C[hurch] M[issionary] House
Dec. 16th/ [18]14
My Dear Sir,
	My last to you was dated Aug 18/14. We have since received yours of March 15/14 and May 17/14, with the various Depositions and other enclosures.
	You have long ere this, I hope, received mine of March 18/14, announcing the grant of £500 per annum, as the formation foundation of a Society to be formed by you in connexion with ours.
	We have shipped on board the Northampton Ironmongery and Manchester goods &c as per Bills of Lading and Invoice enclosed. You will please to place to the credit of the Society the sum of £389: 0: 4, as a part of its grant. I repeat what I said before that we are ready to entrust any reasonable sums to the disposal of yourself and friends on promising grounds. If you can establish the proposed auxiliary Society, and you and your friends think the vessel purchased by you likely to answer, and if you can secure the proper Management of the concern, let it be taken wholly into our Service, and draw upon us for what is needful: at all events, should you have seen it requisite to dispose of her, as it is not fit that you should incur loss in the pursuit of our objects, you will draw on me for any such loss you may have sustained. But I hope better things; and cannot but both trust and pray that your anxious efforts for the good of New Zealand will be abundantly prospered, both to your own joy and ours.
	You will see by the Missionary Registers sent in the Northampton what we are doing, and how [f] greatly it pleases God to prosper ours and other Societies. Please to dispose of the Copies, with the Reports &c to the best advantage, and cause the parcels to be delivered as directed.
	The employment for of the Active for our purposes, and the establishment of some such a vessel  for those of the London M[issionary] S[ociety] will supersede the vessel, I presume, so long projected. Indeed there are many difficulties in carrying on joint concerns. We shall all do best by exerting ourselves in our own sphere. You will see, by mine of Aug. 18th, how much your purchase of the Active meets my ideas.
	Our Committee are much interested in your last accounts, and in the prospects of success which are opening upon us in your quarter.
	We are much grieved at the ill will manifested toward you; but the God of all grace will enable you, I doubt not, to maintain your Christian character and efforts thro’ evil report and thro’ good report.
	The return of Mr Hall to a sense of his obligations has much gratified us. May God be with him, and with all who labour with us in his cause! Your conduct towards him and Mr King was most faithful.
	Your efforts for the good of the New Zealanders, and for the South Sea Islanders at large, will call down blessings on your memory, from generations yet unborn!
	Government have granted us the freight of the stores now sent.
	Letters from Mr  Kendall and Mr  Hall, of June 15th from New Zealand, encourage us to hope that your next accounts respecting their voyage will be favourable.
	We are happy that you are pleased with Mr  Kendall, and trust he will prove a steady labourer in that great cause on which he has entered— He has drawn upon [f] me for his Salary up to Xmas next, which I have accepted: but we wish all Salaries and pecuniary concerns to be adjusted and settled with the Society which we have proposed. Wm Hall tells me that his only differences with you were on account of money, and wishes to have those affairs transacted directly with us: that cannot be: you will readily see that the acts and resolutions of a Society conducted as I am sure yours will be, will be of full authority with them, and will give us ease and confidence in the management & permanence of our concerns in your distant quarter.
	You are requested to employ our money in such a way as shall seem to you most subservient to our common designs— establishing a School at Parramatta &c for New Zealanders &c &c.
	Wm Hall‘s words are, “I intend entirely to rely on the Society for my Salary or assistance; and you will be so kind as to send me out property to the amount of the money, in wearing apparel— such as printed cottons, callicos, jeans or good fustians &c.” I have written to him to the above purport.
	From the Rev. John Fawcett, of Carlisle, I have received directions to lay out for Wm Hall the sum of £33:19:7, which comes to him through his wife. This has been done in Articles which he wished, amounting to £39:0:2—
	Viz. Ironmongery in Case No 3				14:12: 2
      Manchester Goods— enclosed in Case No 7	17:  3: 5
      Powder half barrel					  3:10: 7
      							 35: 6: 2
      		Charges				   3:14.—
      							 39: 0:2
	You will please to present him with the difference; and likewise present to Mr Kendall, Mr Hall, and Mr King, the Crockery contained in Crates No 8,9,10; with the Stationery enclosed in case No 4 a watch for Mr Kendall is [f] enclosed in Case No 14. He wrote for Medicines: they will be found in Case No 8, & are for their common use.
	I am much pressed for time, or I would enlarge further on the great subjects which occupy our minds. To morrow morning I set off for Bedford to assist at the formation of a new C[hurch] M[issionary] Association. The Northampton is gone down the River, and I have but a few hours left to do much business in—
	I beg to be kindly remembered to Mrs Marsden. May God be with you and yours, & return a hundred fold all your efforts into your own bosom.
      I remain, dear Sir
      Very affect[ionatel]y yours
      (Signed) Josiah Pratt