[Church Missionary House.

Rev. S. Marsden To Rev. J. Pratt.

I wrote to you in September last, in hopes that some vessel might touch at New Zealand for Europe, but none has done so yet. As I am now just on the point of embarking this morning I have thought proper to add a few more lines. Several circumstances have occurred since the loss of the Brampton which could not be foreseen at that time. A small brig has come in to the harbour, on her way to Otaheite, which the master of the Brampton, in conjunction with myself, have taken up to convey us to New S. Wales. I must return to my public duty as soon as possible, as my leave of absence has expired some time. Mr. Kendall gave me reason to believe that he would accompany me to Port Jackson, as I did not take up the brig until he informed me that he would follow my direction, when I applied to him to know what his intentions were. After I had engaged a passage for him and his family, he then informed me he was determined to remain in N. Zealand. I am therefore constrained to leave him. Several circumstances have happened which have rendered the Rev. J. Butler’s removal necessary. I shall communicate the particulars to you on my arrival in N. S. Wales. Mr. B. accompanies me as well as his son.…

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I am happy to say the natives behave well: there is nothing to be apprehended from them: they are very attentive to the missionaries, and there never was a fairer prospect of usefulness than there is at present amongst this extraordinary nation. Their minds are enlarging very fast; and very great alteration is made in their manners and general conduct. They are most urgent to introduce themselves into civil society. The Society’s labours have already been an infinite blessing to this people.…Cultivation has been greatly increased. In Wymattee, Shunghee’s principal district, there is at this time more, it is said by Mr. Shepherd (who constantly visits this settlement), than two hundred acres in sweet potatoes. In every district there is more than 40 acres to one in cultivation from what there were before tools of agriculture were introduced amongst them, in those places where the influence of the Society’s benevolence has been felt.…