SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 187 



What will be the future destiny of Tanner appears to 

 us very uncertain. We much question whether he can 

 ever be satisfied with sharing in the occupations and com- 

 forts of civilized life. We think it more probable that the 

 wandering and irregular habits which he seems to have 

 imbibed from the Indians will soon drive him back from 

 the settlements to his usual haunts in the woods. He was 

 at one time considered, by zealous persons, as a fit instru- 

 ment for the conversion of Indians to Christianity, but we 

 doubt whether he can ever be brought to feel tliat deep con- 

 viction in the truths of Revelation, which is required to 

 make fit ministers of the gospel. While his strong mind 

 appears to have rejected the superstitions of Indians, it has 

 imbibed a sort of philosophic incredulity, which would 

 make him but a slow and unwilling convert to the purest 

 of faiths. 



Tanner was of a disposition naturally stern, which his 

 mode of life and the sentiments of his companions have 

 but increased. He was said, by many, never to have been 

 seen to shed a tear; when he was bereft of his daughters, 

 he wept not ; his grief was of too stern a character. But it 

 was evident that the conflict of emotions in his mind, at 

 the time that he was compelled to land from our canoes, 

 overpowered him, and his eyes glistened with a tear which 

 he attempted in vain to shake off. 



There is a feature in his character which we have not 

 alluded to, and, as it is honourable to him, we should be 

 loath to omit it. We allude to his warm gratitude for all 

 those who have at various times manifested kindness to 

 him. His affection for his Indian mother, and for her fa- 

 mily, was great. Of the late Lord Selkirk he always spoke 

 with much feeling. To Dr. M'Laughlin he appeared sin- 

 cerely attached. He frequently mentioned the kind sym- 



