OF THIRTY-SIX YEARS' RESIDENCE IN CANADA WEST: BEING A Christian Journal and Narrative. BY J. CARRUTHERS. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." ECCLESIASTES XI. 1. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert HAMILTON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY T. L. M'INTOSH. PREFACE. ON writing a Missionary Journal and Narrative of 36 years' residence in Western Canada, down to 1861, I give thanks to Almighty God for such length of years, whilst many of those who were my contemporaries have passed to the grave, and their spirits to God who gave them. As early as the year 1825, the writer of this Narrative, jointly with the Rev. James Harris, of York, wrote to the Rev. Dr. Brown, of Dalkeith, (by request,) giving him an account of the destitution of the early Presbyterian settlers in the forests of Western Canada, in relation to the ordinances of God, and the blessings of the Gospel. This communication was presented to the Presbyterian Synod of Edinburgh, and received the response that they had not the funds to enable the Synod to send Missionary Labourers to this New Vineyard. The Church of Scotland we understood was also applied to, without success. Seven years passed away before a vital interest was manifested, either by the Kirk of Scotland, or by the above named Synod. True it is, that from 1817 to 1830, there were a few Presbyterian Ministers labouring in the forests of Western Canada, sowing the seed of the |