Dear Sir,
	I embrace this opportunity to drop a line, as the Society may be anxious, to hear of their Missionaries who are in New South Wales; I am happy to say that they conduct themselves with great propriety. Mrs Hall is a most excellent Woman, which makes it very comfortable to her Husband & John King, they live all together, very happy & are very industrious; you will have heard of the loss of the Ship Boyde [sic] & the murder of all the Crew at New Zealand; The following is the best account I have been able to collect of that Melancholy event— I have Three New Zealanders now living with me, one of them was at New Zealand when this business took place. The Captain of the Boyde (according to this mans Statement), took four New Zealanders from Port Jackson, one of these was the Son of a Chief of that part of the Island to which the Boyde went for Spars; he states that the Captain flogged all the four New Zealanders, on the passage from Port Jackson, when they arrived, the Son of the Chief complained to his Father, of the cruelties that had been exercised on him & his companions. The old Chief, & one of his Sons, named Tippoohee, determin’d immediately on revenging the injuries that had been done to his Son & subjects, by taking the Ship & murdering all the Crew, which they affected [sic]. Our friend Tippahee was no way concern’d in this business, from the best accounts we can obtain. The Boyd did not put in at any part of his Dominions: He happened to arrive with a Cargo of Fish, which he owed to the Chief of that part where the Boyd was taken just at the time the business had [f]  taken place; Five Men had run up into the rigging, to save themselves; Tippahee called them down, told them to come into his Canoe & he would save them: the Sailors got into his canoe: Tippahee carried them immediately on Shore, but was followed by the enraged party, overpowered, & all the Men murdered; Tippahee did all he could to save our Countrymen, but was afterwards shot thro’ the neck, & many of his Subjects kill’d by parfties landed from the Whalers & the whole of his island on which his Houses stood destroyed, he is since dead; his Son who was in England at the time I was in London died nine days previous to the arrival of the Boyd— from disease. Our Sailors have wantonly destroyed their potatoe Plantations & committed many acts of Violence & fraud upon these people, before ever the Boyd went there & since it appears that the innocent New Zealanders have been punished for the guilty. It is generally believed here, that the whole that has happened to the Boyd has been owing to the conduct of the Europeans themselves. I have conversed with many who have been at New Zealand, some before & some since the affair of the Boyd; but they all concur in one opinion, that we are the aggressors. I am still persuaded that Divine Goodness has some gracious intentions towards these noble Race of Human Beings. Three of This these Men are now living in my House, two of them, Sons of Chiefs & one a common man; I am instructing them in Agriculture & other useful knowledge. Duaterra who came out with us in the Ann, has formed the strongest attachment to John King, he loves him exceedingly & entreats me to allow him when opportunity offers to [f] accompany him to New Zealand; in short the Missionaries are forming intimate acquaintance with these people: Duaterra has made great improvement of his time, he has acquired much useful knowledge while he has been with me, I have no doubt but time will open a way for the Civilization of these people. The Missionaries will go on whenever it is thought prudent for them to do so, they seem to have no other wish. I have sown two acres of Flax, which are now growing: as soon as this is ready, it is my intention to set John King to teach the New Zealanders, how to spin Line & make rope, as this will apply to their immediate wants. Port Jackson will be the proper place to begin the instruction of these people, both in Religion, Morals, Arts, & Commerce; they are very attentive, sober, & willing to learn all they can. I shall be happy to have a School formed for them in this place, where they may be taught every thing that may be of use to them, in their present State: I mean the simple Mechanics, Agriculture & the Knowledge of the Scriptures: nothing can be done with the natives of the South Sea Islands, effectually without the means of keeping up a constant communication with them from Port Jackson: the Missionaries can neither be safe nor comfortable, without this: a communication cannot be maintained without a Ship. I have written to Mr Hardcastle upon this subject, in consequence of the Missionaries from Otaheite being now here, & wishing to return. One Vessel, of about 150 or 200 Tons, would visit all the islands in these Seas, be a protection to the Missionaries, & bring such natives to & from Port Jackson as may from time to time wish to go in her: the produce of the islands brought to Port Jackson & sold, would pay all expences: if I had the means within my own power, I would not hesitate one moment upon this plan. It is what I have recommended for the last Ten Years; I wish [f] some of the Merchants in London would undertake to fit out a Vessel for this service, not on the account of any public Society, but on their own private account. This would be doing more towards promoting the instruction of the natives in these Seas, than all the Money they may throw into any public purse: we will readily, in this Colony, second any plan of this nature, as far as our exertions & means will extend, I can answer for myself & Friends here to the amount of £1,500. The Missionaries would then be safe in the islands, there would be something to call forth their industry, & that of the Natives: viz. the collecting the natural productions of the islands, & sending them to Market: they would then be able to supply all their own wants, independent olf the Societies to which they belonged. The most friendly intercourse woujld then be kept up between Port Jackson & all the Natives of the different Islands. The South Sea Whalers would also be safe, when they wanted supplies from New Zealand. I wish some of the Gentlemen would turn this subject over in their own Minds; be assured it is of vast importance to the cause of the Mission. I think the Risque & of the expence comparatively nothing to the benefits which may be expected to result from it. The Vessel might bring a Cargo of Goods to Port Jackson, which would probably nearly pay for the Ship & first outfit. A list of articles that would be certain to sell here I have transmitted to Mr. Hardcastle: if any thing should happen to prevent the Vessel from being employ’d in the above service, she might return by way of Rio & take a freight from thence to England, or from this Colony. Perhaps what I have said upon thus subject may appear foreign to the views of the Society but believe me, they are not foreign to the grand [f] object they have in view. Private individuals may do what may not be so proper for a public Body: &, if any private Merchants would undertake this, I think they would not have cause to repent. I am sure a Cargo to Port Jackson would nearly indemnify them for the expence. However, whether any plan, such as I have recommended be adopted or not, I shall make it my study to promote the great cause, as divine providence may give me opportunity. May I request you to present my best respects to the Society, * I pray the great head of the Church to direct them in all their undertakings & further their Labours with his eternal blessing.
I have the honor to be,
Revd.  Sir,
Your most Obt. H’ble Servant
Samuel Marsden
Parramatta
Oct. 25. 1810
Revd Josh Pratt