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Historical Records of New Zealand

Rev. S. Marsden to Rev. D. Coates

Rev. S. Marsden to Rev. D. Coates.

Parramatta, May 25th, 1837.

Dear Sir,—

I received your letter this day with the duplicates of former documents, accompanied by the late Rev. R. Hill’s account. Mr. Hill died about a year since, and left his private accounts in a very unsettled state. It will be about 14 months from this period before his private affairs can be arranged, on account of his will.…His income was equal to £600 per annum, and he had no family. He has left a poor afflicted wife.…He was a pious and labourious minister, and his loss is much felt in the colony. We are greatly distressed for clergy. I am very old and infirm, and my eyes have greatly failed me. It is with difficulty I can write at all.

I informed you in my last letter of my visit to New Zealand. I was very feeble when I left Port Jackson, and I was strongly urged not to go, but…I felt it my imperious duty to visit New Zealand again, and see what state the mission was in. Both the Wesleyan missionaries, as well as the Church and the natives, everywhere received me most cordially. I was happy with them and they with me. My voyage was very beneficial to my health. More missionaries are wanted.…I recommended the missionaries to teach the native children the English language, as this is my judgment would contribute much to their advancement in civilization.…

There is a Frenchman (he says he is related to the late Royal family) now at Port Jackson, who is on his way to N Z. He is going to take possession of 40,000 acres of land purchased from the late Thomas Kendall when he was in London. His name is Barron De Teirny. He expects to do great things there. Whether he will give the missionaries any trouble or no I know not. I shall write to put them on their guard. I have had an interview with the Barron, and shall see him again before he sails. He tells me he purchased for the purpose of page 723 improving the natives of N.Z. I fear he will be greatly disappointed in the end. I merely write these few lines in case my former letter should not have arrived. I fear you will not be able to make out my writing; I am so blind. I beg my best respects to the Committee. I put the Committee to no expense in my voyage to New Zealand. It was an act of my own, and therefore I felt myself bound to pay all expense to and from New Zealand.

I remain, &c.,

Samuel Marsden.

D. Coates, Esq.