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'*» .';

CONSIDERATIONS

O N T H E

'^ - i:

Importa:^ce of CANADA,

.« 1 s*

AND THE

'», i v--_J.

BAYan4RivERofSt.LAWRENCE, &c.

■~i*-0 i>'*

'»TW»^

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Price Six-pence, J

CONSIDERATIONS

ON THE

Importance of CANADA,

AND THE

Bay and River of St. LAWRENCE;

And of

The American Fi(hcries dependant on the
Iflands of Cape Breton, St. John's, New-
FOUNDLAND, and the Seas adjacent.

ADDRESSED TO

The Right Hon. WILLIAM PITT.

LONDON,

Printed for W. Owen, near Temple- Bar, 1759.

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T O T H E

I^iGHT Honourable

WILLIAM PITT,

Sir,

AS the prefent juft and ne-
ceflary War, was com-
, menced for fecuring our
Settlements in North Jmerica,
from the Incroachments of an am-
bitious Neighbour ; and as under
your Aufpices, it has been ftea-
dily conducted with that View;
■ Ti.'^ ^ -H ■ and

I

1 3

)'

Of

t i

E o ]

and Providence has at length
crown'd the Valour of our gallant
Countrymen with Succefs ; I do
my felf the Honour to prefent
you with the following Pages, in
which the Worth of their Con-
queft is endeavoured to be fhewn.

If the Value of thefe places,
had been at all underftood, they
would have been more attended
to, in making the feveral Trea-
ties of Ryjwickj Utrecht^ and
jiix-la-Chapelle ; and in Confe-
quence of its not being attended
to, we have been plunged into
frefh wars, with endlefs Expence ;
which till they are attended to,
will be always the Cafe ; and
therefore as a good Citizen, I

thought

C o ]

thought it my Duty, to do all
in my Power, to enforce fo necef-
fary an Attention.

The Confidence your Country
fo juftly repofes, on your great
Capacity in the Management of
Public Affairs; your known In-
tegrity, in the Conduct of them ;
and your unlhaken Adherence, to
the true Interefts of Great Bri-
tain; give Propriety to this Ad-
drefs: And leave no Room, to
doubt, that what has been hither-
to wanting in every Treaty of
Peace, will by your Care be fup-
plied in the next; which muft e-
qually endear you, to every in-
it Perfon of this

tellige
fecure

your

trnisiige; ana
Fame to lateft Po-

fterity,

I •■;

[ o }

fterity^, who will, in this Refpe(Sl:,
reap continually the Fruits of
your wife and firm Adminiitra-

tion.

I am.

' s

"With profound Refpe6l, Sec.

Lendeit, OMer, 17, 17 59'

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CONSIDERATIONS

On the Importance of

Canada, and the Bay and River of
St. Lawrence; and of the Ameri--
CAN Fifheries, dependant on the
Iflands of Cape Breton, Sc.
John's, Newfoundland, and the
Seas adjacent.

HE Naval Power of Frt?nce
had its Rife, and ftill receives
its main Support, from our
Fifheries in North Jmerica.
Till the French were admitted
into it, they did not dare to
build a Ship of War without our leave : but
fince they have been introduced into it, they
have become fo very formidable, as to have
contended, fingly, againft the two great ma-
ritime Powers of Europe united.

B Every

[ 2 3

Every fhip of France y in this Trade, is
obliged to carry a certain Number of Landmen
and Boys to train up. About the Year 1700,
it was computed, and allowed on all Hands,
that ihere were, on this Fifhery, 800 Sail of
Englifi and French Ships; and it is pretty cer-
tain, that our Share of them was not 300: It
may be even qutflioned, whether we did not
fall fhort of 250.

The French have a Nurfery of 50, 000 Sea-
men, founded upon this Trade ; from whom
are fpru ng as many Thoufands more, who
fupply the reft of their Navigation. There are
not above 80, 000 belonging to England, We,
indeed, have a much larger Navy; but when
that is fully employed, the reft of our Navi-
gation muft be greatly diftrefled ; and we are
obliged, in War time, to employ Foreigners
to carry on our Trade ; who, being paid high
Wages, carry off" Abundance of our Wealth;
and all by our own Folly. But it is ftill more
furprifing, that we ftinuld have continued fo
long indolent; and have permitted fo dange-
rous a Neighbour to grow wealthy and formi-
dable, without our fo much as endeavouring
to deprive him of thofe immenfc Treafures of
the 6eas, which we have an original and un-
douofed Right to enjoy unrival'd

We have nothing left, which we can call
a Fiftiery, except that we arc now fpeak-

ing

•1

""■JhylH

rade, is
-andmen
ir 1700,

Hands,
0 Sail of
etty cer-
300: It

did not

DOG Sea-
n whom
re, who
here are
k We,
It when
ir Navi-
I we are
jreigners
aid high
^eahh;
ill more
nucd Co
dange-
1 formi-
vouring
ifures of
and un-

:an call
/peak-
ing

,!
,

3

[ 3 ]

ing of; tho* it does not employ 4000 of our
Seamen. Our Right to Canada and Newjound-
landy was the Foundation of Sir Huvendon
JValker's Expedition in 171 1, the Mifcarriage
of which was fo greatly lamented j it being
then well underflood, that the fecurinn: ihe en-
tire American Fifhery, wou'd be of greater
Confequence to the Britijh Empire, th:in the
Mines of the Wefl Indies are to the S>pania"ds,
That from this Fifhery only, the French have
raifed that Naval Strength, the reducing of
which has coft us fo much Blood and Trea-
fure; all armed, againft us, with Men raifed in
our Nurferies. The difpofleHing the French of
this Fifhery, mull therefore prove the moil
fatal Blow they ever felt ; fince, from that
Moment, their Navies muft wither away, like
a Tree cut off at the Root.

The taking of Canada ; befides employing
near 40 Sail of Ships in the * Fur^ and oihcr

B 2 Tradesj

* For one Indian we trade with in Hu^on\ Bay (not
exceeding three or 4000 in Number,) the French probably
trade with one Hundred in Canada ^z\\^\\\^ Countries ad-
jacent ; who confequently bring them a proportionable
Quantity of Fun^ beyond what the Hudfon's Bay Indians
furnifh our Settlements with, poiTcfs'd by the Company.
The Hat Manufa*Sture, therefore, in France (as at Lyons
principally, and other places,) amounts to an immerife
Value yearly j with which the French fupply Italy^ Spain^
Portugal, &c. with the vaft Colonies of New Spain and
the Brazils, poffeffed by thefe two laft Nations ; all whuh
is well known to our wholefale Hatters here. From Ca^
nadoi they likewifc carry on a very confiderable contra-
band

[ 4 ]

Trades ; fupplying the Natives of that vaft ck^
tended Country with Woollen and other Bri-
tijJo Manufa<^urcs ; and depriving the French
of the abundant Store of excellent * Timber
which that Country affords for Ship Building jj
would effedually fecure to us the American
Fifheries ; as alfo the Britijli Empire in the
Continent of America j which can never be
iafe, whilft Canada is in the Hands of France.
As a Confirmation of this, it may not be im-
proper to quote Part of the Romantic Grant
which the French King made in 17 12, to
Monfr. Crozat^ of a Country much larger than
all Europe ; and to which he has not the leaft
Shadow of Right, or Title.

** We, by thefe Prefents, fign'd by cur
** Hand, have appointed, and do appoint the
y faid Sieur Crozat^ folely to carry on a Trade

bnnd Trade, in all S >rts of European Commodities to
Mexico^ with which they have a Communication by
Means ot the Lakes and the river Mijjijfipi\ which yield
them, in return, Gold and great Quantities of Silver :
the vaft Advant;i!j;es whereof wou'd be foon found by his
Majelly's Subjedts, fhould We be fo happy as to remain
in quiet PolTellion of this Country ; and enjoy the free
Navigation of the Rivers of St. Laurence and Adijfijfipi*
They alfo carry on a confiderable Whale Fifliery, in two
Bays, on the Labrador Coaft, which is comprehended
within the Charter of the HudforC% Bay Company.

* Being la{t War, in the King's Yard at Plymouth^ and
viewing feme Prize Timber from ^tehec {'purchas'd for
his Majefty's \j{q) the Officers declared, that our Kmg had
no fuch Timber in any of his Yards. And the Scarcity of
good I'iinber in England^ at this Time, is but too well
knuwn.

ler Bri-
French
Timber
jildingi
mericun
: in the
lever be
France,
be im-
: Grant
712, to
;er than
he ieaft

by cur
)int the
. Trade

litie.s to
at ion by
ich yield
' Silver :
r»d by his
) remain
the free
'ifTtfHpi*

, 111 two
chended

y-

nth^ and
las'd for
Cinghad
arcity of
;oo well

i

(<

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f<

ia

[ 5 ]

** in all the La s poflefs'd by Us, and bbund-
ed by New Alexico^ and by the Lands of
the Englijh of Carolina ; all the Eftablifh-
" ments, Ports, Havens, and Rivers ; and
** principally the Port and Haven of the JJle
" Dauphine^ heretofore called Maffacre ; the
*' River of St. Lewis, heretofore called Mif-
^^Jiffipi^ from the Edge of the Sea as far as
** the llinois 5 together with the River of St.
*' Philipy heretofore called Ovebache s with all
** the Countries, Territories, Lakes within
<* Land; and the Rivers which fall dircdtly or
" indiredly into that Part of the River St.
" Lewis,**

The Extent ©f this Country, from North to
South, is 2400 Miles ; and from Weft, Weft-
ward about 3500 Miles, filled with nume-
rous Nations oi Indians: it contains the whole
North Coaft of the Gulf oi Florida or Mexico-^
into which, from this Country, run abov<?
twelve hirge Rivers, particularly the famous
River MiJJiffipiy many of whofe Branches al-
moft join Three of the Five great Lakes that
fall into the River St. Lawrence^ which River
lies South Weft, and North Eaft, on the Back of
all our Colonies, on the Continent oi America,
On it's Banks, and on thefe Lakes, the
French have built feveral Fortifications \ the
deftrudlive Confequences of which, to our Co*
lonies, we have feen, and felt, but too feve-
rely. The French, united with thefe nu-
pi^rous Nations, (whom they convert to their
-, . ; fupei-.

[ 6 J

fiiperftitious Religion) intermarry with, and
bring up in an utter Deteftation of the Englijh\
would, in Time,, have driven our People, on
the Frontiers, into the Sea j had not a moft
aufpicious Attention, forthe Britijk Pofleffions
in America, very providentially prevailed, at
this Jundture, in his Majefty's Councils.

To that Part of the Continent, called by us
JSfova Scotia^ and by the French Acadia ; be-
longs the Ifland of C?/^ Braton, of a large Ex-
tent, and not two Leagues from the Shore.
Each Side of the Channel 5 form'd by this If-
land *; abounds with a great Number of good
Harbours, ftrongly fortified by Nature j fome
of which the induftrious French have render-
ed more fo, by Art. There arealfo many Banks
dependant upon this Coaft, abounding with as^
great Quantities of Cod, as any Part of New^
joundland. Here, and at the Ille of Sables^
the French '\ formerly obliged the Briti/h Sub-

* All the Coaft, of the Iflatids of Cape Breton and St.
Jolm\, abounds with Cod Fifh ; as does alfo the Bay of
Funa'y^ Gafl>ie Bay at the Mouth of the River St. LaW'
rence ; and llkewife the Straits of BelliJIey between New-
fcundland and Labrador^ at which laft Place the French
have carried on this Fifliery ; (even during the prcfent
War;) clofe to our Shorej in Baiks only, and cured their
Fifli on the Land ; which, two or thren fmaU Forts built
there, would entirely have prevented, and fecur'd to Us.
* We carry on this Fifliery to much greater difadvan*
tfJg?, by employinglarge Veflcls and going 30 Leagues to
catch our Fifli.

f Tn i6gQ the French collcilcd this Tax often Shillings
per Head. -

jeds

ith, and

3plc, on
a rnoft
fleffions
lird, at

5.

^d by us
/^5 be-
rge Ex-
Shore,
this If.
of good
J lome
render-
y Banks
with a&^
)f New^
Sables^
l(h Sub-

)» and St.
he Bay of

St. £a«;-
een A>w-
le French
le prcfent

ured their
"orts built

*d to Us.

d i fad van-
leagues to

1 Shillings

jefts

( X )

Jeds to pay ten Shillings /^r Head, for catch-
ing their own Fifh j which they collected by
Ships of Force, fent from ^ebec for that Pur-
pofe. The New Eng landers, and the Inhabi-
tants of the adjacent Colonies, always looked
upon thefe Places, as {o far belonging to the
Crown of Great-Britain-, that they ufed to
fetch their * Coals from the Ifle of Cape Bre^
ton, even in Time of War, unlefs inte; ruptcd
by Privateers, .

The French, if difpoflefs'd of this Fifhery,
would be obliged to take their Mud Fifh, of
Cod falted wet in Bulk, from us ; except his
mod Chriflian Majelty fhould think proper
to prohibit it, at the risk of ftarving his own
Subjedts. The Produce of this Sort of Fifli
would, in fuch Cafe, pay amply for all our
fupcrfluous Imports from France; where there
is yearly confumcd, of this Kind of Fifli, to
the amount of fome hundred thoufand Pounds
Sterling.

The great Advantage of this Fifhery, and
the Danger to be apprehended, fhould the
French continue in PolTefBon of itj toge-

* In 1758, after we had taken Louljbaiirg^ we fcnt
thither, from England, 3000 Tons of Coals for the Ufe
of that Garrifon; although it was very well known here
at that Time (and even in the laft War) that they might
have been fupplied with Coals, from the Spot, for lefs
than ten Shillings a Ton : a Miflake which, it is not
doubted, will be redify'd for the future.

ther

\

I

t 8 1

ther with their other Ufurpations iti }^orth
America^ would not have been fo much ex-
patiated upon here ; did not a fair Opportunity
now offer, for us to fecurc to ourfelves this
Vaft Support of our Naval Power, and of oui^
American Empire.

In 1 583, Queen Elizabeth fent the firft Go-
vernor, Sit Humphrey Gilbert to Newfoundland i,
In the Reign of King James the firft, this
iilhing Trade was in a flourishing Condition,
and entirely enjoyed by the Englijh unrival'di
It continued the fame in the Reign of Charles
the firft J as appears by Letters Patent, bea-
ring date the loih. oi February 1633, in the
ninth Year of his Reign, reciting, tv;

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" That the Region and Country called Neis)-
*^ foundlandy had been acquired to the domi-
nions of his Progenitors, which he held ^ and
his People had for many Years reforted to
" thofe Parts J where, and on the Coaftad-
•* joining, they employed themfelves in Fifli-
ing; whereby a great Number of his Peo-
ple had been fet at Work, and Navigation
*-* and Mariners much increafed, 6cc/' And
his Majefty then ordained feme Laws, for the
better Government of the Fifhing, Ships, and
Inhabitants, &c.

In 1638, the Fr^wrZ? obtained Liberty , from
King Charles the firft, to filh there, and in ac-

knowlcdg-

uch cx-

>ortunity
fves this

d of GUI'

firft Qo'
undlandi
rfl, thi^
►ndition,
nrivardi

Charles
It, bea-

in the

id Neis)-
3 domi-
Id; and
>rted to
3afl: ad-
n Fini-
is Peo-
igatiort
" And
for the
ps, and

, from
in ac-

tvlcdg-

[93

knowlcdgment of our Right, Werie to pay a
Tribute of hvtper Centy and his Mojefty fcnt
a Governor thither to collect it. At that Time,
the French had very few Ships. But they grew
weary in a few Years of paying this Tribute ;
upon which they went to the South Side of
the Ifland, built two Forts, and curried on this
Fiftiery to the Wcftward of Cape Race, In
1 670, they took in two Bays more, viz, Pla*
centia and Pajfara ; and thereby augmented
their fiihing to ten times what it was before.
And fo rapid was the Incrcafe of their Naviga-
tion, by this Fifliery, that they, in a few Years
after, had raifed a Naval Power able tc cour
tend, (ingly, with the united Fleets oi England

and Holland, But we have now juft Reafon

to hope, from the well known Wifdom of
thofc who at prefent are the Guardians of our
Colonies} that the Confequencesofrhe French
enjoying io great a Share in this Firtiery, is as
well underftood at this critical Jundurc, as it
Was in the Year 1639; when the Merchants
in Order to guard againft fo growing an Evil,
delivered the following Rcmonftrance to th<5
Government.

5 ** We had many Fjiglifrj Ships, and many
•* thoufands of Seam^^n tliat had their conltant
*' Employment for Newfoundland \ and b^^ing
" loaden with Fi(h, the mofl of them failed
" from thence for feveral Ports of Spain, and
** its Territories ; as from 50 to 60 to Bil'yofi^

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a!id St. Seicifiian'Sj 40 to Cadiz and St. Lu"
car, 20 to Malaga and FeLz^ and from 20
to 30 for Valencia, AH cant , and Cartagena ;
bcfides others that went to the Groyne, and
other Sea Port Towns in Spain ; the moft
of the Remainder went for Majorca and A//-
ncrca, Sicilia, Sardinia^ Naples ; and fpent
in the Dukedom of Milan, and in vicflualling
their Galleons, Galleys, &c. Hereby (well
conlidered) we had great Advantage^ for that,
clearlyj there were added to the Stock of the
Nation, at lead JT ^ooyooo per Annum; and
fo much got out of the Sea, by the Labour
and Induflry of our People, and the Ship-
ing maintained. And it was alfo a Nurfery
for Seamen, ifreeding more than all other
l^rades whaffoe'uer. They carry out not fo
much Beef and Bread as they would have
eaten in England, the moft of their Food
being Fi(h : And if they had not been thus
employed, p:;rchance they might have lived
idle at home j and fo have been unprofi-
tuble Members of the Commonwealth, and
to have their Subliilance from other induf-
trious Pcrfons.

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" Whilft we affifted the French, they have
** in a Manner got this whole Trade. This
*' Year they had above 250 Ships at 'New-
*^ Joundland', and have obtained free Permif-
^* fionj from the King of Spain, to enter into
** the Forts of Bilboai St. Sehafiian\ and Faf-

«* fague^

[ " J

*' fiS^^i with their Fifh and Men ; where
** they do not only furnifli the Men of
" War that take us, but the Fifli is carried
*' from 3 to 400 Miles up into the Country
«* of Spain.

«

St. yohn de Luz^ had not formerly above
eight bhips, and this Year they have near .
fifty Sail J a good Part of which were £«-
g/i/b Prizes, and without doubt htcovertly
** the Spaniards have a great Intereft in them;
and it will be a hard Matter now to get this ,
Trade again /ram the French,'*

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The Authors of this Remonftrance, plainly
forefaw the bad Confequences which would
enfue, (hould the French continue thisFifhery. ,
Nevertheltfs King Charles the fecond, in 1 675, .
(the 27th Year of his Reign) did not only con-
firm the French therein, but even remitted,
them the Tribute of 5 per Cent, They alfo,
obtained, from King yames the fecond, a Con-
firmation of the aforefaid Grants. The'r ob-^
taining a Confirmation of thefe Grants, from 3.,
fucceeding Kings of England, (hews, that they,
themfelves were well acquainted with the..
Weaknefs ef their own Title. Bat in King^
^V7/tf/«'sDeclaration of War again ft the French^
their Incroachment upon our Trade, and upon
theFifliery of Newfoundland, is particularly fee
forth, as one of the Caufes of the War -, and as

C 2

evv*

I i

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■ : I

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I I

11

! !

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[ .2 ]

even contrary to the very Statutes of thefe
Realms, by which it is enadled, Stat. 10, 11,
pf King IVilliam the third, Cap. 25.

** That whereas, the Trade and Fiftiery of
Newfoundland^ is a beneficial Trade to this
Kingdom, not only in employing great
Numbers of Seamen and Ships, and export-
** ing and confuming great Quantities of Provi-
** fionsand Manufadures of this Realm jWhcrc-r
^* by many Tradefmen and Artificers are kept
<* at Work ; but alfo in bringing into this Na-
^* tion, by Returns of the EfFeds of the fai4
^* Fifhery, from other Countries, great Quan-
** tities of Wine, Oil, Plate^ Iron, Wool, and
^* fundry other ufeful Commodities ; to the
** Increafe of his Majefty's Revenue, and the
*^ Encourageinent of Trade and Navigation.
** Be it enaded, &c. That henceforth, all his
^' Majcfty's Subjcds fhall have, ufe, and enjoy
*\ the free Trade and Trafiick, and Art of
^* Merchandifipg and Fifhing to and fron:^
** Newfoundland y and take Baite and Filh on
** any of the Rivers, Creeks, or any of the
^' Mands adjoining or adjacent thereunto, as
^' fully and freely, as at any Tirtie heretofore
^* hath been ufed or enjoyed by any of the
^•' Subjedts of his Majefty^s Pfedeceflbrs, with'
^ out any Hindrance, &c. of or from any Pcr-i
" fon whatfoever. And that no Alien or Stran^
** ger whatjbever (not refiding with England)
*^ ihall at any Time hereafter take any Baite,
*l or ufe any Sort of Trade or Fifhing what-

** foever

I

i

)f theft
10, II,

g

fliery of

: to this

great

export-

fProvi-

iWhcrc-r

are kept

Miis Na-

the fai4

It Qcian-

bol, and

to the

and the

vigation.

h, all his

nd enjoy

Art of
id fron^
Fifh oa
' of the
unto, as
jretofofe
Y of the
rs, with'
iny Pcfn
r Stran^
Ingland)
y Baite,
g what-
* foever

I

( 13 ]

* foever in Newfhu/idlanJ, or in Jiny of the
** Places or Iflands abovcmentioned,"

The great Increafeof the Naval Power, and
Wealth of France, will be obvious to every
one who confiders, that from the Year 1638,
the Date of their Admittance into this Fifhcry,
(at which Time they had very few Ships in any
Part of the world) to the Year 1659, (only 21
Years) theyincreafed their Ships in this Trade,
from about 40 to about 250 ; and that, from
ihis Period, to the Reign of King James the
fecond, (only 25 y^ars more) they had aug-
mented fo vaftly their Wealth and Naval
Power, as to make all Europe ftand in Awe
of them : A Proof how very formidable a
Prince ttiay become, by Sea and Land, who
is left, during only a few Years, in quiet Pof-
feflion of this Trade: by fuch an annual In-
■ creafe of Men, Ships, Bullion, &c.

The Fa-^w^A by their extraordinary Frugality,

• joined to other great Advantages, fuch as the
Chcapncfs of Salt of their own making; the low
Wages of their Mariners; the little Expence in
victualling their Ships ; and their having the

' bed and moil convenient Places for fifliing ;

• hViWd iilmoft difpoffeircd the EngUJh of this
' Trade, as may be inftanced, in many of the

• Out-Ports of this Kingdom, viz. Barn/iaple,
Biddeford, Dartmouth, &c. whirh do not
employ one fowrth Part of the Ships they did

- formerly, The two firil could furnifh the

Roval

; 1

i i

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■ I

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I i

[ >4 ]

Royal Navy with 400 Voluntier Sailors;
whereas they now find it difficult even to man
the few Vefl'els they fit out. But were this
great fifhery Trade to center with us, (as we
have llrong Reafon to hope it will) our Weftern
Navigation wou'd foon flourifh; our Lands
rife in their Valuer and the Manufadurcrs of
thofe Counties (in particular) he confiderably
enriched, by the vad Demand for their Mer-
chandize of all Kinds.

To encourage ftill more this ufurp'd Fifliery,
the French King ifTuedout the following Edid,

" An Arret of the King's Council of ftate,
*' by which Cod Fi(h caught, and Oil made,
** by his Subjedls, fifhing at I/le Royaky for-
" merly called the Ifland of Cape Breton^ are

exempted from all Cuftoms during ten Years.

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At Fontainbleau the 9th of September 1 7 1 3 .
the King having been ever attentive to alL
Methods wiiich might contribute to the In-
creafe of the Commerce of the Kingdom;
with Rcfpe(n: as well to the Fiflierics on the
Maiitime Coafts of France^ as to thofe for
Cod-tifh green and dried on the Sea ofGz-
nada: And his Majefly being defirous to
procure greater Advantages^ to thofe of his
Subjedts, who (hall undertake the Fifhcry of
dried Cod-Jiflo at IJle Royale^ called formerly

;. ' ^r-'. i ■ • :. . . : " thft

M

Sailors ;
1 to mao
ere this

(as we
Weftcrn

Lands
turcrs of
iderably
;ir Mer-

Fifliery,
gEdia,

of ftate,
il made,
ale^ for-
'/0/7, arc
n Years.

r 1713.
^e to alL
the In-
ngdom ;
s on the
hofe for
1 of C/-
irous to
fe of his
fhery of
jrmerly
" tha

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" the Ifle of Cape Breton ; by a general Ex-
*' emption of the faid dried Cod-JijL\ and the
" Oil made thereof, tha fhall be brought into
this Kingdom, from all Duties of Importa-
tion. Accordingly, his Majefly in Coun-
cil ordains; that tor ten Years, beginning
from the firft of January next, they (hall
be exempted accordingly."

'Tis therefore evident, that the French have
employed all the Arts in their Power, and ufed
every Endeavour poflible, to extend their Fi(h-
eries in the Seas of Canada^ to which they fo
infolently pretend to have a Right.

The Total, (in the Calculation of this French
American Fijhery) has varied at different Pe-
riods; but we may venture to fettle it, in
Time of Peace, at 900 Ships annually (each of
150 Tons, one with another) which, at 20
Quintals of Fi(h per Ton, makes 2,700,000
Quintals 5 and valuing the Quintal at 20 Shil-
lings, the * annual gain to France, by this
Fifhery, will then be jT 2,700,000 Sterling.
Thefe 900 Ships (as above) carrying each i8
Men, one with another, make 16,200 Seamen
employed only in this Fifhery. So that, (hojld
this Calculation be thought but tolerably juft,
we need not wonder that the Naval Power of
France ftiould have rifen to the Height, in

* Out of this annual gain, muft be deducted the value
of tl)e Mud and dried Cod^fiih, con fumed in France.

which

!

( i6 )

which we have feen it, during the laft and* the
fent War. Nor would it be matter of Sur-
prize ftiould we again fee it, after ^ few Years
Peace, in a yet more formidable St^te than
ever, in Cafe that Crown ihould be fo fortu-
nate, as to be left in Poffeffion of tjic Iflands
of Cape-Breton and *S^. Johns,

When we reflect, that this American Fish-
ery is the grand Narfery for the beft Seamen,
and that the 'French raife out of it, ^wt times
the Number we do; we may naturally infer,
that Great-Britain^ which claims Obedience
on the Ocean, will, in a few Years, become
fubfervient to France, if timely care be not

taken to prevent it : And that we have

it now in our Power, to preferve fuch Su-
periority, is beyond all Difpute.

By the 1 3 th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht ^
the French are limited with reJ'pedt to their
ViOiixugm Newfoundland; which however they
are well known to have always deviated from,

even to this Day They will now ('tis to

be hop'd) be totally excluded from any
fhare in this American Fifhery, by our Right of

Conquefi. And v^^e ihall (Iiew, immediately,

our inconteftable Title to thefe Se.is, from
our firft Dijcovery, In a word, tlie French
have dealt (p very treachcrcully by us, that
we may juilly lament their being pofTefsM of
a fuiglc Inch of Land, or Sea Territory, in

1 1

No

}"

and the
of Sur-
w Years
Lte than
b fortu-
: lilands

an Fi(h-
Seatnen,
ve times
ily infer,
bedience
become
be not
ve have
Lich Sii-

Utrecht^
to their
jverthey
»d from,
V ('tis to
om any
Right of
ediatcly,
IS, from
e French
us, that
(Tefs'd of
itory, in

■I
^1

t 17 1

Nj?r/A America : And we ought to be fo well
acquainted with our own Intereft, as not to
let (lip any more, the fair Opportunity which
offers itfelf J now the Sword is impending over
their Heads j without our wrefting from ihem,
and fecuring to ourfelves, thefe Territories and
Seas, whence only they can have it in their
Power to defiroy us, or render us contemptible;
and fuch we fhall unpitied be, when ever the
Naval Power of France (hall become fuperior
to that of Great Britain.

Our having taken, funfc^ or deftroy*d, du-
ring the prefent War, a full third Part of their
Navy, has certainly le(ren*d the Mifchiefs
which our Commerce might othcrwife have
fuftaln'd from them j at the fame Time, that
their Trade has been fo much the more ex-
pofed to Capture, by our Men of War and

Privateers. Yet, as no Country recovers fo

foon, from it*s Wounds, as France ; and as the
Flower of her Seamen, (now Prifoners here)
muft be reftored to her upon a Peace ; (lie
then will need but to replace the Ships (lie has
loft, either by building them at home, or by
employing Foreigners for that Purpofe, (which
We well know may be done in a very few
Years,) In Order for her to be as formidable a
Naval Power, as (he was before the commen-
cement of the prefent War. It is even very na-
tural to fuppofe, that the French will exert
their utmoft Endeavours, to be ftill more
V , D power-

I

[ i8 ]

powerful ; They having feen, and felt, from
our Fxample, that Their very Exiilencc as a
Trading Nation, d pends wholly upon Their
heaving a mighty Navy. But ihould we be Co
h;;ppy as to ellablifh our PoflliTions ani^ Con-
quefls in North America -y (iicgludtin;; nothing
which mayfecLire to us the firm and lading
Alliance and Fricndfhjpof .heliuiians) it wilt
then be impoffible lor France to cultivate her
Fiifhcries in thofe Seas ; from which M ;ment
we may pronounce her no longer a Maritime
Power. ;>he may, indeed, . poflers Ships of
War, bui they will rot in her Harbours for
want of Seamen (at Icuft good ones) to man
them, and of Trade to prutedl. The com-
pleating (o glorious a Plan; which, by th * Wif-
dom and Fortitude of our Councils, is already
brought tofuch great f>rwardnefs; c^;nnot fail
or producing the mtft Signal Aivaotages to
this Nation ; by furni(hing the means of
laying a very folid Foundation, for unbur-
thening it of that heavy load of Debt and
Taxes, under which ths People have been
gnxmliig for fo many Years.

To determine our Right to his Majefty's
Territories in North America ^ it may not be
improper to confider, by what Title any Euro^
fean Nation holds any Dominions there. South
jiricrica was difcover*d by Columbus, at the
Expencc'ofthe Kingof iS/tf/;/, about 250 Years
ago; and he has poflefs'd it ever fince, by
this Right of Difcovery only ; Which his been

admit-

[ 19 )

adrnitteJ, bv all European Nations to this DaVf
as a firm and authentic Title; and acknow-
ledged as fuch by the King of England, when
he dif ..V jw*d (to Spain) the Scotch Expedition
to Daricn,

North America was difcoverM by S'bnftian
Cabot^ at the Expence of tlie Crown of En-
glandy under oui* Henry the VILh : whence
our 1 itle, to the Whole of North America^
is full as firm and authentic ^ a? th t of the
Crown of Spain to South America^ which has
n?ver been queflioned.

Both the Dutch and EngUJId claim a Right
io Greenland^ as being the fir/i'Di fcoverers ^ and
from their fetting up Marh in that Country :
Now, fuch Marh did SebaJJian Cabot ered, in

vari(>us Parts of North America. Is it nnt

jufl:,that thofe Nations, who are at the Trouble
gnd Expence of fitting cut E^pediticnSy for
making DifcoverieSy (hould reap the Bene fit of
them ? Or is it equiable that onePerfon fhould
Ifeap the Fruits of another Man's Expence
^nd Labour? And if it is not, why lliould it he
otherwife between Nations? If Difcovery gives
no llight, forely nothing can. If n(;thing but an
inhabiting Polfeffion gives a Right, no Difco-
yerercou'd befure to reap the Benefit of his Ex-
pence and Labour, fii.ce Difcovery mud ne-
cefTarily precede lnli.abitancy,asforinftancc, in
the prefcnt Cafe \ Can any one ruppufe,that a

D 2 Ship

Ship Cent out upon a Difcbvery, cou'd have
Inhabitants, on board, enough to plant Co-
lonics ? Or that Sebajiian Cabot could have
left Settlers behind him, to keep PofTeflion
till his return, with a fufficient Number of
People to inhabit this wide extended Country;
where a defenfiblc Force, (at leaft) was re-
quifite, in order to withftand fo many nume-r
reus Nations of Indians ? Elfe any Power,
\ipon Notice of fuch Difcovery, might have
fent a Fleet, with Inhabitants, to take PofTef-
iion J fuch People might have arrived before
ours 5 and Thefe, by firft inhabiting thofb
Countries, might lawfully havp the Fruits
of the Labour and Expence of the Difcoverer,
But furely no Man can be fo wrong-headed
or unjuftj as to favour fuch a Kind of Right;
or pretend that the Expence, to which Henry
the Vllth put himfelf, in thefe Diicoveries,
was merely for the fake of France.

Jt h^s been urged, hy French Advocates, that
their JCing has an undoubted Right, not only
to all he lays Claim to on the Continent of
North yjwericaj, but even to Newfoundland zx)d
other {(lands : That nothing gives a Right, but
PoJ/effion or Inhabitancy :-'^Th2it if the Englijb
remove from any one Spot of Ground, or Ifland,
to inhabitany other more convenient,the French
may immediately poflefs the deferted Spot; and
from that Moment, have an original, heredi-
tary, and undoubted Right to it. But ot>

(h^ contrary, fhould they offer but to fet

Foot

{ 21 ]

Foot in a Country, of many thoufands Miles in
Circumference, where the French had but a
Htdtf built of Twiggs and Leaves^ and fhou'd ia
a new Map, alter the old Name into any which
has a Sound of Frenchin it, sls Louifiana^ Bour
bonianay Orleaniana^ &c. tho* it were our own
Acquifitionand Difcovery j yet truly our Right
to it, woird not only be un-original and un-
hcrcditary, but unlawful. —Such Law may
indeed, be current at Verfailles 5 but it is to be
hoped, will never be thought binding at
Whitehall

We need look no further back, for Exam-
ples of their infolent Ufurpations of this Sort,
than thofe which gave Rife to the prefent War ;
to which the Pleadings of the French Hirelings
abroad, and even at home, have not a little
contributed. If Poffeflion gives a Right, they
may inhabit many of the Scotch Ifies, fuch as
the Hebrides i Sec, which are unpeopled. They
alfo might pofTefs Themfclves of many unin-
habited Parts of /r^/tf»^ and its dependant Ifles j
which being only a Difdovery, the French
wou*d have the fame Right to them, as they
have to any Part oi North America.

His mod ChriftianMajeftyj becaufefome of
his Subjeds have unjuftly inhabited the Mouth
of the River St. Lawrence and the Entrance of
the Mi[jiJ]ipi ; (which two Rivers n«i through
all North America) has founded a pre ended
Right to that whole Country, on each Side their

Banks*

MO

Banks, except the Edge of the Coaft which the
Engli/b inhSibit.Wey indeed, are much obliged
fo him for excepting tbaty in his romantic
Grant to Monfr. Crozat j to whom he might
as juftly have granted the Ifland oiGre0 Bri-*
tufn, by the Nanjj^ ^f Delpbimana^ or any o-
ther Appellation. His Catholic Majefty has as
good a Right to all the Dominions on both
Sides of the Mediteranean, from his Subjedls
inhabiting each Side of it's Mouth, The IJam^
tuirghers, to all the Territories on each Side
of the Eiie^ from .h?ir being feated at th^
Entrance of that River. The 7urks, to the
Ppflcffion of the whole German Empire, be-
caufe they a?e Mailers of the Mouth of the
Danube: And the Cham of Tartary might as
juftly make a Grant of the Empire of R^iffiat
under the Natne of Tartariana^ from his
pofrciSng the Mouth Qix!i\t ff^olga. ^

9
' I •

The Spaniardit who have ever preferved
their Right to South America unqueftioned,
(even by the French themfelvcs) have there a
Circumference of Coaft, of above 22,000 Miles.
They do not permit any European Nation to
poflefs or inhabit the leaft Spot of it. Nor does
any other people fo far queftion their Right to
it, as to make any Attempt of this Sort. There
are Iflands and Countries a-bove 1,000 Miles
diftant from any of the Spanijh Colonies ox
Habitations, and yet, They do not permit a'^y
Foreigners to poflefs or inhabit them. The

Scotch

*t '.' i»-' i ■

t aj 1

Scotch Settlement at Darien is a glaring Proof
of this, being more remote from any of their
Inhabitants, than the Frenchy in North Ame^
ricay are from ours. Shall then the *S/^-
nijh Title, to fo vaft a Part of America^ and to
fuch a mighty Circumference of Coaft, be fa-
cred and inviolate ; and that oi Great Britain
only, be queftioned and infulted, which has
not above 1500 Leagues of Coaft, from the
North of Hudfons Bay, to the Southward,
round Cape Florida, to the Confines of Mexico f
And (hall We, the grea ft Naval Power in the
World, dole the prefent glorious War, with-
out our being made perfcdly Iccure, for the
future, againft fuch unjuftifiable and barba-
rous Incroachments as the French have made
upon thofe indifputablc Rights, which We,
under the Aufpices of his Majefty, and his
Succeftbrs -, ought to enjoy uninolefted ?

FINIS,