162 NEWFOUNDLAND . faulty. After the fishing season was over, masters beat their servants, and servants their masters. The war with France in 1702—as the French, at that period, were masters of Canada , , &c, and were also established in Newfoundland , at Placentia—disturbed the fisheries and other affairs of Newfoundland ; and in 1708, the French took John's, and some places in , which they held until the peace of Utrecht . In 1708 the House of Commons addressed Queen Anne on the subject of the better execution of laws in Newfoundland , when it was, as usual, referred to the Board of Trade, which only went so far as to get the opinion of the Attorney- General on the statute of King William. Two years after, fifteen very useful regulations were agreed upon at John's, for the better disci¬ pline and good order of the people, and for correcting irregularities contrary to good laws and acts of Par¬ liament. These regulations, or by-laws, were debated and resolved on at courts, or meetings, held at John's ; where were present, and had all a voice, a mixed assemblage of merchants, masters of merchant- ships, and planters. This anomalous assembly form¬ ed, at the time, a kind of public body, exercising executive, judicial, and legislative power. By the treaty of Utrecht , in 1713, Placentia, and all other parts of Newfoundland occupied by the French, were, in full sovereignty, ceded to Great Britain; the French, however, retaining a license to come and go during the fishing season.