even offered to carry Jans Haven out on board his own ship. This the
missionary declined, but requested letters of recommendation to the
government officers at St John's, which were readily granted, and he
set sail with the first vessel for that port. Upon his arrival (May
16th) he lodged at the house of a merchant, who treated him with great
civility, and supported himself by working at his trade as a
carpenter, while he endeavoured to obtain every information possible
respecting the scene of his future labours. In the mean time, his
disinterested love for the work he had engaged in was put to an
eminently trying test. Many persons who heard of his intentions came
to see and converse with him; but instead of endeavouring to
strengthen his hands in his missionary designs, they made him several
advantageous proposals for settling in Newfoundland, where there would
have been no doubt of his speedily realizing a fortune. His heart,
however, was bent on a nobler object. That he did not under-rate the
difficulties he would have to encounter in his arduous work, appears
from a letter written about this time; but he knew likewise where his
strength lay. "Every one here," says he, "paints the Esquimaux in the
most shocking colours; but I think they are men, and the word of the
death of Jesus, which has produced such amazing effects on other
barbarous nations, cannot fail to have an influence also on them."

Immediately upon his arrival in St John's, Newfoundland, the Governor
issued a proclamation, expressive of his approval of the objects of
the mission and of his desire to promote them. "As it would," said he,
"be of the greatest advantage to the trade of His Majesty's dominions
in North America, if a friendly intercourse could be established
between the Esquimaux Indians that inhabit the coasts of Labrador, and
the inhabitants of the colonies; and all attempts hitherto to
accomplish this desirable object having failed--partly, it must be