Church Missionary House, London,
March 12/[18]18
My dear Sir
	We wrote you on the 27th of Nov[ember], by the Tottenham; & have since received from you various Letters, dated July 29, Aug. 26, Oct. 28, Nov 6, 12, Decr 6/16, to myself — a Letter dated Oct 9/15 to Mr Myers, & another dated Oct 16/16 to Mr Basil Woodd, with 5 monthly lists of the children.
	These dispatches have much gratified us.
	The view drawn by Mr Carlisle much interested & gratified the Committee. It gave us a better Idea of the Settlement than we could otherwise have had.
	We are convinced that the progress, by means of Schools, will be slow, & we are prepared for this. We hope, however, that, with the teaching of the children, you join, when you have opportunity, religious conversation with their Parents. We should be very glad to hear of any number of these attending your Sabbath— Worship.
	The New Zealanders first Book has greatly pleased us. Our Orientalist, Mr Lee, is making use of Tooi & Teeterree (who have recently arrived) to form a complete Grammar & Vocabulary of the New Zealand Language. Your book furnishes him with important assistance. We much approve of your plan of beginning to instruct the children first in their own language, as being the most likely way to interest them. When the grammar & Vocabulary & perhaps one of the Gospels, are finished, they will be a guide to you in all future acquisitions.
	Your sensible observations respecting the Church of England & Lutheran ordination pleased the Committee. We hope, by the close of next year, to send 2 or 3 English Clergymen, & several settlers with them, so that you may have the due administrations of the Sacraments, & a most important strengthening of the Mission.
	We are happy to hear that you find Mr Carlisle so useful an Assistant.
	You have indeed received many merciful deliverances. We join you in thanks to God for his goodness. Such unruly wicked men as Walter Hall, can never benefit a Mission. We are glad that he is gone away.
	May our God bless all your children, & may they be a seed to serve him in New Zealand!
	We are happy to find that you make memorandums of such things as appear in your occasional remarks, dated August 26/16. [f]
	We received a Letter from your Brother Edw[ar]d, at Irby, in Decr last, stating that a Legacy of £81.19.6 from the late Mr Thomas Quickfall’s House Steward to Lord Yarborough, was in the Hands of Mr Smith, Stone Mason, Great Grimsby due to your wife. If you will send me an Authority to receive it, I will endeavour to obtain it for you.
	Your brother expresses his wish to join you, but, after what you say, & on mature consideration, we feel disposed to decline the proposal.
	Most of the things which you have requested in the dispatches just received, have been already sent you through Mr Marsden. Those which have not been sent, will be forwarded by any opportunity that offers. We can send nothing but the Dispatches by the present vessel. It is necessary for us to have only one Account, & that with Mr Marsden. He will send you the Goods which he receives from us, & we will supply him. We must leave with him, and our friends in New South Wales, the supply of provisions & other things, which it is necessary for you to have with your Salary. We are persuaded, on the one hand, that your object is not the accumulation or the mere enjoyment of this world’s good [sic]; & we wish, on the other, that you should have not only what is requisite for the absolutely necessary expences of yourself & family, but also for their comfortable Maintenance as far as is consistent with the good of the Mission & the just character of a charitable institution. But we have found considerable inconvenience from the Maintenance of our African children, & we trust that you will be careful to enter, as little as possible, into a plan which must involve the Society in an expence, which, though it may be small for each particular child, yet, when our Missions are encreased [sic], and it becomes necessary on a large scale, will be very burdensome. We know that you have difficulties on both sides, but hope that you may, by degrees, be able to get the Parents to provide for their children.
	Do not understand us as wishing to cripple the Mission for want of necessary supplies; but as wishing to provide in the wisest way for its extention. [sic]
	Respecting our opinion of your character & usefulness, your mind may be quite easy. We are well convinced of the singleness of your heart in this cause: Nor  have we heard any thing from any one, that would lead us to doubt your steady & judicious pursuit of the great object of the Society. Go on! & may the Lord prosper you! Is our wish & our prayer for you.
	You have, of course, communicated to Mr Marsden the unsuitable or bad character of the goods which he sent you. It is not [f] likely that he had been imposed on; for it is most probable that he sent you the goods which he received from us. Write freely to him for all you wish. He has a great esteem for you, speaks highly of you, & he knows that we wish him to supply your wants of every kind.
	We sent you 3 Wigs by the last investment.
	We are, dear Sir, with earnest prayers for a blessing on you & your family and labours, ever affect[ionatel]y yours
(Signed) Josiah Pratt
Edward Bickersteth