Parramatta April 15th 1823
Revd & Dear Sir/
	I returned from Van Dieman's Land on the 6th Inst. and have been much pressed for time since my arrival— Have heard this morning that a Vessel sails tomorrow which will touch at New Zealand— I have just cast my Eye over the Dispatches by the Morley containing the Society's Resolutions, and Letters to the Missionaries— As I have obtained Leave to visit New Zealand from His Excellency Sir Ths Brisbane, I have thought it prudent not to forward the Letters to the Missionaries, but to take them with me when I accompany Messrs Williams & Clark which I intend to do when Mrs Clark recovers from her Confinement— She is not yet brought to Bed, but expects this every day—The Committee of the Native Institution wish much to retain Mr & Mrs Clark in the Colony, but I cannot consent to this— I purpose to settle the Revd Mr Williams and Mr Clark together at Wangaroa, about 30 miles from the Bay of Islands, where they can have a Communication by Land or water with the other Missionaries should I find things as I expect to do— There may be some difficulty in managing Mr Kendall so as to prevent him from influencing the Natives— I have thought it safer to communicate [f] in Person, as I intend to go down, the Views and Directions of the Committee, than to send them now as it may prevent much mutual Violence and Recrimination— I have forwarded the Letter for the Revd J. Butler containing the Reply of the Committee to the Letters he forwarded to you relative to myself, and have accompanied it with a hasty Letter from me, a Copy of which I enclose— I have also wrote a friendly note to all the Missionaries informing them of my Intention to visit them; and directed Mr William Hall to request the Natives to get a Cargo of Spars ready against my arrival in order to repay part of the Expense of the Vessel. I purpose to engage the Minerva Brig for three months, in which time I hope to take in all the Stores here, and do all the necessary Buisness at N. Zealand, and return again to Port Jackson— I shall do all I can for Mr Kendall to restore him from his Fall and remove him if possible from the Island— I long suspected that his Conduct was improper, ever since he advocated the Cause of Carlisle— and sometimes I remonstrated with him— His mind was very sore, being wounded by actual Sin, that he could not bear the slightest Reproof— He returned from England in the same state of mind. Poisoned Shunghee's mind against me— by telling him to ask me for things which it was not in my Power to grant— He must also be aware that I was not ignorant of his Conduct when [f] on Board the Convict Ship he came out in— All these things made him uneasy— What you have heard relative to Messrs Kendall King & Hall purchasing the different Articles which Tooi & Teeterree had given them in England is too true. I expressed my feelings to them upon that Subject very strongly when I was in N. Zealand— From Mr Francis Hall you will be able to gain the fullest Information— He is a man of clean Hands and upright Intentions— and has been very faithful— His Request to return to England I could not refuse knowing what his Situation was— I hope he will return, and bring a suitable Companion with him— He is a proper man for having Charge of all the Society's Stores— He will do what is just —
	With respect to the dissolution of the corresponding Committee, that was absolutely necessary, which you will I have no doubt learn in due time— I shall not say any thing upon the Subject at the Present time unless called upon to do so— When Mr Justice Field, Judge of the Supreme Court, returns, he may give such an Explanation as will satisfy the Committee that me & my Colleagues acted right from the Spirit of the times, and could not do otherwise—
	There is another Subject I wish to mention to you of vast importance to this Part of the World, and that is to get if possible some Gospel Ministers to be sent out to Van Diemans Land— I have written to Mr Wilberforce [f] on this Subject, and hope he may do something directly or indirectly to promote so important an object— There are seven Chaplains here in this Colony but I only consider four pious men. The moral State of the Society at the Derwent is dreadful —The Revd Mr Hassall has got no appointment yet— His Services are much wanted, but he has as yet been unfortunate— He is a very pious young man, has done my duty while I have been at the Derwent, and will continue to do it while I am in New Zealand. I am very happy with Sir Thomas Brisbane as far as concerns my own duty— I have no doubt but that a good understanding will be maintained between him and me— The Colonial Secretary took offence at the decision of a Bench of Magistrates, five in number, of whom I was one, and which decision was submitted with the whole of the Proceedings upon the Case to the two Judges, and five more Magistrates who all affirmed the decision— However I and four of my Colleagues were all removed immeediately from the Bench, which act created a very great Sensation in the Colony— As I had consented to act as a Magistrate at the Governor's Solicitation, to meet his wishes only, it is a matter of Gratification to me that I am relieved of that duty, as I wish to have nothing to do with the political State of the Colony— I merely mention the Subject, as I have no doubt but it will be made public in England as Govt will either condemn or approve of the Conduct of the Magistrates and Judges—
I am with much esteem
Yours Saml Marsden
Revd J. Pratt
&c &c &c