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from the impulse of congenial feeling with the Psalmist, I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord-Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.

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The increased attention to religion among the Settlers has rendered a second Church necessary. On this subject Mr. Jones thus speaks :

For several Sundays past, the Church has been much too small to contain the people; and it becomes an object of consideration what step should be taken to remedy the evil. The enlargement of the present building might easily be accomplished; but this would be but an inadequate relief, as there are numbers of people, between this place and Lake Winipeg, who never attend Church: their hearts not being under the powerful influence of religion, their distance from Church affords them a plausible pretext for their absence; and even should some of the men make an effort at times to come, their families, which are chiefly Indian, are still entirely destitute of the means of grace.

A few days ago, I mentioned to some of the principal Settlers how desirable it would be to have a Place for Worship at a convenient distance from these people; and was glad to find that the eligibility of the measure was immediately acknowledged, and likewise its practicability if unanimity prevail among the Colonists.

When this was communicated to the Governor, he drew up, with his usual readiness to promote the interests of religion, a statement of the proposition, and sent it round the Settlement for subscriptions; and I am now encouraged to think that we shall see a second roof pointing to heaven in this moral wilderness, soon having under it an altar to the God of Israel.

In July, Mr. Jones adds

Our Church is going on: and I hope will be so far finished before Winter sets in, as to admit of Public Worship. The Settlers have subscribed liberally, considering their means, as we have already enough to put up the shell of the building. This Church cannot be said to be connected with the MISSION, but has a strong collateral influence on its concerns, as the most part of the Settlers in that vicinity have INDIAN FAMILIES, who cannot attend Worship at the present Church, and they are as much bereft of the means of religious instruction as when in their native forests. When the building is completed, I purpose to establish Worship for the more immediate benefit of this interesting but long-neglected and injured class of fellow-beings.

At the end of August he writes

Every thing wears a promising aspect. My hands are quite full; and it would be unwise in me to endeavour to extend the sphere of my labours, while it would lead, inevitably, to the neglect of the small vineyard which is under my care. In a wilderness, a newly cultivated spot is quickly overrun with weeds, if left to itself; which, by constant watchfulness, promises a rich harvest.

In August, Governor Simpson was about to visit the country west of the Rocky Mountains, and thus writes to Mr. Jones from York Factory

Our Council are most anxious to meet the views of the Church Missionary Society; and if you will only give us the hint in what respect we may further their wishes, you shall have the benefit of our best assistance. We shall be enabled to send you a few Native Children this season; and, in the Spring, they will be with you from all parts of the country.

Mr. West was very anxious to get Missionaries established among the Indians, who live in valleys on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. I shall turn my attention to that subject, in the course of my journey; and, on my return, let you know the result.

Mr. Jones hopes much from the future assistance of the Half-breed Youths in propagating the Gospel among the tribes of Indians which roam over these immense regions. It is with much thankfulness that he witnesses such favourable appearances in this class. He thus speaks of them :

I look upon this as presenting by far the most promising and important part of my charge. The Half-breeds are the uniting medium between us and the Indians: they speak their language, and are accustomed to their modes and habits of life and I trust I may add, that they are, taken collectively, a very promising part of our community: they have been very regular and attentive to instruction, during the whole of the time that I have been among them; and I have the happiness to see that some of them manifest a concern for their eternal interests.

A number of these Half-breeds attend the Sunday School held in the afternoon of the eagerness of some of these Youths, who attend from a distance, to avail themselves of every opportunity of instruction, Mr. Jones gives the following instance:

After School in the evening, three Young Men came to my house, and said that they should like to be present at the

catechizing of the Indian School and Family Worship on the Sunday Evening; as they wished, to use their own expression, "to make the most of it, as they had to come the distance of ten miles." I, of course, encouraged them in their resolution; and, at the same time, pressed upon them their obligation of being at home on the Monday Morning, in time for their labour in the service of their employers.

The Indian Children manifest a susceptibility of religious feeling which is very encouraging. Mr. Jones writes, in reference to one of his SundayEvening Catechizings

The Indian Boys come, as usual, in the evening, to my house, to say their catechisms and to sing; and it is, indeed, the most pleasing part of the Sabbath to me, to join them in this simple Service, and to hear them singing the praises of the Only True God. This evening, I was more than usually interested, as it was the first time that I witnessed them shedding tears. In giving out to them the 236th Hymn of the "Sunday-Scholar's Companion"-"Lord, while little Heathens bend," it was natural that I should be led to tell them of the cruelties practised in the East, which are alluded to in that Hymn: they were all much affected; and one of them, an Ossiniboia Indian, asked, "SIR! IS NO SCHOOLMASTER THERE, TO TELL THEM NOT?" I told them that many were gone from home to tell of Jesus Christ; as I had done, to come to them: they looked at one another with smiles, which indicated their inward approbation.

The number under instruction in the SCHOOLS was, on Mr. Jones's arrival, between 70 and 80: in October, it had greatly increased. Twelve Indian Boys and two Girls, with a few Half-breeds and Children of Settlers, were taught in the Daily School: they received instruction also in the Sunday School, with the addition of others which carried the whole number of Sunday Scholars to 169, as follows:-Scottish Settlers: 20 men, 9 boys, and 3 girls-Half-breeds: 69 men and boys, and 54 girls-Indians: 12 boys and 2 girls: The average attendance in the Sunday School for the year was 102. Mr. Jones writes

The difference between the nominal number and the average attendance was occasioned by the scattered state of the Settlement, the severity of the winter, and the young men being employed in the Spring as "voyageurs" to York Fort. The Sunday School is divided into eight classes:

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of the first, Mr. Jones takes charge; and, in the care of the remainder, is assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Harbidge, two retired Officers of the Company, a Settler, and a Half-breed Communicant. Of the Indian Children in the Day School he writes

The progress which these children have made, and are making, is highly encouraging. I trust I can say that no pains are spared to sow in their minds the seed of eternal life. The two elder speak and read English quite fluently: but they must have a grammatical knowledge of some language, before they can be of much service in fixing their own, which is Cree; and, to this point, I purpose devoting my attention this winter. I am looking forward with pleasure to the time when their number shall be increased, which I trust will be the case next Spring, as I am assured, by promise and by pledge, of assistance.

These Youths are beginning to be serviceable on the Farm. Mr. Jones writes in July

I shall have to buy two oxen and some implements of husbandry; and I am confident that the establishment will soon be made to support itself in a great measure. The boys are bending to the hoe as fast as may be expected; but moderation must be used, in this particular: their spirits must not be broken; and their labour must, for some time, be partly their own voluntary contribution. I have had them this week working at the hay, and I am astonished at the rate in which they are getting on.

The readiness of those who are in authority to promote the instruction of the Indians will be seen from the following extract of Mr. Jones's Journal of the 13th of June:

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As Governor Simpson was to leave in the night for York Fort, I had to go to Fort Douglas after the duties of the day, to have a conference with him and Governor Pelly together, in relation to the measures of the Society. In perfect accordance with a part of Mr. Pratt's Letter, stating that EDUCATION must be our main object in the way of preparation for Indian Evangelization, Governor Simpson undertook, on the part of the Company, to forward to this place, free of expense, the following number of children, as soon as practicable:10 Muscaigoes (Swampy Crees).

5 Thick-Wood Ossiniboines, from the Saskatchewan.
5 Crees, from Isle à la crosse and Athabasca.

5 Chippeways, from Great Slave Lake.

3 New Caledonia carriers.

2 From the Columbia.

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I agreed, on the part of the Society, to defray the expenses of what clothing may be necessary in taking these children from their native wilds; which, in these inland districts, will be perhaps 30s. each, on account of the heavy per centage upon the goods.

This arrangement was entered into very cordially on the part of Governor Simpson-to use his own words, "with heart and soul;" and with a perfect understanding, that the object in having the children educated here, is, that they may be, at future periods, useful assistants to persons situated as Schoolmasters among the various tribes to which they originally belonged.

Should these children be brought, we shall have some speaking the principal dialects used from the American boundaryline to the Coppermine River, and from the North-Atlantic to the North-Pacific Ocean.

Of the climate and the state of his health, Mr. Jones thus speaks in June

The cold weather, when the thermometer fell to 40° below zero, always affected my chest, and expectoration of blood followed; but I suffered no material inconvenience, as I was careful not to expose myself. I hope I shall be able to stand the hot season, which is rapidly advancing, with equal firm

ness.

Near the end of July he writes

My health, upon the whole, is good. The heat is now very intense, at times; so much so, that I find it very difficult to use any mental application: but I trust, that, being habituated to the climate will make it more agreeable.

On the last day of August he adds

I am very thankful that the warmest season is past, as I very much felt its enervating effect on my constitution; and humbly trust that I shall be henceforward more prepared for its recurrence. The effect produced on me was not so much in regard to the body, as the mind: I was subject, for the last month, to the most distressing inability to any mental exertion; and I assure you that distressing it was, where the duties are so many, and no one to sustain with me a part of the burden. And here I hope I may with propriety express a wish, that the Committee will, ere long, send a fellow-labourer to this part of the vineyard: I assure you that he will find employment. One, alcne, in such a moral wilderness as this, unless he be of an extraordinary texture of mind, feels the effect of solitude; and, from a combination of causes, the enemy has an advantage in enervating the zeal. Do not conclude from this that I grow weary, or desire to look back.

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