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 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 fishing on the shores of Labrador.  When they arrived on the coast, Haven for the first time saw the Esquimaux rowing about in their kaiaks, but none were permitted to approach without being fired upon, so great was the dread these savages had inspired.  He landed, however, 24th Aug., near Chateau Bay, 52 degrees N.L.; but the inhabitants fled at his approach, at least none made their appearance till he left the shore, when they came in numbers to the beach, which was the subject of much merriment to the sailors, who made both him and his object the frequent subjects of their coarse ridicule—­the few who sympathized in his disappointment advised him to return, and refused further assistance in what they considered so hopeless a cause.  At the same time he was informed that a murderous project was in contemplation against the natives.