Parramatta March 21th 1821
Revd & Dear Sir,
	A whaler has just arrived from the Bay of Islands - the master informs me there were seventeen whalers on the Coast – As they all barter with Muskets and Powder they will buy up all the animal Food from the Natives, and greatly distress the Settlement for Provisions for a time – It may seem strange, that I have never been able from the first to convince the Missionary Settlers of the value of Cattle. A moment's Reflection ought to be sufficient to convince the most ignorant of the vast Importance of Cattle in a new Country, for Labour Milk, Butter, animal Food &c &c. Had the Missionaries only attended to the Cattle that have been imported they [f] would not now be in want of animal Food – Their Conduct in this respect had been unpardonable. At one time I sent over Six Heifers very fine ones; they informed me they wanted a Bull - I then sent over two very fine English Bulls - they neglected to put these to the Heifers, so that they never bred - when I returned in the Dromedary I took more Cattle over with me. On my arrival I found the Revd Mr Butler had shot three of my Heifers and two Bulls, and also one Cow in Calf - when I asked him his Reason for doing so - he said he wanted to get them into the Settlement, and finding he could not he shot five of them and Shongee shot one – I was much hurt at this Circumstance as it was defeating my Intention towards New Zealand - Mr Butler had no right to kill my [f] Cattle. It was a wanton thoughtless Act. The Cattle could not have been worth much less than £100 in New South Wales - They had cost me considerable Trouble and Expense to get them into the Country - Their Beef was very fat - Had they acted properly from the first they would have had plenty of milk and Butter, and a considerable Quantity of Beef by this time, and would not have been so dependent upon the natives. If the Society could meet with a pious Farmer, or if a few Families were settled upon the Societys Land this would be an excellent thing - I think there is little doubt,  but ey might soon maintain themselves, if they were industrious - Some measure must be adopted to render the missionaries independent of the natives - and there is none but Agriculture, that can furnish them with Supplies - The whalers are likely to ruin the whole Country by [f] importing such Quantities of Fire Arms and Gun Powder  - How this evil can be remedied I know not - It is a very great one into which most of the missionaries themselves have fallen - I enclose the last Letter I received from Mr Hall in which he mentions his Cattle, and solicits a remuneration for them as they were killed by the natives - Mr Butler ought to pay for mine himself - It was an Act of his own - and not a very innocent one - The missionaries are now beginning to see the value of  Cattle. The Society have two Cows and two Calves - at Kiddee Kiddee - Mr Butler wishes to purchase one of these Cows with her Calf - Mr Francis Hall the other from the Society - should they be sold the Price of the former should be £30 - the latter £25 - when they get Cattle of their own they will take Care of them - and I think no more will be shot -
I remain
Yours affectionately
Saml Marsden
Revd J. Pratt