Feby 15. 1815, New Zealand
Revd Sir,
	A long time has elapsed since I have sent you any account of my self, or the great Work I engaged in When in England, having no profitable News to send, What ever blame Mr M[arsden] may think proper to lay upon me on account of the Mission or any thing else he is welcome so to do, I do not conceive why he should, as I have been too much at his call, and too redy to obey, if he don’t know, I does to my sorrow, I was recovering from a severe Illness when I received your kind Letter also Mr William’s if I mistake not, Novr 10,1812 I changed a single life to a married state In August 28 1813 Mrs King was put to bed with a son at  this season she is expects to be put to bed every Day. As soon as Mr Kendle & his Family came into port Jackson the thought of N.Z. was stured [sic] up in our Minds, & in a short time Mr Hall & Kendle went to the Bay of Islands to see and Hear and learn all they could of the natives they brought back Dueaterra and two more Chiefs with them with an intention to go with their Familys to settle at the Bay of Islands, I was called upon to go with them, after three weeks voyage (in which I & my wife and child were very sick) we arrived at this Port and are in good health, but our House or Hut was made with flags it by the Natives it has no Chimney in it it will neither keep wind nor Rain out, we have no window in it. Mr M[arsden] gave orders to have it made he says it is very comfortable indeed it will do very well,  This is a f [sic] very wet Day it has been so for this three Days on Sunday last Feby 12 it rain’d very much the watter came through upon our wheat rice bet [sic] clothing &c the watter was half over my shoes in our bed room [f] from the wetness of the durt floor as our hut is on low flat ground our clothing is dampt tho we do all we can to keep them dry we have no fire to dry them when it rains, as our fire is out of doors for my own part I am in good health, but it is uncomfortable indeed for my fife [sic] and Child in the state she is in, it will be a great blessing indeed if it does not make her suffer exceedingly as She has taken a severe cold allredy [sic]. We expect to have a good House before long but I fear not before winter. Mr Marsden Mr Nicklass Mr Kendle are a writing Dayly. They will give a description of the Island the people their beheaviour and all that has passed since we embarked for New Zealand they will give a better account to the Society than I am able to give and I doubt but you will have the satisfaction to see it. The Natives beheave to us as well as can be expected considering the state they are in, they are in a most deplorable wreched Missarable and pitiable condition as ever Heathens was I think, they know not who made them, nor who made their country or any thing, that is in th it or the Sea that surrounds it, The first sunday that Mr M[arsden] preached on shore Dueterra made him a Pulpit after sermon Mr M. asked him to explain it to the Natives that ware present but his answer was they know nothing about it now l by and by they will on another Day when Mr M[arsden] was trying to purchase some ground to build our Houses upon Most of the Natives belonging to this place was present he wished Dueaterra to explain for him and tell them what we came for who sent us how they ought to beheave to us what they might expect if they beheaved  if good or bad to us, if well they should have plenty of axes &c &c, if bad the Governor would send plenty of Soldiers and kill them all, Dueterra’s answer was they know nothing about it now by and by [f] they know, at a nother time Mr M[arsden] told him that Mr Kendle would teach the Children to read and write and he you must send them, by and by, I make Farms first grow plenty of Wheat and corn &c &c, and then teach the Children by & by they like it very well, know nothing about it yet, I hope these few lines will find you in health of body and prosperity of Soul enjoying all the blessings of old England and all the blessings of the new Jerusalem, and be at last filled with all the fulness of God is the sincere prayer of your most unworthy Friend now and ever, please to give my sincere & humble thanks to Mr Wilson Esqr for his kindness in forwarding my Fathers letters to me, having no other way of speaking to them but by Letters, My sincere respects to all that are [near] and Dear, and to all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and pray for the prosperity of Zion. Bretherin pray for us, that the [Gospel] may have free course and be glorified even [?as it] is with you, and to  him that is able to keep us be Glory for ever Amen, So I rest— — —

Revd Sir,
Your Most
Unworthy Servant
John King