education of the settlers, and the civilization of the Beothics,
proposed to Lord Hobart the establishment of a legislative power in
Newfoundland, similar to that which has been found necessary to the
prosperity and good government of other parts of the British
dominions. The suggestion was treated as premature, and probably was
so in fact. That it should have been made at all shows how far we have
travelled from the swaddling clothes of monopoly. However this may be,
two important civilizing agencies were introduced in 1805 and 1806--a
regular post office, and a newspaper (the _Royal Gazette_).

In 1810 began Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Duckworth's period of office,
which soon revealed a Governor of energy and intelligence. He
journeyed to the northern settlements and Labrador to learn the
condition and needs of the population; he tried to secure friendly
relations with the Red Indians of the country, and set up a hospital
in St. John's. Amongst other reforms he procured the passing of a
statute in 1811 (51 George III.) authorizing him to grant leases of
certain ships' rooms at St. John's then in public occupation.
Following up in this way the useful work of Governor Gower
(1804-1807), he used his leasing power to promote the building of
warehouses and wharves. The idea that the inhabitants of St. John's
had a right to make it habitable was slowly gaining ground. Duckworth
was an able and far-seeing man, and his report on the condition of the
island, furnished to the home authorities at the end of his
governorship, was a lucid and memorable document. His condemnation of
the building restrictions paved the way for the fearless agitation of
Dr. William Carson. A distinguished medical graduate of Edinburgh,
Carson incurred the dislike of Governor Duckworth, and his successor,
Governor Keats, by his outspoken pamphlets. Indeed, there was nothing
equivocal in Carson's views: