New South Wales June 10. 1815
Revd Sir/
	In consequence of the Church and London Missionary Societies feeling some hesitation to maintain a Vessel in these Seas for the accomadation[sic] and protection of those Europeans who are employed under their respective Patronage, I have finally determined to take the whole responsibility of the Vessel upon myself on the following conditions, viz, that the two Societies conjointly agree to allo[t] the sum of £500 p Annm towards the expences of the Vessel from Novr last when the establishment for New Zealand finally sailed from Port Jackson, should the Timber &c procured at New Zealand repay the expences of the Vessel so that no very material loss is sustained I shall charge nothing to either Society. I state the sum of £500 as the utmost that may be wanting on account of the expences of the Vessel.
	I shall not draw upon England for any part of this Sum at present, but request (if the above proposal is agreed to) the Societies to send me out to the amount of £500 annua[lly] as opportunity may offer (till further orders) in Naval s[tores] to the amount of £200. also Iron, Steel, Spades, Shovels, cast Iron pots of sizes and Reap Hooks, to the amount of £300 the Iron I want for Tools of Agriculture for the Natives to purchase the Timber with from them should the [Vessel pay] her own expences the above sum of £500 will go to [the credit] of the Societies towards paying their respective Establi[shments]. This measure will make the business very simple [for the] Societies and probably remove every difficulty that ha[s] [hither]to opposed the employment of a Vessel in these Seas, [With] this system the Vessel will be wholly my own and in that case I can act with confidence and shall meet with no interruption in carrying on my Plan formed with the European Settlers and Natives of New Zealand for promoting the safety and comfort of the former, and the Civilization and improvement of the latter; under the persuasion that the above proposition will meet the approbation of the Societies it is my intention as soon as the Active returns from her present Voyage to New Zealand to send her immediately to Otaheite with orders to touch at New Zealand on her passage out and on her return to call there for a Cargo of timber &c. From the 25th of Feby 1814 to Novr following when she sailed for New Zealand I trust the Society will pay all the Expences incurred in the two outfits as well as for the necessaries purchased for the use of the Settlement an account of which I shall send [f] by this conveyance, the Vessel during the above period of 8 Months made some small Return which will be stated in the account and placed to the credit of the outfit, should the expences be thought heavy the Society will take into their kind consideration the High price of Labour here as well as all Naval stores, Iron, Tools of Agriculture &c. The 1st time the Active went to New Zealand I was compelled to have more Sailors, than were absolutely necessary to work the Vessel as a protection, and also to give very high Wages to the Master, Mate & Seamen, it was not easy to procure proper persons for such an undertaking without some strong inducement as the Natives were considered such Cannibals few dared to venture among them; since my return the public opinion is much changed in their favour, the number of Natives I brought with me to Port Jackson, their general appearance and conduct made the most favourable impression upon the minds of the Inhabitants of this Colony, I shall not therefore find in future any difficulty in getting Sailors to work the Vessel at less Wages. It was necessary that I should lay in considerable Stores for the use of the Settlement as well as provisions for supporting the Natives who had returned with Messrs Kendall & Hall and likewise for the use of the Settlers, their Families and those who accompanied them. I also conceived [it] prudent to take various articles as presents to the Chiefs {and] while the Vessel remained on any part of the Coast to treat [libe]rally all the Chiefs who visited us, as well as to shew [kin]dness to the common people. The Active was generally crowd[ed] with the Natives while I was there, and Ten Chiefs {and] sons of Chiefs with 2 Servants came with me to Port Jackson all these People could not be maintained without considerable expences. In forming New Settlements there are a variety of expences that cannot be foreseen, but they must with the utmost care and attention always be great at first. The Settlement now being formed and all matters arranged relative to it the expences in future will not be very great, I think the Rations of the Settlers and Families will not exceed £200 pr Annm.  I have not time to review all I have wrote and am compelled to get my Letter copied. I have mentioned the above circumstances relative to the Vessel to the Revd G. Burder who perhaps will confer with you on the subject.
I have the Honor to be
Revd Sir
Your Obedient Humble Servant
Saml Marsden
To
Revd Josiah Pratt
London