Parramatta June 14th 1815 Revd Sir/ The following Lines are rather of a private than a public nature— I wrote to you some time ago, and stated my Opinion of Messrs Kendall, Hall & King. I have seen no Reason to change my good opinion of Mr Kendall— I think him a very valuable man for the Situation he now is in. Mr Hall has given me more Satisfaction since he has got upon his Station than I ever had before. His wife is a most excellent woman. I have seen few equal to her for Patience, good nature and Industry, and she loves the best things. Mr King is now recovered and I hope he will go on well. he was unhappy before he entered upon the work, but now he is very content— Mr Kendall left his two daughters at Port Jackson— I fully approved of his doing this— till such times as he was settled and able to judge whether or no it would be proper for his daughters to live in New Zealand— They are Boarders with the Matron of the Female Orphan House— On my Application to the Committee, they were kind enough to allow them to be admitted into the House— I believe their Board Expense [f] amounts to £35 per annum. £20 of this Sum is paid by your Society— Perhaps in the present Case, the Society would pay the whole, if mentioned to them. With respect to the Narrative I have sent for the Information of the Society, it has been written in very great haste within the last few days, and in the midst of much public Buisness. [sic] I do not think that I shall have time to look it over since it has been Copied, but must send it with all its Errors, and mistakes. I can only say it contains Facts, as they took place, tho’ simply related, and will give some Idea of this noble Race of men, for whose welfare I have felt much concern for many years. I shall leave you and the Society to make what use you may in your joint wisdom think proper, of what I have said relative to these People— Many pleasing Circumstances occurred while I was amongst them, which time will not allow me to mention. I left them fully satisfied in my own mind, that much had been done in a few weeks towards laying the Foundation for their Improvement. When the Active returns, I shall be able to write more fully my Sentiments of any future measures which may appear to me necessary for the Society to adopt relative to the Island of New Zealand. [f] I should wish to act with great Caution. The most benevolent undertakings; meet with strong oppositions— The pious Israelites could not build the walls of Jerusalem, without holding the Sword in one Hand, and the Trowel in the other— If we attempt even in these pious days, to build the walls of Jerusalem we must expect to meet with the same Spirit of Opposition. I have met with hard Contests in diging [sic] the Foundation, and laying the first Stone for the Christian Church in New Zealand, but hope the Building will go on— I believe the work to be of God— it has gone on slowly yet, but progressively— I have not had the means till lately to make the Attempt, tho I have wished most ardently to see the work begun. If the public Prejudice had not been so strong against the natives of this Island, the difficulty and expenses of forming the Settlement would not have been so great. This Island opens a large Field for the Exercise of Christian benevolence, and missionary Labors. Had I been a few years younger, and Circumstances would have allowed me to follow my own Inclination I should have fixed my Habitation amongst these People, but this cannot be now— I intend when the Active returns for her to visit Otaheite where the Brethren are belonging to the London Missionary Society, and see how they are situated. These Missionaries have suffered many Privations and have been greatly discouraged in their work for want of being more frequently visited— I think the Active would answer for both [f] Societies— A vessel must be employed for New Zealand for Reasons stated in my public Letter, but she might visit the other Missionaries at the same time and I have no doubt but the London Missionary Society would pay any reasonable Expense for the Comfort of their Missionaries who are now labouring with much Success amongst the Heathen there. I cannot tell what the annual Expense would be to support a Vessel besides the Returns she would make. I think it would not be more than five hundred Pounds, at first per annum, and it might be less, or nothing at all. The Returns of her Cargo might defray the whole. I would pledge myself that the Sum would not exceed £500 for both Societies. At the same time It would be prudent to ensure the Active for that Service.— Her first Cost was £1400 Sterling, and her outfit was about £500 more, as she was badly supplied with Stores at the time I purchased her. I shall have occasion to write to Mr Burder, and shall mention the above to him— will you have the Goodness to ensure [sic] the Active on my Account, and let me know the amount of the Expense. I value her in her present State at £1,500. I am Dear Sir Yours affectionately Saml Marsden Revd J. Pratt