This representation of the lords of trade was taken into consideration at the committee of council. The committee referred to the board to consider whether, as the commission, proposed to be given to the _Lord Vere Beauclerck_, would vacate his seat in parliament, the service intended might not be equally well carried on by _instructions_ to be given to the _Lord Vere Beauclerck_, for putting in execution all the powers entrusted to the commodore, by stat. 10 & 11 Will. 3. and by a _commission_, to be given by his majesty to a person skilled in the laws, who should accompany the _Lord Vere Beauclerck_, for appointing justices of the peace, and establishing some form of civil government among the people who had settled themselves in that island, that they might not be left in a state of anarchy, upon the departure of his majesty’s ships of war. If their lordships saw no objection thereto, they were desired to consider of a proper form of commission and instructions. They were also desired to consider, whether it might be adviseable to separate the government of _Placentia_ from that of _Nova Scotia_. The committee made another order the 19 of April 1729, in which they recommended to his majesty all the points proposed by the lords commissioners of trade. In obedience to the first order of the committee of council, the lords report, that they thought a commission to some person to attend the _Lord Vere Beauclerck_, with proper instructions, might serve instead of a commission to his lordship. They prepared a commission and instructions accordingly, whereby such person was required to take the advice of _Lord Vere Beauclerck_, and to execute such matters as his lordship should propose to him in writing, for his majesty’s service. Among the instructions they inserted some relative to the acts of trade and navigation; which, however, their lordships thought would prove of small effect till his majesty should be pleased to erect a court of admiralty, or some other proper jurisdiction in Newfoundland, to take cognizance of offences against those acts. They drew up instructions for _Lord Vere Beauclerck_, and made the old heads of enquiry a part of them. They remark, that they had added an instruction, which required his lordship to send home all offenders, in robbery, murder, and felony, and likewise the witnesses, which had not always been done. This was to be practised till such time as some other method should be established for trying offenders in the country, which may, say their lordships, perhaps be thought necessary, so soon as the island shall have been put under better regulations, and some person skilled in the laws may hereafter be annually sent thither for this purpose, with his majesty’s commission of oyer and terminer. They were of opinion that the government of _Placentia_ should be separated from that of _Nova Scotia_. [Sidenote: A civil governor is appointed.]