[Sidenote: Lord Baltimore revives his Claim.]
In the year 1754, _Lord Baltimore_ laid in his claim to be put in possession of a large tract of land in the island, by the name of _the province of Avalon_, and of all the royal jurisdictions and prerogatives thereto belonging, and prayed that his majesty would approve _John Bradstreet, Esq._ as governor thereof. This grant has been before mentioned[62]. A claim so important was referred by the board of trade to the attorney and solicitor general; who, after inspection of such papers as were furnished by the board, and hearing what could be urged by Lord Baltimore, were of opinion, that as, notwithstanding the determination in 1660 in favour of the grant in 1623, there was no evidence of any actual possession of the province, nor the exercise of any powers of government there by the Baltimore family; as, on the contrary, it was most probable, that, at least from 1638, they had been out of possession; as from the year 1669 there had been many proceedings, which appeared from the books of the board of trade, and even an act of parliament passed in the 10 and 11 Will. 3. inconsistent with the right now set up, without taking the least notice thereof, and without any claim or interposition on the part of the Baltimore family; and as his majesty’s approbation of a governor ought to be in consequence of a clear title of proprietorship, they were of opinion, his majesty should not comply with the petition. This opinion of the law officers seems to have been adopted by the board, and no more has since been heard of the province of _Avalon_[63].
The board of trade in November 1758, shewed a disposition to take into consideration the trade and fishery of Newfoundland, which were then said _to have declined of late years_. For the purpose of obtaining every information that could be derived from those experienced and interested in the question, they directed letters to be written to the towns in the west; but they received for answer nothing but such matter as had relation to the inconveniences resulting to the trade from a state of war; and the only remedies proposed were a due regulation of convoys, and that seamen employed in that trade should not be subject to pressing[64].