rchants or boat-keepers have raised the men's wages?'"

In 1750 came another advance. Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer were
appointed for the island; that is to say, persons authorized to "hear
and determine" on capital felonies committed in Newfoundland. This
change ended the costly farce by which such persons were sent to
England for trial. Seven years of development followed, to be broken
by the long struggle between England and France, which the splendid
genius of Pitt inspired and directed. He not only "conquered America
in Europe" by the prodigal carelessness with which he poured subsidies
into the treasury of Prussia, but he conceived and delivered in
America itself a death-blow to French ambition. In 1758 Amherst and
Wolfe, with a fleet of 150 vessels, were sent to attack Cape Breton,
and after assaulting Louisbourg, the capital, received the submission
of the island. In 1759 came General Wolfe's night assault on Quebec,
and the unforgettable battle in which he lost his life. The only
French success was gained at the expense of Newfoundland, for St.
John's surrendered to an adventurous French expedition under Count
d'Haussonville in June 1762. Admiral Lord Graves, the Governor, who
was on his voyage from England, received the news in time to prevent
him from landing. He vigorously concerted a plan of attack with
Admiral Lord Colville, who was in command at Halifax, and after a
lively investment the French garrison, numbering 700 or 800 strong
surrendered on terms (September 20th, 1762), but the French Navy
managed to escape, thanks to a fog.

The Treaty of Paris in 1763 brought the war to an end. Its course had
afforded one more opportunity of simplifying the condition of the
fishing industry. The English Ministry, under the nerveless guidance
of Lord Bute, omitted to seize it, and the Newfoundland clauses of the
Treaty of Utrecht (which had granted to the French fishery and drying
rights on the coasts between Cape Bonavista and Point Rich) were
confirmed, notwithstanding the fact that the English settlers had
extended their occupation as far north as Twillingate, and French
fishermen had not for three decades previously been further south than
Fleur-de-Lys and White Bay. One clear, protesting voice was heard. "I
contended several times in vain," said Pitt, "for the whole exclusive
fishery, but I was overruled--I repeat, I was overruled, not by the
foreign enemy, but by another enemy."

The House of Commons