(Copy) Sent to Rev. Samuel Marsden C.M. House, London Sep 5/[18]16 My Dear Sir, I hope you have long ere this received mine by the Ocean withe [sic] Investment sent by that Vessel. I have to acknowledge the safe arrival of your dispatches by the Sydney Packet; and that of those also, this very day, by the Northampton. By the Sir William Bensley we send another Investment. The Invoice and Inventory of which are enclosed. I hope also to enclose the Bill of Lading; but it was left on board, with the mate, at Deptford and is not yet sent up. Copies of the M[issionary] Register up to July last are on board; Since they were sent the August number has been published; but as the friend by whom we send this packet cannot take much luggage, we are able to send you now only a few copies of that Number. To this work, and to the copies of our last report on board the Sir W[illiam].B[ensley]., we must refer you and the other friends of the Society for full information respecting the proceedings of our Institution. I will reply to the various parts of your correspondence, which require replies. We have printed, as you will see, Mr Campbell’s official to you of Nov 17/14, with your report; and are preparing to print your Public Letter. The Com[itte]e and our friends are warmly interested by your reports of New Zealand. The[y] rejoice in your safety and success. Mowhee, mentioned among the crew of the Active, is come to this country; we have placed him for instruction, under the care of the Rev. Basil Woodd; and, had we known that you had adopted our hint of a New Zealand Seminary in New South Wales in sufficient time, we should have probably have [sic] got him a passage by the Sir Wm Bensley. It seems right, however, that a check should be [f] put to this disposition in the New Zealanders, to visit this country unless they are men of character and influence, and whom it may be worth while to bestow Labour and expence. Mowhee, I believe, behaves well. We were obliged to discard George Bruce, whom I mentioned in my last. Letters have reached us from Mr Kendall of feb 13/15, of July 6/15 to you, and of Oct 19/16; and very lately, by the Catharine, Captn Graham, direct from New Zealand, Letters of Jan 19 to 29/16. By these last we learn, with regret that Wm Hall had seperated [sic] from the rest and had been attacked by some Natives, and obliged to return. By these letters, and others from Hall and King, we grieve to find that dissentions have crept in amongst them, and mutual accusations are made, particularly between Kendall and King. The Com[mittee must refer all these painful things to the controul and management of yourself and their other friends, under the gracious guidance of God, whose favour and mercy they devoutly implore. Mr Kendall wished an Investment to be sent out to him for his salary: but the Com[mitte]e wish every thing to be adjusted by their friends. Send us a list of what articles may be required, and we will consign Investments to you, as we have done, and now do, and you will be good enough to manage for us the whole Mission. Nothing but confusion will arise if any other course is pursued. As circumstances do not yet favour the establishment of a Public Society, the Com[mitte]e wish you and your friends to form a Corresponding Committee in the manner in which their friends at Calcutta and at Madras, respectively, are acting. You will, of course, ne kind enough to act as President of the Com[mitte]e and you and your bretheren [sic] will associate any other person of decided piety with you that may be acceptable to the body. We cannot look for any cordial or efficient aid to our designs except from really pious men, either at home or abroad. Mens [sic] of benevolent minds may assist us as a matter of feeling, and sometimes others will assist us from very inferior motives; [f] but we look to the true servants of God for aid and drawing down the blessing of our Divine Master on our Society. Many things arise to dump [sic] our spirits, but we mut pray forth {sic] faith and patience. The Heathen of New Zealand shall one day be brought to know our Lord; and future Duaterra shall die, not as that poor fellow did, in clouds and darkness, but in the light of the Lord. You see our plans of Christian Institutions. Would it not be as well to have one in view near you, to be called ‘The Xtian Institution of New South Wales; established and supported by the Church Missionary Society, for the education of Heathen Youth, and for the diffusion of Christianity, and of useful knowledge among the Natives of the South Seas.” This appellation is analogous to that which you will find in the last Report as applied to Sierra Leone, and describes the objects of such an Institution. You may begin on a small scale, and feel your way: perhaps, in time, purchasing or obtaining a Grant of land, at Parramatta, or elsewhere suitably situated, with proper buildings, and competent Teachers. It grieves me that your Society for the protection of the Islanders fails in its duty. I shall bring the matter before our Com[mitte]e. We must consider whether it will be practicable to do any thing with Government in the subject; and also in the matter of the Active, so as to facilitate our designs by her. But we are assure[d] that there is much delicacy in interfering with the Colonial Government. In case of a change in that quarter, we will do all we can. Pray assure Mr Cartwright that the destination which he has given to his son delighted me. I hear well of him: and will take the first opportunity of making known to him the wishes of [f] his father; and I pray God to prepare him by his Holy Spirit, to become a zealous and faithful servant of our Master. Youre [sic] our [sic] friends, who with you signed your united Letter of Octr 25th, that we gather confidence from your hearty cooperation with us, and leave the cause of our Lord as [sic] Master in your hands. May we here and you on the scene of action continually conduct our plans to His blessing. It would be a great satisfaction to the Com[mitte]e if you would (say as near to each Quarter Day as may be) send us an Official Letter, agreed on at a Meeting, conveying a statement of proceedings with remarks and suggestions arising from them. This paper might be regularly prepared at the time, and would be ready for dispatch by the first opportunity that should occur, a duplicate of it being sent by the next subsequent conveyance. By this means a regular series of information would be likely to be secured to the Com{mitte]e. The Corresponding Com[mitte]e should, at the expence of the Fund, pay copyists if necessary. Possibly you may find some well-disposed persons willing to aid our exertions by Subscriptions and Benefactions to the Fund, and it might be well worth while I conceive, to print, annually or oftener a Report of proceedings, with an appeal to Xtian feeling in behalf of the heathen, with a list of your Committee and Contribution [sic], and an abstract of the C. M. Society’s Proceedings. This would gradually create an interest in favour of the plans and objects of the Society, and might ultimately lead to a public and efficient co-operation: and if not, it would yet serve as a centre of union of all that is good and praiseworthy in the Church. Of whatever you print, [f] please to send us 150 Copies for our Associations. We are sorry that the medicines by the Northampton were not to be found. Our accounts speak of them as packed in the Crate No 8. It is now too late to replace them by this opportunity. With respect to the regulations of the Settlement and settlers in New Zealand, the Com[mitte]e entirely leave them in the hands of yourself and our other friends. It might be well for your Com[mitte]e immediately to apprise the Settlers, in an official communication, that this is wholly entrusted to you, as well as all other matters respecting the Societies [sic[ exertions in your Seas. You see that it is out of the question for us to be referred to on matters of which we must be very incompitent [sic] judges; and are well assured, that, with far better means of coming to a determination on matters as they arise than we can possess, you and your coadjutors have equally with us at heart the glory and honour of our Lord, and the salvation of the Heathen among whom you live. It would be very desirable if we could, from time to time, agree on a certain annual sum which should cover all kinds of expenditure. At present our proposal to you was £500 per annum you proposed to us and the London Missionary Society, that each should stand engaged for £250 to cover the expence of the Active. That Society has agreed. We feel it the most secure way for love and harmony to act separately, and independently of other bodies, as much as we can; and we could not but apprehend in the present case, that some ground of dissatisfaction might arise in that Society and ours not knowing how to adjust the work to be done for us, respectively, by the Active. You will see by the report of the London M[issionary] Society (M. Register for [f] August, p.308) that they expect their own vessel, building at Eimeo, to supersede the necessity of any other. We were thinking that the best way would be to charge that Society for what work the Active only did, and for us to pay the remainder. However, we are persuaded you will manage the matter the best way you can. In looking at our expenditure on account of the New Zealand mission, we find that about £3,300 has been laid out within two years, including the present Investment. This has, doubtless, arisen from the great expence of the first establishment of the Settlers. The Com[mitte]e would be glad to receive from your Com[mitte]e an estimate of the probable annual charge to the Society of the Settlement as now established, including the cost of maintaining the Active beyond her returns, and also the £200 per annum stated for the New Zealand Seminary in New South Wales. As considerable quantities of stores have now been sent in the three Investments by the Northampton, the Ocean, and the Sir Wm Bensley, it will perhaps not be necessary to send more till we receive your reply to this letter. Our determination on that point will, however, depend on what we may hear from you in the interim. Suppose it should be found that the objects which I have above stated could be fully accomplished for £1000 per year with any additions which benevolent persons in the Colony might make to that sum, if you would state how much additional we must grant per annum on the sending out of any Missionary, or new Settler, we should be able to come pretty near to an accurate estimate of our expenditure; and it becomes important for us to do this, as, tho’ the public liberality has been great, yet our demands from Africa and India are greatly increasing, while the altered circumstances of the country seriously diminish the ability of our friends. [f] Yet we have no doubt but He whom we serve will support us in all wise and prudent exertions to promote His Kingdom. We shall most gladly appropriate to New Zealand whatever Christian Liberality will enable us to do: and I can assure you that the reports which have reached us from you have awakened in many a very lively interest in the civilization and conversion of that noble people. I send you a copy of a letter to me from the Rev. Andrew Cheap Vicar of Knaresbro’, a most worthy and primitive Clergyman; with a magnificent proposal of his in behalf of New Zealand. I have told him that his plan appears too large and adventurous. It may, however, leade to something: and it will certainly serve to shew you and your colleagues that there are most hearty friends to New Zealand among us. I have heard nothing more about the ship, to be called “The Missionary”, which I mentioned in my last: however these things shew that there is a stir in people’s minds respecting your quarter of the world. Knaresbro’ using a great deal of flax, Mr Cheap and his friends took up the examination of your specimens with spirit, and with an anxious desire to find that they would answer. I send you copies of communications on the subject, and wish they were more satisfactory. Since I began this letter, I have received the Bill of Lading, and enclose it. We have succeeded in purchasing for you a light Chaise, and Government have granted freight for it— [f] Many thanks for the various curiosities. They excite much wonder. Any others that you can send, particularly such as illustrate the moral state of the people, will be very acceptable. I enclose a letter for the Governor on the subject of Robert Williams, which you will please to wrap up and present to his Excellency. We were in hopes that Mr Kendall’s appointment as a Magistrate, a printed copy of which is before me, would have repressed the evils very much which it was designed to counteract: but, by one of his latest Letters, he himself appears to have been grossly abused by a Captain Parker, of the Phoenix Whaler. Your Colleagues, who with you addressed me, will please to consider this was an answer to your joint communication. It appears from Mr Kendall’s Letters that your injunctions prohibitory of private trade have not been strictly attended to. On this subject of private trade as well as on all others which concern the regulations of the Settlement, the Com[mitte]e entirely trust themselves with you and their other friends, and insist on a strict adherence to your directions. Your application in behalf of Richard Stockwell shall be forwarded to some friends at Bristol, his native place. I was lately applied to by those friends in his favour; my reply was, if he was penitent [f] and desirous of doing good, I thought it would be much better for him, to lay himself out in benefiting the New Zealanders, than attempt to return. I will, however, do what I can to put it into his power to return; though I think the view which I have mentioned should be urged upon him. I have sent the case of William Roberts to the Under Sheriff, who is a friend of our Society. If any thing can be done before this packet is made up it shall be inclosed. Accept the sincere thanks of the Com[mitte]e for the full details which you have given us. Much interesting matter will be furnished by them for our publication. I hope I have answered all the material points which required notice. I would write to you at large upon the proceedings of our Society; but refer you to the Missionary Register for a much fuller account than I can give. Pray present mine and Mrs Pratt’s kind regards to Mrs Marsden. Remember me affectionately to your Colleagues. My earnest prayers [sic] is, that our God may graciously prosper all our designs, and that he would return manifold blessings into your bosoms for all your labours in his cause. I am ever, dear Sir Affectionately yours (signed) Josiah Pratt Rev. Samuel Marsden [f] P.S. Mr Shelton is anxious to rectify the mistake about Wm Roberts: but it is singular enough that another William Roberts was convicted about the same time, and condemned for transportation for life. As by the books at Newgate there appears to be but one W.R. transported, Mr Shelton supposes the parties to have been unfortunately exchanged, and that the wrong W.R. was sent abroad and the other kept to work out his time at home, but, as it will be requisite to examine the books of the Hulks at Woolwich, and to apply to the Secretary of State, it cannot be ascertained in time for this dispatch, but intelligence of the real state of the case will be sent out by the next Vessel. Neither the crime of W.R. nor the ship in which he went out, is mentioned; or one or both of those circumstances might have led to the true state of the matter. The letters to the Settlers are first to be read by the Corresponding Committee as some statements therein may require their notice.