HISTORY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND. WITH AN APPENDIX; CONTAINING THE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT MADE RESPECTING THE TRADE AND FISHERY. BY JOHN REEVES, Esq. CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE ISLAND. LONDON : PRINTED FOR J. SEWELL, CORNHILL; J. DEBRETT, PICCADILLY; AND J. DOWNES, No. 240, STRAND. 1793. I give the Profits of this Book for the Relief of the suffering Clergy of France, Refugees in the British Dominions; and I beg of Mr. Sewell to undertake the Trouble of managing the Publication to t

After my return from Newfoundland, in the year 1791, I was curious to look back into what had been done, in former times, on the subject upon which I had myself been just employed. I accordingly looked over the Newfoundland Entries , and the Newfoundland Bundles among the books which belonged to the late board of trade; and I then pursued the subject through the Registers of the present committee of council for trade and plantations. I was very much struck with the matter and reflections furnish

I intend to give a short history of the Government and Constitution of the island of Newfoundland . This will comprise the struggles and vicissitudes of two contending interests.—The planters and inhabitants on the one hand, who, being settled there, needed the protection of a government and police, with the administration of justice: and the adventurers and merchants on the other; who, originally carrying on the fishery from this country, and visiting that island only for the season, needed no

Different Charters granted—Rules and Regulations of the Star Chamber—Of appointing a Governor—Additional Rules—Report against a Governor—Sir John Berry’s Advice—Bye Boat-keepers, what?—Question of a Colony argued—Stat. 10 & 11. Will. 3. c. 25. Newfoundland, like other new discovered lands in America, was endeavoured to be settled, and improved by means of charters granted from the crown; it being hoped that individuals would, in this manner, be tempted to pursue the public advantage, thr

Mr. Larkin’s Observations—Character of the fishing Admirals—Character of the Commanders—Want of Police—Opinion of the Board 1706—Representation 1708—For Sea Commanders to command at Land—Such Commission issues—Laws and Orders made at Newfoundland—Representation 1718—Claim of the Guipuscoans to fish—Of the Lands ceded by the French—A Salmon Fishery granted—Opinion on the 7th Sec. of Stat. 10 and 11 Will. 3.—Representation 1728—Recommends a civil Government—A civil Governor is appointed—Disorders

Justices appointed—Opinion on raising Money by the Justices—Contest between the Justices and fishing Admirals—Opinion on the Authority of the Admirals—A Court of Oyer and Terminer proposed.—Such Commission issued—Lord Baltimore revives his Claim—The Peace of 1763—Remarks of the Board on Stat. 10 & 11 Will. 3.—Newfoundland a Plantation—Custom-house established—Property in Flakes, &c. discussed—Stat. 15, Geo. 3, c. 31. Some hope might reasonably be entertained, that the establishme

Import of live Stock, &c. —Representation on a Bill brought in by the Western Merchants—Three Acts passed—Complaints about Courts—Review of the Courts at Newfoundland—Fishing Admirals—Surrogates—The Governor holds a Court—Courts of Vice-Admiralty and Sessions—The Governors cease to hold Courts—Court of Common Pleas instituted—Complaints against it—Representation—An Act passed for a Court of Civil Jurisdiction. During the last five or six years that the board of trade continued in existen

An act to encourage the Trade to Newfoundland . Whereas the trade of and fishing at Newfoundland is a beneficial trade to this kingdom, not only in the imploying great numbers of seamen and ships, and exporting and consuming great quantities of provisions and manufactures of this realm, whereby many tradesmen and poor artificers are kept at work, but also in bringing into this nation, by returns of the effects of the said fishery from other countries, great quantities of wine, oil, plate, iron,

An act for the encouragement of the Fisheries carried on from Great Britain , Ireland , and the British Dominions in Europe , and for securing the return of the fishermen, sailors, and others employed in the said fisheries, to the ports thereof, at the end of the fishing season. Whereas the fisheries carried on by his Majesty’s subjects of Great Britain , and of the British dominions in Europe have been found to be the best nurseries for able and experienced seamen, always ready to man the royal

An act to amend and render more effectual the several laws now in force for encouraging the fisheries carried on at Newfoundland , and parts adjacent, from Great Britain , Ireland , and the British dominions in Europe ; and for granting bounties, for a limited time, on certain terms and conditions. Whereas the bounties granted to a certain number of vessels employed in the British fishery on the banks of Newfoundland , by an act passed in the fifteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty, i

An act to enable his Majesty to make such regulations as may be necessary to prevent the inconvenience which might arise from the competition of his Majesty’s subjects and those of the most Christian King, in carrying on the fishery on the coasts of the island of Newfoundland . Whereas, by the thirteenth article of the treaty concluded at Utrecht on the fourth day of April , new stile, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirteen, between her late Majesty Queen Anne and the mo

An act for further encouraging and regulating the Newfoundland , Greenland , and southern whale fisheries. Whereas, as well by immemorial usage as by the provisions of former laws, the right and privilege of drying fish on the island of Newfoundland do not belong to any of his Majesty’s subjects arriving there, except from Great Britain , or one of his Majesty’s dominions in Europe ; for preventing frauds, and thereby better securing to his Majesty’s said subjects of Great Britain , and of the o

An act for establishing a court of civil jurisdiction in the island of Newfoundland , for a limited time. Whereas, by an act, passed in the fifteenth year of his present Majesty’s reign, intituled, An act for the encouragement of the fisheries carried on from Great Britain , Ireland , and the British dominions in Europe , and for securing the return of the fishermen, sailors, and others employed in the said fisheries, to the ports thereof, at the end of the fishing season , it was, amongst other

An act for establishing courts of judicature in the island of Newfoundland , and the islands adjacent. For the better administration of justice in the island of Newfoundland , and the islands adjacent; be it enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, by his commission under the great seal,