of inquiry into these regions.  His proposals met with their most cordial approbation, and he took his departure from Hernhut for England in the spring of 1764, with the blessing of the congregation.  He travelled on foot through Germany to Holland, and after encountering numberless difficulties—­especially in England from his want of a knowledge of the language—­he arrived in London.  His first intention was to offer himself as a common sailor or ship’s carpenter to the Hudson Bay Company, in order to procure a passage; but the brethren advised him rather to try and get to Labrador by the way of Newfoundland.

After many fruitless attempts, he was eventually introduced, through the means of James Hutton, Secretary to the Brethren’s Unity in England, to Sir Hugh Palliser, Governor of Newfoundland, and Commodore of the squadron which sailed annually from England.  Sir Hugh received him very kindly, and took a lively interest in what appeared to him so praiseworthy an undertaking as the conversion of the heathen; for he rationally concluded that it would also be most advantageous for commerce, if the population of that country were instructed and humanized.  He at once promised all his assistance and support, and 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.”