Parramatta March 15. 1814
Revd Sir,
It may be necessary to give you a little Account of Messrs Hall and King separately. I am happy to say as members of Society they have behaved well— they are sober, honest, moral and industrious men— and have not suffered their Good to be evil spoken of. On this account I am fully satisfied with their Conduct. But with respect to the Mission they have not acted as they ought to have done and have given me much Vexation, and Trouble— as I could not prevail upon them to attend to the natives of New Zealand when I had them living in my House— When Mr Kendall arrived I wrote to Mr Hall, a Copy of which Letter I will send for your the private Information and that of the Society’s, if I have time to take one before the Vessel sails. From this Letter the Society will see the Spirit of Mr Hall. This Statement has had the best effect upon his mind— he did not imagine that his Conduct had been so improper till I [f] had pointed it out to him in writing. The Society will see from my Remonstrance with Mr Hall that it has been my most ardent wish to promote the Mission, and that nothing has been wanting on my Part to forward it. Mr Hall since, came forward on his own Accord, and offered his Services, and assured me that he would in future take advice— and all differences were settled, and he chearfully embarked with Mr.  Kendall and I have no doubt but he will be a valuable man, as a Mechanic, and of great Service to the Natives and the Missionaries. If they would have given up their time to the New Zealanders, who where [sic] at Parramatta I would have willingly supported them, but I refused to support them on any other Ground. Both Hall & King have acquired much Knowledge while residing here; and at the same time have lived comfortably, and preserved their Habits of Industry by being called upon to provide for themselves, when they declined devoting their time to the work of the Mission. King is willing to go to New Zealand whenever I may call upon him [f] which I shall do, when the Mission is finally settled. When the Missionaries sail from Port Jackson, shd. nothing prevent them, I shall press upon their minds as much as possible the Necessity of Industry; and shall direct Mr. Kendall to devote his time and Talents to the Instruction of the Natives, and their Children and to the obtaining of a Knowledge of their Language so as to commit it to writing— and Messrs. Hall and King to employ themselves in Agriculture and the Mechanics. By Agriculture and the simple Arts the natives will gradually be prepared for divine Instruction. The mission at Otaheite has suffered greatly from every one doing what was right in his own Eyes— and has been the Cause of much uneasiness amongst themselves— Had some been appointed to teach, and others to follow Agriculture or any other useful Employment it would have been much better. Without men’s duty is pointed out to them, they acquire Habits of Idleness and are more exposed to Temptation, and danger. This should be guarded against as much as possible. An Idle man, tho he may be pious, yet he is a dangerous member in a small Society, as he will always be dissatisfied. [f] He will create difficulties where there are none; and where they are, he will magnify them an hundredfold. Perhaps the Society will think my Letter to Mr. Hall too strong and that I ought to have supported him a little— But I do assure you nothing short of such a strong Remonstrance, would have had any effect upon his Mind. I had tried in vain the Power of words: and told him I would represent his Conduct to the Society again and again— Should Messrs Hall & King have complained of my Conduct towards them, the Society will be convinced from those Facts stated in my Letter to Mr. Hall, that they had no just Ground of Complaint. They would have taken the Society’s Money, and yet would not merit it by their Services— and to this I would not consent. I believe they are now both now fully sensible of their Error, and will not act so in future— We have had no difference upon any other Point, but this—
I am
Dear Sir
Your most obedt Sert
Samuel Marsden
Revd J. Pratt