Thornhill, Upper Canada,
Feb. 11, 1840.
My dear Armstrong,
I FEEL much indebted to you for having complied with Mr. Ditcher’s
suggestion, as well as to Mr. D. himself, for so kindly and judiciously
making it. {226} And I hope that now we shall be able to enjoy a little
occasional intercourse, not perhaps to the same extent, or with the same
buoyant energetic feelings of our more youthful bygone days, but with the
spirit of those who are drawing nearer and nearer to life’s peaceful
termination, and who, while grateful for the attached intercourse which
has characterised a few of their past years, must still feel that in this
world of severings and perturbations we form our several friendships, not
so much to enjoy them on earth, as to renew and perfect them in heaven.
What you mention concerning your dear family has greatly interested me.
God has been very very gracious to you and them, and I do sincerely
praise him on your and their behalf.
I have thought a good deal on the hints you throw out respecting my
namesake and endeared godson, and hope the best wishes of your heart will
be realised with regard to him. Canada, however, does not strike me as
being the place for him, at least in a pecuniary point of view. £150
sterling, with a house, and three or four acres of land, is the utmost he
should calculate on. Though a rector, I have no more than £135 sterling,
and have no parsonage house, but am dwelling in one erected by myself, at
my own cost. The general allowance made by the bishop at present is £100
sterling; and this is paid out of the sum contributed by the different
societies in England, principally the Propagation, or by the fund arising
from the sale of clergy reserves. In addition, however, to this £100,
the bishop expects that the congregation should provide four acres of
land, build a parsonage, and pledge themselves to give a salary of £50.
But this pledge is too frequently merely nominal, the money being very
seldom fully, or at all nearly, paid, and little more is obtained beyond
the bishop’s allowance, excepting what may arise from surplice fees and
the rental of church pews. Something in addition, however, may be
expected when the vexatious matter of the clergy reserves shall be
settled; but as these will be uncleared land, no immediate advantage to
any extent would of course accrue. Upper Canada, indeed, I consider as
one of the most necessitous of all our provinces, and none offer so
little in the shape of just and equitable remuneration. Much, therefore,
as I should rejoice on many accounts at Mr. George’s coming here, I am
afraid he would find it very difficult to procure the means of adequate
support. Orders, indeed, if only tolerably qualified, he might with ease
and without expense obtain. Important spheres, also, of ministerial
engagement are numerously presented. And to one who has no thought of
entering on a married life, or is prepared to rough it, or contentedly to
sink below the customary grade of his profession—to one so prepared, the
missionary field of Canada is the very place. But to those who are
otherwise minded, we ought, in Christian charity, and even in common
fairness, to present the salutary _cave_. Sir George Arthur, no doubt,
would do all in his power to assist him, should we be permitted to retain
him among us; but in Canada his means of this description are exceedingly
limited, and I should almost think that he could exert a more beneficial
influence on his behalf by endeavouring to obtain, through his English
friends, some appointment as chaplain to one of the colonies, or, should
this be questionable, some benefice in Australia, or elsewhere, under
circumstances of more encouragement than we are authorized to hold out in
our poor, neglected, harassed province.
You speak of the possibility of giving us a visit; I need scarcely assure
you how greatly it would delight us all; I fear, however, that Sir George
will have left us, unless you are somewhat agile in your movements. I
have been apprised by him (though quite confidentially) of his kind
intentions towards yourself. How astonished should I have been at their
realization, and how unspeakably rejoiced. But still all is well; and if
time discover not this, faith can tell us of an important day that will.
You lay on me, my endeared friend, a next to impossible injunction; what
a string of kind affectionate inquiries relative to my own procedures,
personally, parochially, domestically.
My labours, I trust, are not altogether in vain in the Lord; our
congregation has been increasing ever since I came here, and this year
the church was enlarged to nearly double its former size, and the
additional pews were all let in three or four days after they were
offered for rental. Some few of my people seem to have been under
gracious influence, and have given me much of encouragement and hope.
And my people at large show me much kindness, and appear attached to my
ministrations.
Socially and domestically we have much of comfort. Good house and
premises, good servants, one of whom has been with us twenty-three
years—and good neighbourhood—pleasant distance (twelve or thirteen miles)
from Toronto—almost every English comfort within our reach, not to say
every luxury. The only cause of regret, perhaps, is that in these
matters we are going too much a-head.
We are far too gay, as a neighbourhood, for my simple liking. A few
evenings since, one gentleman had a party of sixty persons present, many
more invited, with a part of the band of the 93rd regiment, from Toronto.
And very shortly after, another of my congregation had a still gayer and
more extensive assemblage. But you will now begin to sigh over my
interminable and undecipherable scrawl; and therefore, in simple pity to
your straining eyes, I shall only add, that with most affectionate and
Christian regards, in which my whole family unite, to yourself and dear
Mrs. A.,