172 NEWFOUNDLAND.

By this time the practice of hearing and determi- ning civil causes became a subjeet of frequent com- plaint. Hitherto no court of civil jurisdiction had been provided for the colony ; and, while the island remained merely a fishery, carried on by vessels from England, the causes of actions were not of great magnitude; but now that the population had in- creased to considerable numbers, and heavy mercan- tile dealings were frequent among them, discontent arose from time to time, that led to the establishment of a new court, by a commission to Admiral Milbanke, _who was sent Out as governor in 1789. _But, as heavy complaints were preferred by the merchants, as well as the planters, against the proceedings of this court, an act was passed in 1792, empowering the governor, with the advice of the chief justice, to institute Surrogate Courts* of civil jurisdiction in different parts of the island. The first chief justice was Mr Reeves, who published an interesting account of Newfoundland, with acts of Parliament relative to its government. He was a man of excellent character, and a sound lawyer. Newfoundland owed much to him ; and it would have been well for that colony if his successors had followed the example of his conduct. Some of them were not only unskilled in the law, but weak or obstinate men, Who were influenced by their interests or passions.

Admiral Gambier was appointed to the govern-

‘* They were called “floating Surrogates," and had the same jurisdiction as the supreme court; to which, however, appeals lay for all sums above forty pounds.

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