Sydney March 29, 1816
Dear Sir
	After closing my Letters and sending off the Case I have mentioned to the Emu, I am sorry to inform you the Commander Lieut Forster has refused to take it— and has returned it to me— I wrote to him upon the Subject but to no Purpose— I will send it by the first Conveyance— There are also a few Things from Messrs Kendall, and Hall, but none of them are come. I have not known an Instance before, where any thing of the kind was refused to be taken from this Colony— [f] I was very desirous that these things should come, and hope an opportunity will soon offer to forward them— when you send any Files, Fish Hooks and such small things, be so good as to have them put up in small Tin Cases, most of the Fish Hooks and Files were much injured that came out in the Ocean as they were only wrapped up in Paper, and put into an old Cask— The Salt water got to them, and most of the other things in Case No 12— and damaged them much— In so long a Voyage It would be well to put up every Article of value in good Iron-bound Casks, that the water could not enter— [f] The medicines which should have come in the Northampton never arrived nor were they entered in the manifest of that Vessel—
In order to ensure the coming of such natural Productions of the South Sea islands and of Art as I am able to collect for the Society which will not be much, as they will at all times be contained in a small Case, I think Permission might be obtained from the Commissioners of the transport Office for me to ship them on Board any Vessel sailing under their Orders— The Case I wanted now to send was not more than 18 Inches wide, and 18 deep, and about 3 feet long— The Emu commanded by Lieut Foster belongs to the Transport Office.[f] I shall send the case by way of India, if I can—
I am
Dr Sir
Your most obedient
Humble Servant
Saml Marsden
Revd J. Pratt