LTistory of the ** Dayspring.” 45 
The mission already possessed a small schooner, the “ John 
Knox,” which had been built in Glasgow, and had been sent 
out to Sydney on the deck of a ship. But the “John Knox ” 
was a very small thing, of only a few tons’ capacity, and could 
only sail between the islands in summer weather. What was 
wanted now was a real ship, that could go anywhere—even to 
Sydney or Melbourne—and that should have a real captain and 
crew, like the “John Williams,” and not like the “John 
Knox,” which was sailed by a missionary and two or three 
blackfellows. : ; 
Mr. Paton’s proposal took at once ; and in a very few months 
upwards of £3000 were collected, and remitted to Nova Scotia, 
wherewith to build a suitable vessel. The success of the move- 
ment may be inferred from the fact, that within a year-and-a- 
half of the time when the scheme was broached in Australia, 
the “ Dayspring ” was launched in Nova Scotia. 
The vessel was built under the auspices of Dr. Bayne, of Pictou, 
the then convener of the NovaScotia Mission Committee; and we 
believe that to Dr. Bayne first occurred the happy name by 
which the vessel was thereafter known—‘“‘ The Dayspring.” 
Soon after the keel was laid, the actual superintendence and 
care of the structure was given to Captain W. A. Fraser—our 
own Captain Fraser, who subsequently commanded the “ Day- 
spring” for eight years, and whom we still remember with much 
affection and regret. 
The “Dayspring ” was built at a cost of £3432; in this, 
however, was included all the furnishings, and a double set of 
sails. A deck-house was afterwards found to be needed, and 
this was put up at Sydney, at a cost of £344 5s. 11d.; so 
that the ‘“ Dayspring,” as we afterwards knew her, cost 
altogether close on £4000. 
The new mission vessel—a brigantine, that is, rigged as a 
brig, with square sails on her foremast ; and as a schooner, with 
sails fore and aft on her mainmast—left Halifax in October 
