it by law. "The House of Assembly of Newfoundland," said Chief Baron
Parke, "have not, what they erroneously supposed themselves to
possess, the same exclusive privileges which the ancient law of
England has annexed to the Houses of Parliament."

In 1838 the members of the Assembly were elected for four years, and
this term has continued ever since.

The colony was destined to pass now through bitter trials. Having
secured freedom, after much suffering and oppression, it soon learnt
that freedom without common sense and moderation degenerates into
licence, and becomes a menace and a terror. The election of
representatives was accompanied by scenes of turbulence and disorder:
the sense of toleration and compromise was absent. Half of the
population were Roman Catholics of Irish descent, in whom rankled
memories of ancient wrongs; the other half were Protestants of English
descent, long used to ascendency, who were headed by a wealthy
commercial class. With the introduction of the new régime old
distrusts and hostilities were rekindled, and an unscrupulous press
fanned the flames. Religion became mixed up with the political
contention; and the evil passions that were aroused, and the outrages
that were committed held back for some time the progress of the
community and the political development of the colony.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES:

[34] See _infra_, chap. x.