Governors of the French colony made their presence felt more than the
English settlers could tolerate; they interfered with them unduly,
engaged in privateering expeditions and land forays against them,
destroyed their property, and burned down their houses. Indeed, more
than one French Governor conceived the notion, with the sanction of
the King of France, of putting an end entirely to English colonization
in the island. "The encroachments of the French," said William III.,
in his Declaration of War, "on His Majesty's subjects trading and
fishing there, had been more like the invasions of an enemy than
becoming friends, who enjoyed the advantages of that trade only by
permission." With the outbreak of war came in sharp succession the
attacks of Chevalier Vesmond, and of Burrill, beneath the latter of
which all the island but Bonavista and Carbonier succumbed.

The Treaty of Ryswick in 1697 was signed before the French had been
dislodged. Under its terms the invaders surrendered their conquests
and retired to the territory in the south-west, of which they were in
occupation when the war began. The anomaly of their claims, passed
over in silence by the Treaty, was certain to be the source of
mischief. In the language of Mr Pedley, "Over a territory of some 200
miles in extent, belonging to the British sovereignty, they had built
up imperceptibly an almost undisputed dominion." Five years after the
Peace of Ryswick war broke out again. An English squadron under
Admiral Sir John Leake destroyed a number of French fishing-vessels
between St. Pierre and Trepassey (1702), and in the following year
Admiral Graydon failed to reduce Placentia, owing to sickness, bad
weather, as well as want of resolution. In January 1705 the French in
retaliation surprised and captured St. John's. From this point they
overran the English settlements, Carbonier once again weathering the
storm, and abandoned themselves to depredation and devastation, as