PS – I fear Mr Cowell, sent here by the C M S to go to New – Zealand, as a Rope Maker, & still here, but is, I believe, going in a week or two in the “active”, will I fear do no good for the Society – He has married a Girl aged little more than 16 – and I fear without real piety.
Sydney 21st Novr 1821
My Dear friend
		The old adage “out of sight, out of mind” will, I am obliged to confess, sometimes obtrudes itself into my mind; yet I cannot bring myself to believe that we are forgotten. But why has do much time elapsed since we have been indulged with a line from you? the last is dated July 5th 1820!!! and there have been repeated opportu-nities thro’ the Church Missionary Society, independent of the Post office. You can little conceive the anxiety with wh we have watched first the signals, then the Ships, & lastly the post office, here, for months past; but not a single ^letter from any friend have we obtained since the 4th May. Sometimes an expectation has been raised by a mistake, and at others by letters only of business, ie, from some of the Societies. One of which tells me of ?150 worth of books placed at my disposal by the Society for promoting My [?] Knowledge, in answer to an application wh I made to them in Augt 1820_. I expect them daily, as the vessel in wh they are, was left at Rio by a ship wh arrived here fourteen days since. The Sunday School Union has been equally prompt. The books are nearly half distributed.
		Our new Governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, is at length arrived. We literally expect soon to say, “old things are passed away, & behold all have become new”. It is fully expected that the system hitherto carried on, is to be instantly set aside: – the prisoners are to be differently managed: and those who have been Convicts are to occupy their proper place. As far as judgement can be formed, from the evils of the present place, good must result from a change. For in the discharge of our indispensable duty, ie, particularly, at the Governors table on [f] ^public days, being obliged to sit beside men of the most immoral description. It is very surprising that Governor Macquarie, who is a man of apparent strict moral conduct, & even considers himself religious, should have so strong a attachment for whoremongers, & adulterers! But the three greatest favourites are of this class. and altho’ they have no wives to introduce to Mrs Macquarie / but they have all one or more women, besides children / yet they, themselves, are much admired as guests at Government house. Consequently whoever is invited must submit to such company. And an officer cannot with propriety refuse an invitation; except from indisposition. It is in point of fact, an order, rather than invitation.
		We have nothing here but wars! It seems out of the reach of possibility for even Christian men to be quiet. I think I told you of a promising Committee we had formed to assist M.r Marsden in managing the C M concerns. We seemed to go on very well for awhile. It was how – ever for a short season: for suspicions were fomented, & as a consequence all confidence fled. Captn Irvine, lately from “Calcutta”, & intending to retire from the Companys service, to settle here, as his health failed him there, ^having been requested to act as Secretary, required Mr Marsden to furnish to the Com-mittee various accounts belonging to the Society. Mr. M – having been so long in the wars, suspected, from various circumstances, that an enemy had by some means set him on. He therefore refined the accounts, but offered, for the satisfaction of individual members, to allow us to inspect Mr Campbell;, the merchants books; who transacts all the Society’s secular business here. This was rejected; & a tone, & manner assumed by Captn Irvine which increased the suspicion ten fold, and after two or three discordant meetings we dissolved the Comttee, & took the books & papers from ^him, as far as we could obtain them. There are two or three long circular papers, written by him to the Committee, the Part I think of eight fol pages. I should like much to know if they are received by the Society. From some intaine [?], &, I fear, an unfair one, he has kept them back; but the last of them he says he forwarded: This was written in reply to one of mine proposing the formation of an Auxiliary Socy. I fear he has not sent those papers because they would show him too plainly, or if they are sent, I fear they are mutilated. He is a man of learning; and Heclince [?] of piety. But he is a speculative Scotchman!!! I cannot say that I think him to be  a wicked man; but he has acted very wickedly. The minute Book &c were sealed up at the breaking up of the Comttee & they are sent home to the C M Socy by this opportunity. If Captn Irvine has no sinister [f] intention, he is one of the most perverse, obstinate, & selfwilled men I ever met with. If he has been deceived, by any one who wants to make a tool of him, he will not leave it in the power of any one to undeceive him, except it be done as he may please to dictate. As Sir T Brisbane has arrived, & has assumed Mr Marsden of support, I hope we may get an Auxiliary Socy – formed. 
		I cannot help feeling confidence that the Established Church will obtain good by the change. Governor Macquarie has latterly been very friendly to the Methodists [?]. Two of the missionaries, ^young men, have had their brain so turned by these attentions, that they are acting with open hostility, and, I am informed, have sent the Calvinists to Hell [?], or at least one of them has. This is the modest man who praised himself ^by name in the Imperial Magazine. I hope you have obtained the insertion of my reply to that article. Mr Leigh, the senior missionary has, I believe, written home making serious complaints of their irregular conduct [? Page torn]. I make a point of avoiding names, in order that non may have real cause to be offended; without keeping back, for fear man should be offended, any of the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel. The ministerial duty here is very arduous. I every day feel more, & more, my ignorance & folly. Yet it is a comfort to know that it is by the “foolishness of preaching”, that God is pleased “to save [?] them that believe”: Therefore I hope he will be pleased to turn my folly to the Eternal window, Ha [? Page torn] ation of some of his Elect. 
		It has been stated that Governor Macquarie has promised secretly, to give up to the Wesleyans the Native Institution, of wh. I am Secretary. And a few weeks since he laid the foundation stone of a Catholic Chapel, wh is building by subscription. He professed to be married to both those sects. Therefore His friendship can only proceed from some anti sen motive [?]. Perhaps animosity to Mr Marsden, or it may be sonld [?] by policy that he may ^have a good name among  these, as he is subject to much severe cen-sure for his great neglect of the churches.
            Sir Thomas is to be sworn in on the 1st proximo.: [?] and Genl Macquarie is to leave,  for England in abt two months.
            My poor wife still continues in a very weak, & uncomfortable state. I am often quite at loss what to do. “a wounded spirit, who can bear”? saith the wise man. Her spirit is wounded; her mind oppressed; and the enemy has succeeded in persuading her that ^she has never been con-verted; but that all her profession was only Hypocrisy. What fools we are to believe Satan so readily! and so perversely refuse to take comfort from the word, promises, & oath, of the immutable God! Lord increase our faith. You can scarcely conceive what I have had to endure for the last six months. Yet still I can seize [?] an Ebenezer! But I want Grace to be more grateful for my manifold & mathless mercies.
            I hope this will find yourself, Mrs. Saunders, & your dear little one all well. I shouldmuch like to see how the “Olive Branches “twine “around your table” – Were it so with us, according to my wisdom, things would be better with us. Yet there is a small difficulty in the way of this supposition Palm 84/11 – also Rom 8/32_ - Lord help our unbelief! [f]
            I did promise to send you some reports, perhaps I may have a more favourable opportunity by & by; or if I can send you a few by this I will do it.
            There is a man of the name of Eager gone from here as Delegator, From “the emancipated Colonist” – ie from the Convicts who have received unconditional pardons. Should you hear of his endeavouring to ingratiate himself into the favour of any of your friends wh might be the case from a desire to know any thing about this Colony ^pray warn them in confidence. He has contrived either to be rich, or to be thought so, in a very short time. And if we can judge by his effort to cheat King Pomare, he will not be very nice in the means he uses to accomplish his objects. He is a man of ability, & learning. Very soft spoken: can preach, pray & speechify! You will most likely hear of his attempt on King Pomare. I should think thro’ the London Missionary Socy. his fame will be sounded abroad. The profit he charged was only 200 C 300t  and a commission of 5 pct on the whole. Mr Marsden was obliged to step in between the King, & this religious harpy. By wh he recovered from him ?1200- but could not prevent him having that enormous profit. It is in these acts, that he ^Mr M- necessarily increases his enemies. Paper in, I believe at the head of Methodist ^auxiliary Missionary Socy- His collegue ^or delegate is named Redfern, a man of considerable professional Skill as a Surgeon. He was a Surgeon in the Navy, & sent here for the Mutiny at D Nae. [?]
            Pray remember us kindly to all enquiring friends, Mrs. Hill joins me in Love to you all – and believe to be 
            Yours very affectionately
            Richard Hill
Redfern was the Governors Medical Attendant
Eager has never been introduced at Government 
House, but must be a great favourite for his 
enmity to Mr. Marsden —