Parramatta Nov.r 19.
1811
Rev.d Sir
I received your letter dated Feby. 19. 1811. Since which period I hope you will have received one from me respecting the Boyde &c. The missionaries are still at Parramatta where I intend them to remain till we know the real State of New Zealand. Duaterra, & four three of his Country men have lived with me some time. He has made very great Progress in the Knowledge of Agriculture: and acquired that Knowledge from Dirt of Labour, and his own observations with what Assistance I could give him. He was very industrious, and well disposed to every thing that was good. I have never known any many whose natural disposition and Abilities I more esteemed. He has also attained to very consider^able Knowledge in the Christian Religion, and revered it much. He paid the greatest Respect to the Sabbath Day, and to the last moment he was [f] with me he expressed the Pleasure he felt at the Idea he had of instituting a Sabbath day on the Island of New Zealand. This first object would be to make a Sunday as he was want. to call the lords day. He requested that I would supply him with a Colour that he might hoist in the Sunday morning for the information of his subjects, and assured me that none of his men should ever work again upon the Sabbath – I gave him for a Colour a whole piece of mustin which delighted him much, and told him that the white flag was the Signal for Peace. He wanted Messrs. Hall and King very much to go with him to preach to his people, and was very much attached to them. He also requested that I would procure him some Schoolmasters to teach the Children, which I promised to do when I knew all was Peace in New Zealand. I told him I could not let Messrs. King and Hall go now — lest they should be injured, but that [f] they should come thereafter when they could come without any danger. One of his Companions who speaks English very well, and was living with me, learning Agriculture, and other things is gone over with Duaterra, to see what State the Island is in, and he comes back to me again with Infor-=mation from Duaterra, and with some of Duaterra’s own Subjects to live with me, for the acquirement of useful Knowledge. After Duaterra has instituted the Sabbath, and introduced the Cultivation of wheat Pease Beans &c &c, which he is now fully equal to do, he intends again to visit Port Jackson. The natives of New Zealand are far advanced in Civilisation, and apparenlly prepared for receiving the Knowledge of Christianity more than any Savage natives I have seen. Their Habits of Industry are very strong: and their thirst for Knowledge great, they only want the means. As Duaterra was anxious to return to see his friends they haveing heard that he was dead. I procured him a passage with two more of his Country men in the Fredrich Whater, belonging to the House of [f] my Agent Mr. Wilson who has become a Bankrupt. The Vessel is commanded by a M.r Bodie. Captain Bodie pledged himself to me that he would treat them well, and land them at the Bay of Islands, their native place – I hope he will fulfil his Promise. I think it would be prudent to make some Inquires of Mr. Wilson about the Fredrick – and to request him to inform you when she arrives in England that you may learn what has become of Duaterra, and his Companions, Tho’ I have some Confidence in Captain Bodie, yet I am not without my fears lest he should forget his Promises to me. All the three men are good Sailors – and his interest may tempt him to keep them on Board. I shall be very much distressed, should he bring them with him to England. Duaterra is so desirous to promote the improvement of his Country-men. I furnished him with tools [?] Seed Wheat Saws &c &c. and a few presents for his friends, which would make him welcome. [f] The Cruelties which some if the Captains of the ^Whalers have exercised upon the New Zealanders are dreadful – Some have been murdered, other have been cruelly flogged, their Houses have been burned, and their Potato Plantations destroyed. From the different Account I have received from Persons who have been at New Zealand, it is wonderful that any Ship has escaped their just Vengeance with Respect to myself I should not hesitate a moment to live amongst them – They are a sensible and noble Race of men; naturally affection=ate, and of very strong minds. I consider it the most happy Circumstance that such an opportunity was afforded to Duaterra on Board the Ann to trim his opinion of Hall & King, and to see the wonderful difference between men who fear God and those who do not, the attachment and Confidence established between them will never be forgotten should the way be clearly [f] opened for the missionaries to proceed to New Zealand. I have no doubt, but that the New Zealanders will in time receive the Blessings of the Gospel. but I still think the foundation must be laid at New South Wales. The Colony is never free from some of those natives. A School for their instruction in the simple Arts, and in Agriculture, as well as in reading and writing would be the likelest means to promote their Good. I think the Society would do right to send out Mr. Kendall – he will then be ready for any work that Providence may call him to. I should recommend to the Society to have him sent out in the Capacity of a Settler to this Colony with an Order from the Secretary of State for a Grant of fund. This will be of great Service to him; and will ensure him the Governor’s Support and Protection to a certain extent. What the Governor is directed to do for him from the Government, he will do. [f] What took place at New Zealand with Regard to the Boyde will be no Hinderance to the mission. Mr. Kendall might establish himself here, in the first Place, and firm some intimate friendships with those who visit the Colony, and be acquiring the Language as opportunity offered. An opportunity might offer for him to go over to visit the Island and leave his family here – he would then better judge what ought to be done – Hall & King are pretty bent upon going in whenever it appears prudent and safe. As soon as my messenger returns with an Account of the Island we shall know then better what to do – Hall & King are now no Expence to the Society – Hall is a very able man, and ^of great Steadiness & Industry , His wife is a most excellent woman – King is very pious – I wish he had been married – it would have been much better, never upon my Account send a single man out, [f] especially so far from Home. I have not so much Reason to be satisfied with King as with Hall, tho I have nothing to say against either his moral or religious ^character, but he is unsettled more or less which he would not have been had he been married. Since I have sat down, two New Zealandes^ers have ^come to day 16 miles to see me both Sons of Chiefs, one has lately arrived. He is the Son of Terr?, a man noted for his kindness and attention to the whalers, and one who has been shamefully cheated by some of them. I asked one of them who had now been three years from his friends and lived principally on Board some of our Colonial Vessels, if he would take a little Spirits and water – he told me that he never drank any. He is a very fine young man, and tho’ there is so much drunkenness in this place the Example of those, who live with him has not corrupted his morals. From all that I have seen, the New Zealanders are the most moral [f] and orderly people I have seen any where. I shall endeavour to collect some well attested facts of the treatment of these People Preceive from our whaling Ships, if the masters do continue to act as they have done, and see if some thing can not be done to restrain them from those Acts of Violence & Fraud of which they have been guilty. I shall write to you again when my messenger returns from Duaterra. Hall & King are now no Expence to the Society – The Sum I have paid them at different times from their leaving London has amounted to about ?65. Should an opening be made for them to go forward, they then will call upon the Society for support. I supplied Duaterra with what he wanted from myself excepting a Pit  Saw – which was the Property of the Society. I have no doubt, but in time much good will [f] be done by the Society, as I explained fully to Duaterra, their good intentions towards his Country, and that they were both able and willing to do all for them that they could desire. My Colleagues are both well – and labouring or the great Cause of our common Lord. Present my respectful Compliments to the Society, and assure them of my warmest wishes to support their views
I have the honor to be 
Your most obedt 
humble Servant
Saml. Marsden
Rev.d J. Pratt.
P.S. will you have the Goodness to communicate this letter to Mr. Goode as he is interested in the welfare of the New Zealanders