[Church Missionary Society.

Rev. S. Marsden to Rev. J. Pratt.

I find it necessary to drop you a line in addition to my former letter. Capt. Downie brought from the Thames four page 566 New Zealand chiefs with him in the Coromandel, with an intention to take them to England. From what Shunghee said to them they declined to proceed any further. I suspected the officers were offended with me on the subject. I wrote to Captain Downie to provide for them when they left the ship, or to apply to the Government to do this. This he declined to do. I then wrote a letter on His Majesty’s service to him on the same subject. He now found it necessary to lay my letter before the Governor. It was arranged between them that the New Zealanders should be put on board the Coromandel again. But as I did not know what Captain Downie’s intention was, I wished to learn this, and wrote again an official letter to the Colonial Secretary, as I was not without my fears they might be taken to England. I enclose a copy and the answer for your information. Should Downie under any pretence take them with him, you will know how to act; or should the officers say any illnatured things of me, you will know the cause. Captn. Downie and the officers seemed not well pleased when the chiefs first declined to go any further.

I have thought good to give you this short explanation should any thing further be done.