Ranghee Hoo 22d Sepr 1820 Revd & Dear Sir Your last Letters sent by Mr Cowell reached me at New Zealand a few days ago – Mr Cowell and his Lady are at Port Jackson – I have now been some months in this Island and have travelled thro' many Parts of it. I have been as far as Mercury Bay on the East side, and from thence I came down the River Thames nearly from its Source – afterwards visited the west side of the Thames, and then crossed the Country to Kiperro situated on the west side of N. Zealand, and I think must be nearly in the same Latitude with the River Thames; perhaps a little more to the southward – From Kiperro I travelled to the Bay of islands, which In reached on the Evening of the 23d day from the time I left the Coromandel. Thro' every district I past I met with the kindest Attention from the natives – I had no European with me, during the Journey – As it is my Intention to transmit to you my observations on the Country and natives I visited, during three months absence from the Bay of Islands, as soon as I return to Port Jackson I shall not trouble [f] you with them at the present, but only beg to add that I see no difficulty in any Part of New Zealand to prevent the Success of the Mission; but there is one great difficulty in another Quarter, and that is in finding proper Persons to carry the wishes of the Society into effect. Few men have had more practical Knowledge of Missionaries than I have had and I can say with great truth, that I have met with few, who have inclined their Hearts to the work, who have been at all willing to put up with any self denial – My Soul has often mourned in secret for evils that I could not remedy. Some are stubborn, and ungovernable, others are idle, proud and conceited – others are full of deception that it requires a long time to find out their Characters – Others have no Relish for the work – no Love to the poor Heathens no desire to do them any good. If the Heart is not deeply engaged in the work, if the Fear of the God of Jacob is not the ruling Principle, no outward Professions – no solemn Vows – no sacred promises will induce a missionary to do his duty – Should Mr Kendall be in England when you receive this, request him from me, to state the whole of his Transactions, and those of his Colleagues in N. Zealand to you, keeping nothing back – It will come better from him than from me, or any other person – I am willing to give him the utmost Credit for all the good he has done, and always have been; but I cannot pass over in Silence his improper Conduct. This would be highly criminal in me as an Agent in such a Cause – I had little opportunity previous to his sailing to know the real State of things – but I learned enough, to express my disapprobation of his Conduct in many Instances which I did not fail to tell him. [f] All the difficulties in New Zealand that I have met with have been in governing the Europeans. They will not do what is right, they will not live in unity and brotherly Love. The love of money – the Thirst for Pre-eminence, the want of Industry, and Zeal for the good of the Heathens have greatly militated against the Success of the Mission. I had used every Persuasion, and every means in my Power to put a Stop to the abominable traffic in Muskets and Powder – I had obtained their solemn Pledges, signed with their own Signature that they would put away this accursed thing – I relied upon their promises – before I left N. Zealand I found these Promises broken – The Promises were renewed, but on my return in Feby I then found myself deceived again, and that no Confidence was to be placed in them. I merely hint at these things now, as I may have occasion to notice them again at a future time. I communicated to Mr Wm Hall the Contents of your Letter that concerned him, and left him to make his own defence. He is an industrious valuable man, and sets a good example to the natives, but too eager after the things of this present Life. I have had much Conversation with him upon this Subject – I cannot doubt, but he is attached to the work of the Mission notwithstanding his Faults. I think Mr Kendall found it necessary to go Home, to vindicate his Conduct. he must have been aware, that what was passing in N. Zealand would reach my Ears – thro some Channel or other, and then he would be placed in a difficult situation, as I had assured them I would not spare them, nor fail to represent their misconduct to the Society, should it come to my Knowledge. I hope things will go on better by and by – [f] Francis Hall is a truly pious man, and I have no Fear that the Society will ever have cause to be displeased with him. Mr & Mrs Kemp go on well with whom Mr Hall now resides – They have got into their new House which is a very good one – Mrs Butler never wished to come to New Zealand, and therefore it cannot be expected that she will ever relish her Situation: and will have more or less Influence upon the mind of Mr Butler to unsettle him. Mr Butler is a warm man in his Temper – He has acquired a Severity in his Expression, probably from his former Situation, which is unpleasant to those who have not been accustomed to that mode of Address. I have endeavoured as a Friend both verbally and by Letter to point out these things to him – I know these acquired Habits will not be easily put off without much mortification. Never send out a married man, if it can be avoided, unless his wife is as willing to engage in the work as her Husband – The wife should be consulted – When I return to Port Jackson I will write more fully – Suffice it to say, that there is every encouragement to go on in the Mission. I was on my Passage to N. S. Wales in a small Schooner this week – was 5 days at Sea, but compelled to bear up again for the Bay of Islands where I anchored last night, after suffering very severely from Seasickness, and want of Air – I shall not venture again, but wait till the Dromedary returns to Port Jackson. When the Kings Ships arrive (the Coromandel & Dromedary) you will be able then from the officers to form a more correct Idea of N. Zealand – no difference has happened yet between the Ships Companies and the natives, and I hope none will. There would have been difficulties in the way of the Ships getting their Cargo if the Mission had not paved the way for them – [f] 2. I think these Ships will lay the Foundation of a permanent Intercourse between the British Govt and these islands. Both Commanders will recommend a small Settlement to be formed as the Spars are found to be of the best Quality, equal in Length and Dimensions to all naval Purposes for masts for a first Rate Ship of war, downwards – I should think they are not to be excelled in any Part of the World – If a Settlement is formed, this will relieve the Society greatly in the Expenses – At the River Thames the Chiefs on both the west and east side requested that they might have some Protection afforded them from the British Govt. Wherever I have been, the Chiefs and people are sensible of the Advantages of some regular Government, and most of them wish to lay aside their war Pursuits, and turn their attention to Agriculture – but alledge they are compelled to fight for self Protection, as they have no Govt and nothing but their Spear to depend upon. Many of the Chiefs are very sensible men, and well disposed, and would labour if they could only reap the fruits of their Industry – But till there is some regular Government however small, the powerful Tribes will [f] murder, and oppress the weak.– When I return to Port Jackson I intend to impress upon the mind of the Honourable Commissioner the necessity for Govt to interfere, to prevent the whalers from importing into the Bay of Islands such large Quantities of Muskets and Gun Powder, which proves very destructive to the Population, and has a natural tendency to feed their native warlike Spirit, and keep up the Flame of war – All the Missionaries are well, and time will cure the evils I have hinted at – Similar ones existed in the Society Islands,– The London Missionary Society have had many who have behaved ill. When the Israelites came to the Boarders of the Promise[d] Land Moses commanded that twelve Princes, one from every Tribe, should be sent to examine the good Land. When they had performed this duty, they returned, and made their Report to Moses. Ten of the twelve gave a false Account of the Land of Canaan – There were only two who proved themselves honest men – and these the Congregation were ready to stone. If the Society get two good Missionaries in every twelve they must be satisfied. The two will succeed if no more can be found – I have written these few Lines in haste as the Schooner will sail the first favourable moment and this may come to hand some months before any others – With my respectful Com[pliment]s to the Committee I have the Honor to be Dear & Revd Sir Your obed. hum[bl]e Sert Samuel Marsden Revd J. Pratt