Windsor N.S. Wales,
March 1817
Revd & Dear Sir
	I have lately received a Letter from Mr Kendall at the Bay of islands wherein he requests me to introduce to your notice Mr Will: Carlisle, a person whom I had the pleasure some time ago to recommend to Mr Marsden for the work of the mission at New Zealand. Mr Kendall writes in high terms of him, saying, that he is likely to be particularly useful in teaching the Children and in visiting the sick, and expresses his thankfulness to me for sending him such a fellow labourer. As I am persuaded that every thing which tends to magnify the grace of the redeemer will be thought worthy your notice, I shall attempt to give some account of Mr Carlisle and his friends, and in doing this flatter myself I shall best satisfy the wishes of Mr Kendall. Mr Carlisle came to this Colony a free settler, with his first wife’s Father— Gordon & family, about 13 years ago, and soon after their arrival they settled upon the farms which were allotted to them by Government in the district of Richmond. Mr C. being a single man, took up his residence with Gordon who had a son & two daughters. Soon after my arrival here I became acquainted with the oldest daughter who regularly attended divine service both at Buham and Windsor, and soon convinced me that she was an earnest seeker of salvation. Finding at length her attachment to the Gospel disapproved of by [f] her friends she formed the resolution of going out to service & engaged to come & live in my family. Mr Carlisle however who had previously formed an attachment to her prevailed upon her to remain at home and they were siin afterwards married. Mr C. though a moral character was at that time unacquainted with the Gospel and averse to its precepts, which became a source of much uneasiness to his wife insomuch that I was informed she repented of the connexion from a consciousness that she had not been married in the Lord. She was however very faithful to her husband, and when she could not prevail upon him to unite with her in her devotions, she told him that she was free from his blood. In this she persevered to the last, and a short time before she died she told a friend of hers that she hoped her death would do what her Life could not effect which the event proved. Poor Carlisle was for some time inconsolable, having discovered when too late the treasure he had lost. Her example however still lived in his remembrance and I [?] horridly admonished him to attend to the things which belong to his ——— and I believe he has not been disobedient to the heavenly call. Mrs Carlisle died in the early part of 1813 and left an infant daughter to lament her loss. Since that time, having observed the conduct of Mr Carlisle to be uniformly correct, and perceiving the ———— change that was wrought in him I judged he would be an acquisition to the N.Z. Mission and at length ventured to make known my opinion to him and to urge him to engage in the work. Having determined to make the trial he took his passage [f] on board the Active for N. Zealand I think the beginning of last year & is now returned for the purpose of settling his affairs & taking his wife & child with him, fully determined should his services be accepted, to devote his future time to the service of God. Previous to his going to New Zealand he married for his second wife a reputable young woman who had been the acquaintance of his former wife. Mr C[arlisle] seems much delighted with the country, the peoples, and above all the cause in which he is engaged and I have no doubt of his proving an useful missionary.
	Mr C’s brother in law Chas Gordon has through his persuasion lately been added to the Mission. This young man has always borne a good character for industry & sobriety, and has lately manifested a great love for religion. I trust the little leaven which first reached the heart of his sister will infuse itself throughout the whole family. This young man who once exclaimed against his sister for being righteous overmuch, now finds religion to be the one thing needful. When he had thoughts of changing his state he declared to a friend that if he could not meet with one who had the love of God in her heart he would remain single all his life. It was not long before he found a young woman to his mind, they have lately been married & seem equally desirous of engaging in this glorious cause and I flatter myself there could not be found more suitable persons in this colony to manage the agricultural concerns of the Mission at New Zealand. Having written to you very fully in c0onjunction with my very worthy friend Mr Marsden, on the subject of your last letter, I have only now to request you will [f] assure your Hon[ourab]le Committee that I trust I shall ever feel the most ardent desire to promote the accomplishment of their glorious designs in this part of the world in every way possible.
I am
Revd & dear Sir
Your faithful servant
Robt Cartwright
The Revd Josiah Pratt
&c &c &c