Mr. — has just been here; he is one of the trustees of Thornhill Church. To him and his associates the Governor has this day made over 600 acres for the use and benefit of the minister out of the clergy reserves. These they will perhaps exchange for half the number of acres near the church, situated on the George Street Road, and when the exchange shall be effected, they will proceed with the house. You have heard about the long and still unsettled disputes about the Clergy Reserves. In Mr. Pitt’s administration, a certain portion of the land was reserved for the clergy in each township; but the Presbyterians of the Scotch Church and the other denominations have lately put in their claim, and since the litigation commenced, nothing has been done, no lands, in any case here, I believe, have been assigned. His Excellency wrote to Lord Goderich, and has just obtained from him permission to assign lands to such clergy as at present are just being fixed in their respective districts. Sir John is now acting upon this permission; some lands belonging to the clergy reserves have been sold to form a fund, in hand, and out of this he builds the parsonage house. We are much indebted to the Governor, Sir John Colborne, for his perseverance, without which no adequate provision for ministers of our church could have been made, for none of our congregations would hear a word about contributions as long as there was a chance of the clergy reserves being obtained.
Oh, how glad I am, my Mary, we came here, instead of going to the United States, and that the good providence of God directed us to this country. Depend upon it, we shall never regret the step we have taken, every day convinces me of its expediency, in every point of view. May the same God of love who brought us safe and directed us, as the pioneers of our little party, bless, preserve, and keep those that remain, and bring you through every perplexity and trial to this land of his peculiar smile.