Brig Active Vandiemans’ Land
23 April 1814
Revd and Dear Sir,
	Previous to my departure from Port Jackson I enclosed a letter for you in a parcel directed to the care of Mr Pratt which I hope will come duly to hand; but lest it should miscarry I think it right to repeat some remarks of a temporal nature contained therein. To render some little assistance to Mr  Marsden in the purchase of the Active &c I have given him a set of Bills drawn upon you for one hundred pounds, and another set drawn upon Mr Pratt for One hundred and twenty Pounds being the amount of my salary up to Decr 31st next. For the above two hundred and twenty pounds I have left Mr Marsden’s promissory note with Mrs Kendall. I have also requested you to pay twenty pounds into the hands of Captn Close for the Naval and Military Bible Society and to have the goodness to enquire by Letter whether my Sister Mrs F. Bull, a poor woman of the parish of Muckton near Louth in the County of Lincoln is dead or living, and should the latter be the case to forward to her a post office Order for five Pounds on my Account. The remaining Balance can be sent out in a little Print, some sewing threads, silks, cottons, tapes for the use of my family and perhaps I can beg the favor of Mrs Wood [sic] to direct some friend to do this as such articles are so very useful. A hank of thread is sixpence in New South Wales.
	I saw Mr R[ichar]d Hughes some time ago at Sydney; he was well in health, and expressed his thankfulness for Mrs Woodd’s [sic] kind remembrance of him. [f]
	In my letter to Mr Pratt accompanying this I have requested as a present from the Society a pocket compass to enable me to find my way thro’ the Woods, and a silver watch that will keep the time well. I am not particularly anxious about the watch on my own account as I have one, but one that keeps the time better would be very useful, and I leave it to Mr Pratt to judge from my statement as to the propriety of sending me one. I am also in want of a few medicinal comforts. Before I left London I had long been accustomed to a sedentary life, but by entering upon a different course, by being frequently deprived of my accustomary rest in the night in stormy weather, and by a change of climate and provisions I fear I have been ratherly injured in my constitution. My appetite is tolerably good, but the organs of digestion in my stomach are very weak, and I feel very often oppressed there. After eating such salt provisions as are provided for the use of the ship I often vomit & purge excessively. I live chiefly upon flour & water when I am at Sea. I shall avail myself of your kindness in mentioning the above circumstance to Mr Pratt not doubting but by your desire he will send a few articles for the use of myself & family. I could wish to have included some essence of Peppermint and should require directions in order that I might know in what proportion to take the medicines.
	I and my colleague Mr. Hall have been treated with great kindness and hospitality by Governor Davy, the Revd Mr Knopwood [f] and the people of Van Diemens Land.  We have made an excursion into the interior where we have seen the land in a state of cultivation. Fine wheat of different kinds is produced here, and potatoes superior to those near Port Jackson. Great Tracts of Land in various parts are laying waste for want of settlers to occupy them, and these covered with grass and in a great measure unencumbered with Woods or Forests. Bread and Beef and Mutton and Pork are very plentiful indeed, and the meat is nearly equal to that in England for fatness and quality. The Wool is generally very scarce and of a hairy nature, and will not in all probability be materially improved until there is a demand for it. There is no manufactory of any consequence for Woolen [sic] Cloths either here or at Port Jackson. Almost the whole of the wool is thrown away and lays upon the ground as an useless thing, altho’ at Port Jackson the wool is in general very fine.
	The Population of this Settlement amounts to Two Thousand and seventy seven Persons— but I am sorry to say in a religious point of view a dark cloud overspreads the whole. The Church built of wood has been long since blown down by a tempestuous wind, and nothing like a church of pious believers is to be found. Drinking, Revelling, and Feasting are the order of the Day. We heard it is true on the day of our arrival of one poor man who had formerly been an itinerant preacher in Mr Westlys [sic] connexion in my own native county [f] (Lincolnshire) and had after that exercised his talents as such in Norfolk Island. He resided, as we were told, at a distance of some miles from us on the other side of the river and we endeavoured to find him out. It was at the bottom of a high mountain and far removed from any other habitation that we discovered his miserable dwelling place. He was dressed in mean attire: his shoes were made of sheeps skin undressed, and his other raiment of a suitable description. His chief employ was the keeping of a little flock of Sheep, and his library consisted of a Testament which bore the mark of the British and Foreign Bible Society. After his surprise had subsided which had been excited by our accosting him upon the subject of religion, he told us, that some severe trials of a personal and family nature which he had experienced in England had been the cause of inducing him to leave his native Land; that while he was at Norfolk Island he had preached to the people, and had been treated with much kindness by Governor Piper and the other settlers, but after his removal to this place (which happened at the time Norfolk Island was Given up by order of Government) he had suffered much from persecution. The late Governor Collins & the present Mr Knopwood had treated him with much severity, and at the last he had been reduced to the painful necessity of giving preaching entirely up. Since that period he said he had often been in a low state of mind, and upon taking a survey of his own conduct felt grieved that he had not done as he ought to have done. He had mixed too much with the world: had yielded too much [f] to its pernicious maxims; and he too had been led out of the path of duty. No man who knows the deceitfulness of the human heart need wonder at this. This is not a case very uncommon even when local circumstances render the situation apparently safer, and more favourable and desirable, and here wickedness prevails like an overflowing river which bears away by its rapid streams the weak and tender plant growing upon its borders. The man must have his house built upon a sure foundation who would wish to preserve it in safety. Mr Baines (for that is the name of the Person alluded to) appears to have relied indiscretely in his first attempt here on the side of Religion, and his enemies taking advantage of this have overcome him. As an exception to a general rule he has however In [sic] my opinion borne the marks of a pious man, and his mind appears to be still impressed with the value of the soul. For this reason we could not but feel for him in his situation and do our utmost to strengthen his hands. We wish success to all our friends of whatsoever name they may be called, who are engaged in the cause of a Glorious Redeemer. Mr Baines visited us on Board the Active. We furnished him with some Testaments and Religious Tracts, and after uniting in prayer he departed apparently much comforted & encouraged.
	The People of Hobart Town meet upon the Lords Day at the Governors House for the purpose of uniting in Public Worship.  And here for the first time I have had the mortification to witness the Excellent Litiny [sic] [f] of the Church of England robbed of its chief ornaments, the first and second Lessons for the Day and also the communion Service. No rehearsal of Gods Holy Law in the Reading Desk, nor in the pulpit the sweet sounding strains of the Gospel. I do not, I assure you, my Dear Sir feel any pleasure in recording the errors of clergymen, but as a member of the Church of England I judge I have a right, at least in a private letter, to lament the conduct of those who ought to be her faithful supporters, but who give occasion for dissension, and lower her in the estimation of those who reluctantly withdraw from her communion. The people I have no doubt would hear, if the minister would speak; and here a fair opportunity might offer for a Pastor of established piety to erect a noble standard to the honor of his Divine Master. Amongst such an hospitable people, Schools might be established and supported without difficulty, and the minds of many brought over by the Divine Blessing upon the ordinary means of Grace, without which nothing can be done, but with which every thing that is good may be done, to the Obedience of Gods dear Children.
	The Natives of Van Diemans Land have been very ill treated indeed and banished entirely from those parts which are colonized by Englishmen. Great numbers of them have been shot like Beasts of Prey by our people and the Bush Rangers who make their escape from the Settlement, have (for fear of being discovered by means of any communication which the natives might have with the settlers) killed them without mercy. Hence the natives retaliate when they can, and commit depredations as they find opportunity. There are no natives at the Settlement except [f] some children which have been stolen away from their parents. At Sydney, Parramatta & ca the natives can and do reside without fear or molestation but here they cannot profit by their intercourse with Englishmen.
	According to our instructions from Mr Marsden we read the Prayers of the Church upon the Lords Day, and the Seamen conduct themselves very well. Our small congregation consists of individuals from different Nations, each of them knowing something of the English Language. They are freemen (excepting one) and for your information I will enclose their names with the places of their nativity.
Peter Dillon Capn  Ireland				Bobbahee— Owhyhee
David Siepke Mate  Germany			Dukkahee— Otaheite
Jno Wilson Boats[wai]n  England			Fredc Warmby— Sweden
Jno Hunter Carp[ente]r  New Holland		Henry May— England
Wm Mansel  N. America				Bobbarro— Otaheite
Ab[raha]m Wilson  Norway			Wm Jones— England
Tho Hamilton Cook  Ireland			Tohi— New Zealand
I entreat the favor of a Line from you as opportunity may offer and beg your kind remembrance when you approach the throne of Grace and I also request you will present my sincere & affectionate regards to Mrs Woodd & the whole family, to the Revd Mr & Mrs Mason, Mr Marsh, Mr Stewart Mr Waugh & the Society at St Johns Bedfordrow. Also to Mr Rowe, Mr & Mrs Jones & any other friend of the congregation who may enquire after me & mine
And am, Revd & Dear Sir
Dutifully & faithfully yours & ca
Tho Kendall