commanders.
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the coast of Labrador. Your visit to our missionaries will always he remembered by them, and the Esquimaux under their care, with the greatest delight; and the strict discipline you kept upon board your ship, more particularly claims their gratitude, as it contributed so greatly to lessen the anxiety they first felt on the approach of a ship of war, of the conduct of whose crew they could not form very favorable expectations. Captain Booth, who visited that coast this year, though willing to do all and every thing that could satisfy the missionaries, did not seem to have been aware of the necessity of using the same caution, though we have not had any particular complaint of the conduct of the crew. They, however, bartered a good deal with the Esquimaux, who, as you know and justly observe, are like children, and will give away their most useful and necessary articles, even such as their meyaks, and fishing and hunting implements, upon which their existence depends, for any gewgaw or unnecessary thing that happens to please their fancy. I did not hear that they bartered any thing for gin or brandy. The missionaries, however, perceiving what was going on, not only gave the Esquimaux a caution, but spoke to Captain Booth, and he very properly made his men disgorge and return their bargains, for which they, the Esquimaux, were very thankful. Captain Booth called upon me some time ago, and seemed much pleased with his visit to Labrador. I am very sorry that I missed your kind call in June last. I went in May with my son to the continent. The observations you make respecting the visits of ships of war to the coast of Labrador, are indeed very just. Unless conducted in the manner you did, they would necessarily have a very pernicious effect upon the mission; and we hope, that as no particular object can be obtained by them, that it will not become a common practice. You, however, may always consider yourself a privileged man, and to see you will always give the missionaries the greatest pleasure. Indeed, if it were not for the danger of communication between the Esquimaux and the crews, they would only have to regret that such visits must necessarily occur in fine weather only, and when our own vessel is there; and they have so much to do then in the concerns of their ship, that they cannot pay that attention to visitors at that time which they would wish to do. When my friend Lord Gambier was governor at Newfoundland, he intended to send a sloop of war up the coast, to survey it, which would be of great use to us; but he was soon recalled to his station at the Admiralty. Not only do I thank you for your most judicious remarks on the visits of ships of war to our settlements, but more especially do I feel grateful for the spirit which dictates them, and for the true sense you shew of the value of the mission, as it affects the spiritual and temporal welfare of a race of men formerly the most brutal and savage. You have with your eyes seen the change wrought by the Divine power of the gospel of Christ; for nothing else has brought it about. To those who love God and their neighbour as themselves, such manifesta-
