Bay of Islands New Zealand July 6, 1815 Revd and Dear Sir It is with pleasure, I have this oppertunaty [sic] to send a few lines hoping that they [find] you in good health as they leaves me my Wife and two little Boys. When Mr Marsden was here we made objection against settling at this place but in vain. When he was gone and Duaterra dead, they thought proper to buy a peice of Ground which was level, fit for Gardens and Fields for Corn close by or near an excelent Harbour where most of the Ships come, therefore much more advantageous than this for temporel [sic] concerns. The Sawyer his wife and child and one man went to the new settlement to live Mr Hall was going as soon as he had put his House up, as the Boards was sawn but on Saturday night the 24th of June the natives surrouded [sic] the Sawyers House (one of the men being at our place) and plundred [sic] him of all he had and threatened to kill them, this hath put a stop to it at present, our natives and all our principal Friends, was very sorry and vexed when they see the things agoing, when this robbery was known they was very well pleased hoping it will keep us here they laugh at us and say, me tell you no good go Witunghee, take all your things, no belive [sic] me, & you see now me no tell lie, Allmost every Chief wants us to live at their place one or all of us, but in my opinion it is very improper for a single Family to live with them at present, if we are under them we can do them no good they want to teach us how to treat our Children and many things we must do which we ought not to do, if under them, besides steal all we have and laugh at us. Feb 25 Mr Marsden left this place March 3 Duaterra died, next Day his Wife hung herself, we have been in an unsettled state ever since about the new Settlement, therefore little has been done by each of us at present towards settleing [sic] our selves what has been done is lost but we are saved. [f] I have employed myself in geting a little of the Language makeing & prepareing Flax to spin Twine and Lines and preparing a rope walke [sic], as soon as the Active is gone, it is expected to sail in a few days it is my full intention to take one or two Boys to learn to spin and to make shoes to read and do any thing else that may be useful. Mrs King will have one or two Girls to instruct in readeing writeing, sewing, making any sort of clothing to knit and spin, these things she is well qualified to teach them and to wash and cook and clean the House, these things she will do with pleasure, provided the means are put into our power, Thoes [sic] children will need food and clothing and some little things besides to encourage them, such [as] a Knife, Scissars, Comb, Nails, Chisels, small Hatchet, Plain Iorns [sic], Files, Fish hooks, &c one of these articles would satisfy one of them for one week, some times for two weeks. What I mean Sir, is this, they want now and then a small present to lead them on, the young as well as the old are so much accustomed to stealing that it is hard to find two or three that will not, if we find one or two or more that will not steal we prize them, and it is nessasary [sic] to give them small things to keep them from stealing big ones, Food such as Pork Fish Potatoes are reasonable at this place at present they would be easely kept. they would want a little Tea & suger [sic] if they beheave well one could hardly deny them, if we had it by us. Their clothing might be got at Port—Jackson but they would be much cheaper in England, If we are supplyed with these things we shall be enabled to do our utmost good to the Natives, but if we are to aply [sic] to other people for every individual thing as we want it, our doing good to the natives will depend more upon other people than upon our own industry and care, as other people part with things very reluctantly, when once got into their possession. I have wrote to Mr Marsden to the same effect, at this time. June 22nd Duaterra’s Mother in law came to our Hut with her Grand Daughter desireing us to let let [sic] her live with us [f] to lern to do everything like white people, this being the first that hath been offered to us, we gladly took her in, her name is Ewhora— She is about ten years old, her Father died, her Mother became Duaterras Head wife who hung herself at the Death of him, Mrs Kendall gave her a peice of Print to make two gowns the second she sewed most of it herself it being course, July 2nd. I asked her to say the Alphbet [sic] she refused I put them up as [sic] they want humouring, I soon perceived what was the reason, I taken the Bible down and told her that this was Gods Book, that was not which she read in it being a Spelling Book, when Ewhora heard this she came with pleasure to say her lesson, she knew four Letters at this time lerned two more, she beheaves well at present, if she stays one month with us I have promised her a small Hatchet, to teach them all we are capable of to do them good in spiritual and temporal things, is what we came here to do, we have no other object in view, we desire no other, therefore it be a pleasure to us, to forwarde the Object of our Honourable Society. I have let Mr Marsden have one of my Flax tools, my other is broken— If you would be so kind as to send me three Hackles, one coarse one very strong coarse one, One very fine one, by the first conveyance I shall be much oblidge [sic] to you, I have sent two small parciles [sic] in Mr Kendalls Box, one directed to my Father the other to Mr D. Wilson, if you will be pleased to send them to him. I shall be very thankfull to you, and not esteem it a small Favour, if you should engage with a Linnen Weaver to come out he might bring plenty of Reeds for a Loome, other things I belive can be got here Foot Wheels are one Pound each at port jackson, and least bad ones, if a few five or six was to be sent to me the[y] might be pulled to peices, packed up in a Box, one or two would be useful, A Weaver will be very usefull (when we get settled and the Children begins to learn.) to weave Cloth to clothe the children , for shirts sheets canvas for various uses &c &c so I rest - - - Revd Sir, Your most unworthy And most obedient servant John King Mrs King and my Respects to Mrs Pratt And your Dear Children. Fare well all ye that love and fear God. . . .