Parramatta March 19th 1821
Revd & dear Sir,
			I feel much gratification that my political warfare is now drawing near a Close. I can truly say for the last eleven years I have been in perils in the Sea, in Perils in the Wilderness, in perils amongst the Heathens, and in Perils amongst false Brethren. God has been kind and gracious to me in the midst of all difficulties. What has given me the most real Concern has been the Care of the Missions – The Missionaries have sometimes behaved very ill, which has distressed my mind exceedingly – God be thanked that neither the Enemies of the Missions; nor the misconduct of the Missionaries have prevented the work from going on. It is the Cause of God, and it must prosper. The Kingdoms of the Earth must become the Kingdoms of the Lord. When I combine all the Circumstances relative to the Mission to New Zealand, I cannot doubt but the time is come for that nation to be [f] gathered into Christ's Fold. If you only consider the Powers of the Rulers of this Country, and the exercise of that Power, and that yet the work should go on, it is wonderful – The struggles I have made to get out of this Colony, the way in which my Path has been hedged up; and at the moment, when my Leave arrived from England, that the Dromedary & Coromandel should come out, which prevented me again from returning. It was also my Intention to have come Home in the Dromedary, this not meeting with the entire Approbation of the Commissioner of Enquiry has prevented me again – I shall now sit down quietly for the present – I am much relieved in my own mind, as the Storm is now breaking. I am very thankful that my way was hedged up twice – Had I not been on the Spot to have vindicated my own Cause; and the Cause of both the London & C.M. Societies, the Enemy would have had great Advantage over all in the Examinations taken before the Honourable Commissioner of Enquiry – The Accusers could then have none to contradict their Accusations. God will overrule all to the [f] furtherance of his Gospel. I am determined to have no further difference with the Governor – I will put up with every Inconvenience, and every unpleasant Circumstance that may happen – He may do what he likes – I could not yield to the Imposition of the Cattle with a good Conscience as I was not acting for myself, but merely as an Agent – but I thought it better to suffer the Society to be defrauded than to go too far, after I had remonstrated – but it grieves me much that the Society should be wronged more than £80 – Government will no doubt by some attentions or others make ir up to the Society – I have in my examination before the Commissioner abstained from all recrimination – I had no wish to injure the Governor, or to say more than would justify my own Conduct – I wish the Governor may get thro his difficulties without too much pain – He pushed me very hard – Had he been wise he would not have done so – I assured the Commissioner that I had no wish to do any thing that would hurt the Governor if he did not compel me – The Judge Advocate behaved very ill – we had some warm Altercations before the Commissioner – I knew the Judge Advocate was in my Power [f] from his Conduct towards me. I told him before the Commissioner, I had no wish to injure him but if he compelled me to do so in my own Justification I must do it – The Judge I think will not easily get over his difficulties, when his public Conduct comes to be investigated – With respect to the state of my own mind I am easy as to the Issue of my Cause – I have done no wrong – and if I can not make it appear so now– this will appear in the morning of the Resurrection of the Just – In the Testimony of my Conscience I rejoice – If my Superiors in England condemn me, from the false Representations of my Superiors in this Country I must submit – It will not stain my Conscience with Guilt – I feel I am in the Situation where God would have me be, tho' like Jonah I have wished to flee from my Post – I have now no Cause to complain, for I have seen the kind Hand of Providence directing all things for the best, and causing the wrath of man to praise him [f] – him My last visit to New Zealand will have prepared the way for any future Extention of the Mission – I think Government will be induced to attend to these Islands, as they will be of national Importance in time. N. S. Wales must be dependent upon New Zealand for good Timber – much more according to human Estimates would have been done for New Zealand if the Government here had been favourable. I have little doubt but when a Change takes Place we shall then have more attention paid to it – Interested Individuals had no wish that any thing should be done for the poor Heathens in the South Sea islands, lest their Crimes should be exposed, and they should not be able to plunder as they were wont to do – I studied as much as possible to conciliate the Governors [f] good opinion towards the Natives, but his mind was wrought upon by secret Enemies, who are determined to defeat the object – and his Prejudices were not to be softened or removed. The Rev. J. Butlers mind was much poisoned while he was here, tho only for a short time – Mr Cowell has also been much tampered with, both before and since the death of his wife, which happened when I was in New Zealand – This has detained him to the present time – As the Hope a Brig belonging to the House of Alexr Birnie of London was going to Otaheite, and the Settlement wanted wheat at N. Zealand and some other Stores I agreed with the Agent here to take down the Supplies with Mr & Mrs Sheppard, & Mr Samuel Butler to the Bay of islands for the Sum of £50 – The Active was then at Sea, and I was [f] afraid she would not arrive in time to carry them seed wheat – Mr Cowell was to have gone at the same time but he wished to remain a little longer till he had got all the Tools made he wanted – I much regret the death  of his wife – The ways of God are very mysterious – I hope things will go on better with the Missionaries amongst themselves – The natives behave well but the Missionaries want an head – Mr Butler is too warm, and unstable – Messrs Francis Hall & Kemp are valuable men – Very few men are to be met with like Mr Francis Hall for mildness, and goodness of Character – As their internal Comforts increase, their union will probably increase – I sometimes am inclined to think the Revd J. Butler will not remain long – Mrs Butler seems to have come out against her will – and repeatedly told me she would not stay – She is a violent woman equally as soon angry as her Husband – If I had not gone over in the Dromedary, Mr Butler was then talking of returning. [f] he told me he had been promised some Situation in the Colony, if he could remain when he first arrived – Mr B. is not aware of the deceit of political men – and how anxious they are to catch at opportunities to gratify their wishes. Painful Experience has taught me to be aware of them – You are sensible I have not been very happy under the reign of our present Governor, tho I have committed no offence – I never at any time, under any Circumstances gave the Governor any just Cause of offence – yet he was offended – I requested the Honourable Commissioner to ask Govr Macquarie what I had done – The Commissioner returned me the following answer – The Governor admits Mr Marsden's manner to him has been constantly civil & accommodating, and that nothing in his manner could provoke the Governor's warmth. The Governor admits Mr Marsden's Qualifications, his Activity and his unremitting Vigilance as a Magistrate; and in Society, his chearful disposition and willingness to oblige" – yet with these official Admissions I have not been comfortable – no more would Mr Butler in such a Society if he did his duty – It is singular the Govr should say so much in my Favour, and still be so anxious to injure me if it was in his Power.
I remain
Dr Sir
Yours affectionately
Saml Marsden
Revd J. Pratt