From the encouraging progress he was making, his friends were fondly anticipating the time when he should go forth as a zealous missionary of the Lord Jesus among his benighted countrymen, but their hopes were suddenly overcast.  On September the 22d, he was seized with the small pox, which, in spite of the best medical assistance, speedily proved fatal.  He bore his distemper with patience, and some of his last expressions were, “O!  Jesus, I come to thee, I have no where else to go.  I am a poor sinner, but thou hast died for me! have mercy upon me!  I cast myself entirely upon thee.”  The day before his death he was baptized by Mr Drachart, who, at his own request, made use of the Greenlandish language in administering the rite.  On the 4th October 1769, he expired, the first fruits of Christ’s vintage among the Esquimaux; and although not employed to spread the savour of his name among his heathen kindred by the living voice, yet he was honoured by his death to encourage the exertions, and strengthen the faith of those soldiers of the Lord who were buckling on their armour for the glorious combat.

Whether the ruinous effects of the state of anarchy, and murderous contests which prevailed whenever the natives and the Europeans came in contact, or whether the various memorials with which they had been for several years annoyed, had most influence, we know not; but the Board of Trade made a representation early in 1769 to the king, (George III.) and on the 3d May, the same year, a Privy Council was summoned to consider of a petition from the Brethren for establishing a mission on the coast of Labrador.  The result of their deliberations was, “That His Majesty in Council gave, and authorised the Brethren’s Unity, and the Society for the furtherance of the gospel among the heathen, to take one hundred thousand acres of land (belonging to the Esquimaux,) on the coast of Labrador, where, and in whatever place of the same was most convenient for their purpose.”  And the Governor of Newfoundland was directed to afford the brethren in their settlement every protection, and to furnish them from the royal stores with fifty muskets and the necessary ammunition.

Following up this favourable opening, the Moravian Synod, which was held at Marienborn, resolved to renew the friendly intercourse with the Esquimaux, and to search out a convenient situation for the establishment of a mission.  In consequence, Jans Haven, Drachart, and Stephen Jensen, received this in charge; and some other brethren resolved to take a part in it, and go themselves as sailors in a ship which a Society of the Brethren in London had fitted out, and which they resolved should annually visit the coast of Labrador to carry out supplies of the necessaries of life to the missionaries.  They first made land at a place called Arnitok, an island about six miles from the spot where Nain now stands; there they found twenty-nine boats full of Esquimaux, but they behaved in a very