594 
SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
One of the passengers, the Rev. Mr. Leigh, a W esleyan Mis- 
sionary, states : “ The shipwreck we have experienced will, I 
have no doubt, prove favorable to the reputation of the New 
Zealanders, for several days we were in their power, and 
they might have taken all that we had with the greatest ease ; 
but, instead of oppressing and robbing us, they actually 
sympathized with us in all our trials and afflictions. Mr. 
Marsden, myself, and Mrs. Leigh were at a native village 
for several days and nights, without any food but what the 
natives brought us : what they had they gave us willingly, 
and said, ‘ Poor creatures, you have nothing to eat, and you 
are not accustomed to our kind of food' ; I shall never forget 
the sympathy and kindness of these poor heathens." What 
a lesson is this for the wreckers who still disgrace the shores 
of Great Britain ! 
It was in 1826, the news reached the indefatigable founder 
of the Mission, that it was again threatened with being broken 
up ; much violence was experienced from the natives, but 
Mr. Williams stated in his letter to Mr. Marsden, “ It is, I 
believe, our united determination to remain until we are 
driven away ; when the natives are in our houses, carrying 
away our property, it will then be time for us to take refuge 
in our boats." Mr. Marsden, therefore, lost no time in visit- 
ing New Zealand, to stop the abandonment of the Mission. 
He sailed in H. M. ship Rainbow , April 5th, 1827. But, on 
reaching New Zealand, he was rejoiced to find that the pros- 
pect had again brightened, and the Mission was once more 
bidding fair to prosper; he, therefore, only remained four 
days, and writing to the Church Missionary Society, stated, 
it gave him much pleasure to find the Missionaries so 
comfortable, living in unity and godly love, devoting them- 
selves to the work." 
February 16th, 1830, Mr. Marsden sailed on his sixth 
visit, accompanied by his daughter. Miss Mary Marsden : he 
this tribe ? They said, No. Is not this their sacred day ? I know it is yours. 
He then exclaimed, with equal astonishment and indignation, See how they 
trade ! They must be a mean tribe. The vessel was taken, but -“afterwards 
given up again to the Missionaries. 
