confessed, owing to the foolish, treacherous and cruel manner in which
some of our people have treated the natives in their traffic with them
on their own coasts--some of them being most deceitfully plundered,
and others barbarously murdered; in consequence of which we have been
brought into the greatest contempt, as if our only design was to lay a
snare to get them extirpated: such flagitious proceedings being
directly opposed to His Majesty's benign and humane disposition, it is
his Royal will and pleasure that these Indians be henceforth treated
with kindness, and encouraged to trade with his Majesty's subjects. In
conformity with these sentiments of our gracious Sovereign, we deem it
necessary to recommend to every possible assistance the bearer of
this, Jans Haven, a member of the Moravian Brethren's Church, who has
formed the laudable design of visiting these coasts, and if possible,
to communicate the knowledge of religion to the poor ignorant heathen,
and also endeavour to remove the prejudices which have prevented them
from having a friendly intercourse with us. And further, we, His
Majesty's Officers, &c. in Council assembled, having conversed with
the said Jans Haven, and being highly satisfied with him, command that
no impediment be thrown in the way of this his attempt, but rather
that every possible friendship and assistance be given him, in order
to promote a happy issue to his most Christian undertaking, as by this
a great service will not only be rendered to the inhabitants of these
colonies, but to His Majesty's subjects in general. Given under our
hand, subscribed and sealed at St John's, 1st July 1764. (Signed) HUGH
PALLISER"

Fortified by this proclamation, which secured to the missionary the
protection of the British Government, a protection which the Brethren
have to this day enjoyed, he embarked on board a ship bound for the
north, from which he was transferred to a French shallop engaged in