Parramatta Augs 11th 1818
Revd & dear Sir/
			I forward the inclosed by Captain Welsh— From these document[s] you will see the Spirit of the times— The Lion still roareth after his Prey— Had I the “wisdom of the Serpent and the Innocence of the dove” I should not be secure in this abandoned Place. As a man I feel myself sorely wounded— my Heart, as the Psalmist expresses it, is pained within me— As a Christian I believe there is a needs be for these things; tho’ at the same time no Chastening is joyous but grievous— I believe the great Captain of Salvation hath appointed me my Station, and if I am found faithful, will give me the Reward at last— yet my Soul is among Lions; I literally dwell amongst them who are Enemies to peace— I seem to stand as a mark for the envenomed Shafts of Calumny— I have no doubt, but God will in his infinite wisdom overrule all for good in the End— tho at present my Burthen is at times almost intolerable— I was exceeding happy at the receipt of your last Letter, [f] being a duplicate of a Letter said to be sent by a Ship that is not yet arrived— It was dated Novr 17, informing me that my Letters had arrived relative to the Libel— I have no greater wish, than to approve myself worthy of the Confidence of the Society, and to the Head of the Church— Should I err, in any thing the Society will take my peculiar Situation into their favourable Consideration, and make allowance for human weakness, and human Feelings. I have no Counsellors— my Friends stand afar off, for Fear— and I have no wish that they should place themselves in the painful Situation I am in— I should not have troubled you with these documents, had I not apprehended, that the Enemy would take advantage of me, by transmitting  the Letter of Mr Campbells Home to the Colonial Department, with such observations as those in Power, are capable of making  which might operate to my Prejudice, if there was no notice taken of the Circumstance by me. The object of Mr Campbell, in that Letter is to mix me up with the dregs of Botany Bay [f] pirates, murderers, and Thieves.— I have merely sent the documents to furnish my friends with a Reply, in Case any Attack should be made upon me in that Quarter, so as to injure me in the good opinion of His Majesty’s Government— I am compelled to guard every Point, to watch the movements of the Enemy every day. What will be the Issue of this continual warfare I cannot say.  I am in the very front of the Battle; and cannot run away— and am therefore compelled to conquer or die— As Captain Welsh was on the Spot, I beg to refer you to him, shd any Reference be necessary who will give the Society any Information they may require. I am sorry to be so troublesome to you, but there is no Alternative for me, but to make my Case known to the Society— I believe there never existed a greater Enemy to the Gospel, than my present Foe and he will never change his Conduct, but will seize every occasion, however trifling to annoy— I am happy that all goes on [f] well at New Zealand— and is likely to do so. I fear I shall not be able to close tghe Account for New Zealand by this Conveyance— as the Vessel will sail so soon— You will hear from Mr Kendall &c, by some of the Whalers— I have no wish for these Letters to be used, unless there is a necessity to do so— of this some of my Friends will be the best Judges. Mr John Mason Good, is well acquainted with my Situation here, and he is a prudent wise man— I should be glad you would shew them to him— With my best wishes for the Success of the Society in all their Plans, and most respectful Compliments—
I remain
Dr Sir
Your very obedient
Humble Servant
Samuel Marsden
PS. The Ship stopping another Day enables me to send the
Account excepting some Expences attending the N. Zealander
in N.S.W.
Revd J. Pratt
Secretary to the C.M.S.