, ftat. 26 Geo. 3. c.1. The fame queftion was revived the following year; when it was confidered whether the act should be renewed. Examinations in like manner were had; in which the merchants declared, they were of the fame opinion as they had been last * 1785, January 14, 17, 20, 24, 28. +1785, January 29, 31. 1785, Feb. 5th. year; PART IV. year; but that they had rather the bill of laft year fhould be renewed, than the trade From Stat. 15, Geo. 3, to A. between Newfoundland and the United States fhould be laid intirely open*. The committee came to the refolution, that the act should be renewed. D. 1793 In the mean time, the encouragement of the fishery had come under the confideration of the committee-A bill had been brought into the house of commons at the inftance of the western merchants; in this bill it was intended to make several alterations in the law of Newfoundland; the principal points of which were, to give the prefent poffeffors a permanent intereft in their lands, and to repeal fome material regulations of ftat. 15 Geo. 3. which the merchants had always disliked. On 9th December 1785, his majefty was pleased to refer the matter of this bill to the committee for them to confider it, and to report their opinion thereon. This bill was read at the board on the 14th of January 1786, and every provifion of it was feparately difcuffed. The fubject of * * 1785, Dec. 7, 9, 12, 13-1786, Jan. 10. 11. the |