Parramatta May 15th 1818
Dear & Revd Sir/
	I have sent my Letters by Captain Ker of the David Shaw and hope you will receive them safe. Should Captain Ker call at your office, I beg to refer you to him for any Information you may require— I have requested him to call at the Bay of Islands if the wind will permit, to see the Settlers, and take their Letters— The Active is now here, and will return to New Zealand in a few days— I am getting her ready, as fast as I can— nine New Zealanders will return in her. Three or four will remain at Parramatta [f] for Improvement. One is now making Rope and spinning Twine, two are learning Brick making, and another learning Farming work. I am going to send a Person over to salt and cure Fish. As there are the greatest abundance of Fish, I think this will be a great advantage to them, to be taught how to cure them. I do not intend that this Establishment shall be any Expense to the Society as I send the Fisherman on my own private Account; and shall see how it will answer. I hope now the very heavy Expense is over; and also that the difficulties that have been thrown in the way will be in some degree removed. They never can be so great again. In Consequence of the many Indignities I received in every possible way, I requested His Excellency [f] to allow me to resign my office as Magistrate at Parramatta. To this the Governor replied he would not allow me to resign, my services were too beneficial to the Public. However I was resolved the next Insults I received from the Governor, as a Magistrate I would retire from the Bench, and act no longer. An opportunity soon occurred, when I immediately sent the Governor my Resignation, informing him I would act no longer. In the next Gazette, the Governor published a General Order, stating that he had dispensed with my Services, endeavouring to impress upon the public mind that he had dismissed me, and that is the Reward I have got for many a weary day and sleepless night during a Period of twenty years. I merely mention this, as some of my Friends on reading the Governor’s Order [f] might be induced to think I had done some thing wrong for which the Governor had dismissed me from the Office of the Magistracy. This was wholly an Act of my own— I resigned my office, in order that I might be more independent of the Governor, and less exposed to Insult, and vexation. Captain Ker was at Parramatta at the very time; and knows what was the public Opinion of the Governor’s Conduct in this Instance. His Excellency would not allow me to resign; but I had no Idea of remaining in an Office merely to be insulted & annoyed. The more retired from public Affairs, and public men, the happier & safer I shall be—
I remain
Revd Sir
Yours affectionately
Saml Marsden
Revd J. Pratt