Church Missionary House
April 5/20.
Dear Brother Butler—
	We wrote you on the 3d. of Augt. by the Dromedary; and have now received your Letter of July 5th, accompanied by your Journal from Mar 10th to July with the printed account of the foundation of the Van Diemans Land Bible Society.
	We bless God that you, and the rest of our friends were brought safely through your voyage to Port Jackson.
	The attention bestowed by yourself and your companions, to the instruction of the Convicts and Ship’s Crew, and in imparting to the sick and dying the consolations of the Gospel, has given the Committee much satisfaction; and will, we trust, be followed by the Divine Blessing.
	The assiduous endeavours, likewise, of yourself and Mr. Hall, to recover Tooi and Teeterree to a right state of feeling, and to induce them to apply themselves to the acquisition of useful knowledge, are entirely agreeable to the wishes of the Committee. May the prayers which have been offered up, and the labours of love which have been employed on their behalf, at length bring forth fruit to the glory of God and the salvation of their Souls!
	The Committee felt much concerned to learn through Mr Hall, the highly improper conduct of Capt Lamb on the Voyage, particularly toward yourself. Had you been able to exercise more self-command and forbearance, it would certainly have been more conformable to the spirit of the Gospel: though the Committee cannot be surprized at the feelings which were called forth by such circumstances of provocation.
	The harmony which has been maintained among yourselves is peculiarly grateful to the Committee; and [f] they earnestly entreat and enjoin, that you will continue to cultivate a spirit of love and concord, which will at once impart strength to labour in your arduous work, and comfort your hearts under the discouragements and distresses inseparable from it.
	The Committee rejoiced to learn that Mr Marsden was to accompany you to New Zealand; as his presence and counsel will so materially contribute to the welfare of the Mission, and to your comfortable settlement in your Station.
	You, and all the Settlers, will consider any regulations established by Mr. Marsden, relative to the Mission, as sanctioned by the authority of the Committee, and will strictly conform to them, in the whole of your conduct and proceedings. Mr. Marsden’s attachment to Missionary Objects, his devotedness to the best interests of New Zealand, his prudence and experience, fully entitle him to this confidence.
	We are glad to observe the regularity with which your Journal has, hitherto, been kept and request that you will continue to keep it in the same manner, and transmit it home at every favourable opportunity.
	Mr Cowell, a Twine Spinner, with his wife and child, sailed for New Zealand, in the Saracen in Decr.  They will prove, we trust, an accession of real strength to the Mission; and that the instruction, which he will give to the New Zealanders, in the art of Twine-spinning, will materially promote the introduction and progress of civilization among them.
	You will, however, bear in mind, that the great object for which the Settlement at Bay of Islands [sic] has been formed, is, to convey to the Natives of New Zealand the spiritual blessings of the Gospel; and will sedulously endeavour, by every prudent and suitable means, to accomplish this design. The utmost practicable simplicity, in stating and explaining the doctrines of Christianity, must be carefully and constantly studied. The misery and guilt of man, the mercy and grace of God, and the love of Christ are themes on which you will largely and frequently dwell, [f] with unceasing prayer for a blessing from on high. Thus prosecuting your work, though faith and patience will probably be severely exercised, your “labour will not be in vain in the Lord;” for “as rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so,” saith the Lord, shall my word be, that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void.”
	It appearing, from Mr Hall’s Journal, that efforts were made on the Voyage, to instil an opinion into the minds of Tooi and Teeterree, that the English intend to possess themselves of New Zealand in the same way as they have done of New Holland, it will be important that you, and our other friends in the Settlement, should uniformly pursue such a line of conduct as may remove this impression, or prevent any injurious consequences from it.
	You will, therefore, most scrupulously avoid, both in word and act, every thing which would create or strengthen a suspicion in the minds of the Natives. [sic] Your own safety, as well as the success of the Mission, will perhaps not a little depend on your prudence and discretion, in allaying suspicions, which may have already been excited in their minds, and in fully possessing yourselves of their confidence and good-will.
	With our Christian regards to Mrs Butler and your Son, and our prayers that you may live happily united, and experience the grace and protection of God among the people among whom you dwell
We are
Dear Brother Butler
Ever affectionately yours,
(signed) Josiah Pratt
Edwd Bickersteth