Parramatta March 13th 1821
Revd & Dear Sir,
	I have forwarded the last Letters I received from the Revd J. Butler & Mr William Hall from which you will see that all is quiet at New Zealand – At the same time the different whalers greatly distress the Settlement by purchasing every kind of Provisions from the natives with muskets and Powder. It is much to be lamented, that this nefarious Barter cannot be prevented – Animals Food was very scarce when I was there on this Account – I think not much less than 1,000 Hogs were sent on Board the different Ships when I was there. The Missionary Settlement, will never be comfortable till they raise all the Provisions they want; and make themselves independent of the Natives in this Respect – when Capn Skinner had completed his Cargo, he had ten working Bullocks to dispose of, as he could not take them [f] back with him to Port Jackson for want of Commerce – I knew they would be of infinite Importance to the Settlement in agriculture, and in bringing in Timber &c for the Buildings – I therefore informed Capn Skinner, that I would return them in kind, or pay Government a fair price for them when we arrived in N. S. Wales, supposing that no Advantage would be taken by the Government. The bullocks were accordingly left – when we returned, Government wanted Bullocks at a much superior value than those left at New Zealand – I offered to return them in kind, and equally as good as those left by Capn Skinner – but Major Druitt would not allow me to purchase the Cattle from any individual but a Mr Thorsby – I knew if I was compelled to purchase them from him, an unfair advantage would be taken: and therefore refused to do this – Major Druitt purchased them himself from Mr Thorsby, and drew upon me a Bill for £200 Pounds [f] for the Payment of them. I objected to pay this Bill, because it was more than eight Pounds more than the Bullocks were worth, and wrote to the Governor informing him of this Gross Imposition – The Govr sent me a verbal Answer by Major Druitt, but a very angry one, saying he would order twenty five Pounds to be refunded to me out of the Public Fund, and if I would not agree to that he would order an Action to be brought in the civil Court to recover the money from the Church Missionary Society – In Answer to which I replied, in writing I would pay the Bill,– The Governor had reflected on me for not paying the Bill at the first without objection – and I would not receive the twenty five Pounds, as a favour; when more than eighty had been overcharged, and lay myself open to the Governors Animadversions. These Cattle were lean Cattle – The Average Price of fat Cattle sold at his Majesty's Stores for victualling the Colony amounts only to £11. 1s 1d per head – Government have charged £20 per Head for the lean Cattle – which is a very great Imposition, as all the Colony will admit– [f] Mr Harris who was present when I paid the Bill heard the Gentleman who received it say, that £80 had been charged more than their real value. I have written both to Captain Skinner and the Honourable Commissioner of Enquiry on this Subject. I requested this Account might be settled before they sailed from the Colony and told them both, if it was not I should have some dispute with the Governor for attempts would be made to impose, & to take advantage of the Society from the great Regard that Individuals here have towards the Mission – I have inclosed a Statement from the Dep[ut]y Commissary General, what is paid at the Kings Stores on Average for fat Cattle; and also a note from the Magistrate in the interior who possesses many – Mr Harris can explain the whole. I mentioned the Circumstance to Major Goulburn – I told him you might perhaps mention it to his brother the Under-Secretary of State – Govt ought in common Justice to refund some £80 in some way or other to the Society – However you will act as you may deem prudent – The Cattle will be of great Service at the Settlement and I have sent over a Farmer to work them in order to get provisions for the Missionaries.
I am
Yours faithfully
Saml Marsden
Revd J. Pratt