Excellency, in order to promote in some measure the knowledge and practice of religion and virtue.'

While the admiral was solicitous for the intellectual and moral improvement of the people, he was also anxious regarding matters affecting their physical health and comfort, and their social order. He endeavoured to organise some system for the removal of the filth of the town, which he saw was such a powerful handmaid to disease, and to establish a sufficient police. But the principal object of his concern was the lack of spiritual provision for the scattered people of the outports. The sense of this want was indeed becoming very prevalent among those who suffered from it. From Placentia, which had for some time been deprived of the benefit of a clergyman,-from Twillingate, and from Fogo, which had never had one, representations came from the leading people, earnestly praying that this deficiency might be supplied, and offering liberally to contribute towards the cost of such supply. So anxious was the Governor in reference to the two principal social ameliorations to which his attention was directed, that he requested the ministry to obtain from the Crown lawyers an opinion how far the law of England, providing legally for the relief of the poor, and the maintenance of the churches in repair, was applicable in Newfoundland; in answer to which appeal, he received the following opinion that the provision of the poor laws of this country cannot be enforced in Newfoundland; and that the Governor had no authority to raise a sum of money by a rate upon the inhabitants for the purpose

THE GOVERNCE'S CATHOLICZY.

225

of repairing the churches in that island." One admirable trait of His Excellency was the earnestness and success with which he laboured to soften and abate the religious acerbities of which the materials were so rife under his government, and which but recently had yielded such bitter fruits. As an example of his success on this behalf, a copy is here given of a letter addressed by him to the Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, together with the reply of the latter.

Circular.

SIR,-It being proposed to raise a sum by voluntary contribution for erecting a steeple in the church of St. John's, and purchasing a clock and two bells, for the purpose of regulating time, calling the inhabitants in general to public worship, and giving alarm in case of fire, I am induced, in consideration of the great utility of such a measure, to recommend to you to make a collection next Sunday from those of your church who may be disposed to contribute to this object, giving notice of such intention, that they may come prepared for this purpose.

The vestry of the said church, who have undertaken the execution of this measure, will receive any sum that may be collected.

I am, &c. &c.

The Rev. Bishop O'Donnel.

J. GAMBIER.

To this novel request the prelate returned the following reply:

SIR,—I had the honour of receiving your letter of yesterday's date, and will be happy in concurring with Your Excellency in a measure of such public utility as purchasing

A copy of the same communication was sent to the ministers of the Established and Dissenting churches.

Q

a town clock, bells, &c.; but, I think, I could not give my congregation useful and timely notice of my intention, except on the Sunday immediately preceding the collection, when they will be all assembled in the chapel. If it meets your approbation, I'll propose it to them next Sunday, and make the collection on the Sunday following.

The above correspondence indicates a state of feeling which it were desirable to see more cultivated and cherished, not only in Newfoundland, but everywhere, and among all professors of the Christian faith in the present day.

At length, during this governor's administration, something positive and real makes its appearance in the Records in reference to the native Indians.

The following entry is dated September 17, 1803, at St. John's:

William Cull having brought an Indian woman from Gander's Bay to this harbour, I have, for his trouble, loss of time, &c., paid him the sum of fifty pounds. The said William Cull has also promised to convey the woman back to the spot from whence she was brought, and to use his endeavours to return her to her friends among the Indians, together with the few articles of clothing which have been given to her.

The engagement mentioned in the latter part of this communication was not immediately carried out, apparently for want of facilities for fulfilling it. The woman remained with her captor during the winter. She is said to have been taken by Cull, as she was paddling in a canoe towards a small island for birds'

eggs.

ACCOUNT OF A FEMALE INDIAN.

227

Anspach gives the following account of her

appearance and conduct while at St. John's:

She appeared to be about fifty years of age, very docile, and evidently different from all the tribes of Indians or savages of which we have any knowledge. She was of

a copper colour, with black eyes, and hair like the hair of a European. She showed a passionate fondness for children. Being introduced into a large assembly by Governor Gambier, never were astonishment and pleasure more strongly depicted in a human countenance than hers exhibited. After having walked through the room between the Governor and the General, whose gold ornaments and feathers seemed to attract her attention in a particular manner, she squatted on the floor, holding fast a bundle, in which were her fur clothes, which she would not suffer to be taken away from her. She was then placed in a situation from which she had a full view of the whole room, and on the instant lost her usual serious or melancholy deportment. She looked at the musicians as if she wished to be near them. A gentleman took her by the hand, pointing to them at the same time; she perfectly understood his meaning, went through the crowd, sat with them for a short time, and then expressed, in her way, a wish for retiring. She was everywhere treated with the greatest kindness, and appeared to be sensible of it. Being allowed to take in the shops whatever took her fancy, she showed a decided preference for bright colours, accepted what was given, but she would not for a moment leave hold of her bundle, keenly resenting any attempt to take it from her.

The subsequent history of this representative of the aborigines is veiled in obscurity. The man in charge of her was entrusted with a quantity of articles costing about 157., and consisting of fishing-lines, hand-saws, hatchets, nails, clasp-knives, blankets, women's shoes, &c. &c., as a conciliatory present to be left with her

and her people. The latest recorded notice of her is in a letter from Cull dated Fogo, September 27, 1804:

SIR,-This is to inform you that I could get no men until the 28th day of August, when we proceeded with the Indian to the Bay of Exploits, and then went with her up the river as far as we possibly could, for want of more strength, and there let her remain ten days, and when I returned the rest of the Indians had carried her off in the country. I would not wish to have any more hand with the Indian unless you will send round and insure payment for a number of men to go in the country in the winter. The people do not hold with civilising the Indians, as they think that they will kill more than they did before.

The reception of this poor woman was among the latest events under Admiral Gambier's administration of the affairs of the colony. In reviewing the brief period of his rule, it is pleasant to see how the man who a few years later achieved for himself honours and renown, and a prominent name on that page of the history of the great European conflict which describes the capture of the Danish fleet-how he could find himself heartily at home in the less sounding, but more directly humane and Christian labours of providing for the wants of the destitute, for the education of poor children, for the religious instruction of a neglected population, and also to put into harmonious feeling and action a community divided by diversity of creeds, while showing a tender care towards the outcasts of whose fathers' dwelling-place that community had taken possession.