Government, for having on my inspection of the different localities of the Island received various complaints as to the effect of the Judicatory Act upon them—and being anxious to learn with precision the view they severally took of its advantages, or defects, to enable me to come to a more correct conclusion as to the remedy to be applied in passing a new one—I directed in the course of the Autumn, circular letters to be addressed to the principal people in each settlement, calling upon them for the information required. It so happened that about the same time the people here held the meeting which led to the Petition—a copy of which your Lordship has transmitted to me—and those most anxious in its fate gave out that the object of my Circulars was to defeat their plans, and urged the distant parts to reply in the manner before alluded to ; but notwithstanding such influence, out of Seventeen places to which these letters were addressed, only five alluded to a Legislature.
         After a very long and dispassionate consideration of the question your Lordship has submitted to me Whether I look to the nature of the Society of which the Colony is composed—their several interests—their Intelligence and local wants—or turn to the topography of the Island, its Climate, Cultivation or internal Communication ; I confess he concluded I cannot discern any of those elements essential to the composition and conduct of a local Government—I readily admit that St. John's, although a very large portion of its principal Inhabitants are by no means permanently interested in its welfare, is capable of managing its own concerns ; and that a Corporation, if desired, might under proper restrictions be given them—anything beyond this I consider at present wholly impracticable ; nor can I understand under what Plea they can wish to control the general mass of the people dwelling in those distant parts, from whom for a large portion of the year they are excluded to a much greater degree than from Great Britain. I have no reason to believe that those people wish for that description of Government, nor do I consider they are in any manner capable of forming an opinion on the subject. If the happiness of the people of St. John's were alone involved in the decision His Majesty's Government may come to on the prayer of their petition, I might have been disposed to allow them to bear the responsibility and the risk of a measure of their own seeking, but it is impossible to deal with the great mass of the people in the same manner—they are in all respects, other than in their own calling, only Children of a larger growth, of whom, I consider His Majesty's Government to be the natural Guardian and Protector and in whose keeping must for many years be their interest and prosperity.
        In coming to the conclusion I have done upon a measure of vast Importance to the Colony, and a wrong decision on which might involve it in years of misfortune, I can assure your Lordship I have had no other object before me but the prosperity and happiness of a people in whose welfare I take a very lively interest. It is a source of great pain to me to feel that my opinions must conflict with the wishes of some very respectable persons—every inducement operates as far as I am personally concerned to lead me to accede to their views—and to oppose them, I am fully aware, puts to hazard my popularity

and the good feeling that has subsisted between the Colonists and myself since my first arrival among them—but I should consider myself unworthy the Confidence His Majesty's Government may be disposed to place in me, did I permit any personal feeling to influence me, where the peace and happiness of so large a Population is at stake—and it is consolatory to me to know that as with my opinions you will receive the ground on which they are formed, your Lordship will not invest them with more importance than what they may really deserve.
        As the most conscientious person is liable to be warped in the view he takes of any measure by his general feeling on similar subjects—and your Lordship may doubt how far such may influence my opinions on the present occasion ; it is but right to add, before closing the observations I have the honour to submit to your Lordship, that they are decidedly in favour of the establishment of a legislative Government in every Colony where existing Circumstances are not opposed to it—I have visited the greater part of His Majesty's foreign possessions, and however the detail of the Institutions in many of them, may be objectionable, I am persuaded the Mother Country, even if inclined to assume the Burthen, could never as efficiently administer to their wants and regulate their internal Economy as they can themselves and I should be one of the first to encourage similar Institutions here whenever the situation of the Country became such that any practical good result from them—I would apologise to your Lordship for trespassing so much on your attention did I not feel persuaded the importance of the subject, and my anxiety that every opinion expressed, shall have a corresponding reason to support it—will offer a sufficient excuse.
        I have endeavoured to advert to those points on which it is probable Your Lordship may wish for Information—at the same time I am aware many may remain on which if circumstances had admitted of a personal interview your Lordship might have desired further explanations, and it would have afforded me much satisfaction could I in the present instance anticipate them.

                             I have the honour to be, My Lord,
                                        Your Lordship's most obedient
                                                   humble servant,

                                                           THOS. COCHRANE.

POPULATION OF THE ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND WITH THE DISTANCE      FROM ST. JOHN'S IN MILES. COASTWAYS OF EACH SETTLEMENT AND      TO WHICH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PORTUGAL COVE, THERE IS NO     ROAD. TAKEN FROM THE RETURNS IN THE YEAR 1827-8.

——	No. of Inhabitants.		About miles distance from St. John's
District of St. John's
St. John's & Quidi Vidi	11903
Torbay & Flat Rock, North	741		15
Pouch Cove and Bisken Cove	237
Portugal Cove & S. Shore	1188		10 to 18
Bell Isle & Lance Cove	553		15
Petty Harbour, South	543		9
District of Bay Bulls, South.
Bay of Bulls	443		20
Witless Bay	355
Mobile	192
Toads Cove	62		25 to 36
Baleen	39
Burn Cove	39
Caplin Cove	19
District of Ferryland, South.
Ferryland	520
Renewse	450
Fermeuse	392
Caplin Bay	179
Cape Broyle	181
Aquafort	94		36 to 110
Brigus	160
District of Trepassey & St. Mary's, South.
St. Mary's & Vicinity	610
Trepassey & Briskey Bay	237

——		No. of Inhabitants.		About miles distance from St. John's
Placentia, S.
Great Placentia & Vicinity		584
Little Placentia		869
Paradise		191
Presque, Olivers Cove, &c.		240
Merasheen		184
Isle Valen, Burgeo, &c.		247
Western Cove & Barren Island		184		140 to 190
Woody & Sound Islands		198
North Harbour & White Isle		105
Burin S.
Burin		928
Mortier		639
St. Lawrence		553
				190 to 250
Fortune Bay S.
Fortune		191
Grand Bank		261
Grand Beach & Garnish		111
Pt. Emagee to Harbour Millie		152
Bottom of Fortune Bay		70
Hare Harbour		575
St. Jeques and Little Bay				250 to 320
Jersey Harbour & Harbour Bretton		268
Sagona, Hermitage Cove		951
Great Jervis to Red Isle
Burgeo Island to Cape Ray		227
Conception Bay, North.
Harbour Grace		3004
Mosquito to Croker Cove		1083		27
				From Harbour Grace
Holyrood to Bull Cove		1876		15
Carbonear		2527		5
Brigus		1216		10
Cupids		644		11
Port de Grave		2004		10
Bay Roberts & Spaniards Bay		1289		8
Bread & Cheese Cove to Malleys		1240
Broad Cove to Bradleys Cove		789		30
Western Bay		675
Ochre Pit Cove to Bay Verde		1512

——	No. of Inhabitants.		About miles distance from St. John's
Trinity Bay North.
Trinity	928
Catalina to Ship Cove	904
Cuckolds Cover [sic] to Tickle Harbour	919
New Harbour to Heart's Desire	432
Heart's Content	314		60 to 100
New Perlican	186
Turks Cove to Seal Cove	553
Old Perlican	548
Daniels Cove and Grates Cove	369
Bonavista Bay, North.
Bonavista	1470
King's Cove	308
Broad Cove & Keels	401
Tickle Cove	171
Red Cliff Island	53
Open Hall	97		80 to 120
Barrow Harbour & Broom Close	53
Salvage & Gooseberry Island	231
Vene Island	73
Greens Pond	1617
Pilchards Island	120
Cape Freels & Cobblers Island	77
Twillingate & Fogo, North.
Fogo Islands	1122
Change Islands	166		160
Herring Neck	293
Twillingate Islands	977
Tizzards Harbour	102
Mortons Harbour	221
Exploits Burnt Island	240		200 to 240
Fortune Harbour	124
Round Harbours Shoe Cove	142
Salmon Catchers (scattered)	50
Nippers Harbour	110
	———
Total of Inhabitants	60,000
Deduct Chrildren	23,725
	———
Total Adults, Male & Female	36,275

[1927lab]