On His Majesty’s Service
		Novr 1, 1813
(Copy)
May it Please Your Excellency—
	The wanton violence and Cruelties exercised upon the Natives of New Zealand, the Frauds and Robberies committed upon their little Property, by the Masters and Crews of the different Vessels which touch there for refreshments, have long before Your Excellency had the honor to Command these parts of His Majesty’s Dominions, called upon the executive Authority of this Colony for redress, not only the motives of common humanity and Public Justice to the much injured New Zealanders, require that some measures should be adopted to prevent, as far as may be a repetition of those Acts of oppression rapine and Murder, which they from time to time suffered from our people to the eternal disgrace of our name and Nation— but also the lives and property of His Majesty’s Subjects, which may be exposed to the most eminent dangers, from the injured and exasperated Natives, when Vessels are compelled to put into their Harbour for refreshments or any other cause, claims Your Excellency’s most mature consideration— The [f] Natives of New Zealand have no means of obtaining Justice but the Law of Retaliation; and to this Law like all other uncivilized nations they will resort, whenever they feel themselves injured or oppressed. The fatal loss of the Boyd and the Parramatta, and the murders of their Captains and Crews, and of several Crews belonging to boats of different people  Vessels, were occasioned by the unprovoked cruelties of the Europeans. It rarely happens that an oppertunity [sic] offers in this Colony,  of bringing the guilty to punishment, the Ships that visit New Zealand, when they have compleated their Cargo, proceed to Europe or America very frequently, without touching at Port Jackson—
	On this account, those who have injured the Natives of that Island have either been cut off in the moment of personal Revenge, by the enraged party, or else have escaped with impunity—
	Some months ago, I received information that Mr  Lasco Jones, Master of the King George, had acted with great injustice and cruelty to one of the New Zealanders (on board the said vessel) which he took with him from this port, 

previous to his landing him at the Bay of Islands— As Mr Lasco Jones is now arrived in this port, I humbly solicit Your Excellency to cause an investigation to be [f] made into the Conduct of Mr Jones, previous to his sailing from this Harbor, and to allow me to produce such Evidences against him, as may tend to circumstantiate the information which has been communicated to me.—
	I am fully persuaded your Excellency has every wish to protect the innocent and punish the Guilty; and that the Natives of New Zealand will find you ready to afford them all the relief in your Power, and to Protect, as far as possible, their persons from insult and violence, and their little property from rapine and Plunder— Though these people may not Possess much, yet their little is their all:— Europeans had no right to land on their Island to destroy their plantations of Potatoes and other Vegatables [sic], strip them naked of their Garments, and ill treat and murder them if they dare to resist such lawless oppression. In addition to the Charge which I wish to exhibit against Mr Lasco Jones, I shall be happy to bring forward two or three respectable Witnesses, who have been at New Zealand, and are acquainted with the Situation of the Natives, to state, for Your Excellency’s information, what they know of the treatment which the New Zealanders have received from the Masters and Crews of Vessels— When these informations, or Affidavits, are submitted to Your Excellency’s consideration, Your Excellency will then [f] Judge what restraints may be deemed necessary to lay upon such Masters of Vessels as leave this Port for New Zealand, and what instructions to Give them in future—
	Should the natives of New Zealand be treated with Justice and humanity by the Europeans and their persons and property protected from the hand of fraud and violence, I am persuaded that all Hostilities and Murder would cease on their part and a Friendly intercourse would soon be open between and the settlement, which will greatly benefit this Colony. They are a noble race of Men and capable of every mental improvement. They would soon learn our simple Arts and form habits of Industry. This I am fully convinced of from the Knowledge I have of their Character and endowments. I trust your Excellency will see the propriety and importance of instituting some judicial enquiry against Mr Jones, in order that he may not pass with impunity, if the Charge alledged against him be clearly proved.
 					I have the honor to be,
Your Excellencys
Most Ob[edien]t Ser[van]t
[Samuel Marsden]
To His Excellency
Governor Macquarie