p. 70-71, recounting Chappell’s conversation with an Indian hunter: whilst with the other he laid down his musket upon the trunk of a fallen tree. We offered him rum, which, to our utter astonishment, he refused; but he accepted of some biscuit and boiled pork. The following conversation then ensued between us. We first inquired, where he was going, and at what he had fired. “Me go get salmon gut, for bait, for catchee cod. Me fire for play, at litteel bird.” Observing the word Tower marked on the lock of his musket, we said, “This is an English gun.” “May be. Me no get um “of Ingeles; me get um of Scotchee ship: me “givee de Captain one carabou(deer)for um.”—” Do you go to-morrow to catch cod?” “Ees: me go to-morrow catchee cod: next day, catchee cod: next day comeseven day (Sunday); me no catchee cod; “me takee *, look upGOD.” [Footnote p. 71: * None of the Indians in St. George’s Bay are able to read; but they have been taught almost to adore the Bible, by some French Missionary.] We asked if the savage Red Indians, inhabiting the interior of the country, also looked up toGOD: when, with a sneer of the most ineffable contempt, he replied, “<i>No; no lookee upGOD: killee all men dat dem see, “Red Indian no good.“—Do you understand the talk of the Red Indians?” “Oh, no; me no talkee likee dem: dem talkee all same dog, ‘Bow, wow, wow!'”This last speech was pronounced with a peculiar degree of acrimony: at the same time, he appeared so much offended at our last question, that we did not think it prudent to renew the dialogue.
p. 86, on the Micmac Indians of St. George’s Bay, and the Europeans there: Owing to a contrariety in their religious opinions, eleven of them are called English families, and the remainder are denominated French; the former styling themselves Protestants, and the latter Catholics. We inquired into the method of performing the marriage ceremony, and interring the dead: and were informed, that the Crusoe-looking being, whom we had met with upon first entering the place possessed a licence from St. Johns, to perform the functions of a priest. “He was the only person residing there,” they said, “who knew how to !” and he officiated at all the religious ceremonies of both Protestants and Catholics.
p. 244, in St. John’s, northern Newfoundland: There is a public -room in St. John’s, to which any subscriber may introduce the non-resident officers of the army or navy, who from thenceforth are considered as honorary members of the Society. The whole of the English Daily Papers, the St. John’s Gazette, and most of the British Monthly Publications, are here to be met with.
p. ??unnumbered final two pages, presenting Chappell’s damning response to William Gifford’s Quarterly Review critique of Chappell: “ Permit me, Sir, to congratulate you upon the very important discovery which you have made, that my ‘Voyage, in fact, was confined to a passage to Fort York and back.’ This, at least, proves that you have read the title-page of my book, where the whole of such information may have been acquired.
“The sentence following that which contains this wonderful discovery is more palpably unfounded and unjust than any thing else which you have written upon the subject. You assert that I ‘could know little or nothing’ of the Esquimaux, whose manners and customs I have endeavoured to describe. Upon what foundation you have made this unwarranted assertion, it shall be for yourself to determine; when, in reply, I proceed to state, that I had, for a considerable length of time, not only opportunities of daily intercourse with the Esquimaux, but that I saw them under circumstances peculiarly calculated to afford accurate information; because, by a singular instance of good fortune, I was admitted into their habitations, which had not happened to any European before, during the last forty years.
“In common with the rest of your readers, I can but admire the easy self-complacency with which you turn from my Narrative, to what you call ‘metal more attractive;’ i.e. metal of your own manufacturing.
Now, admitting, as I am desirous of doing, in its fullest extent, the superior attraction of your agile pen, I must regret that any purpose you may have in view should render it necessary for you to bestow upon yourself such gratuitous and open commendation; and the more so, because you have done this in a case where you are liable to just reprehension. While I acknowledge the pleasure I have experienced in reading the scientific article of which my persecuted book has been made the theme. I might, as easily as yourself, have adopted your own style of sweeping criticism; urging that you have written a long dissertation about seas ‘that you never visited’—ice ‘that you never saw’—and countries ‘which you never approached within many thousands of miles.’ Possibly, if you should hereafter cast your eyes upon ‘A Voyage to Newfoundland and Labrador,’‘ which 1 am now publishing, I may receive some further proofs of the notice with which you are pleased to honour my writings: and most sincerely hoping this will be the case,
“I have the honour to be, Sir, yours, &c.
EDWARD CHAPPELL, Lieutenant of the Royal Navy.” “To W. Gifford, Esq”