Chap. XVII. CHURCH MISSION — SAMUEL MARSDEN. 435 
native inhabitants, gave the latter a character for 
treachery and savage ferocity, to which they them- 
selves, perhaps, had a more legitimate claim. Their 
knowledge of the natives was bounded by an inter- 
course into which they never entered without the 
desire to revenge some signal and treacherous defeat, 
or the dread of retribution for some equally disgraceful 
victory. " His plan," says Mr. Nicholas, " was by most 
" persons deemed wild and chimerical ; and a sacrifice 
" of the life of every one was foreboded who should 
" venture to carry it into execution. The New Zea- 
" landers were represented at the colony (New South 
" Wales) in the blackest colours ; and any attempt to 
" impress their mind with religion and morality was 
"judged not only hopeless and impracticable, but rash, 
" absurd, and extravagant." 
Samuel Marsden, however, combined great firmness 
of purpose with the most extended benevolence. He 
first made himself thoroughly acquainted with the 
general character of the Maori, by carrying home with 
him from time to time, and taking under his roof, such 
individuals as were occasionally brought to Port Jack- 
son by the different whalers ; and when he had ma- 
turely formed his estimate of the disposition and capa- 
bilities of the race, he deliberately persevered in his 
intention. 
In 1810, he proposed to the Church Missionary 
Society in England, that they should send out to New 
Zealand certain proper persons to form a mission. To 
this they readily assented, and engaged three persons 
with their families, Messrs. Hall, King, and Kendall ; 
some of whom embarked with Mr. Marsden, while the 
others followed in the same ship which took Mr. 
Nicholas to New South Wales. Marsden, on his 
arrival in that colony, purchased a vessel for the ser- 
2f2 
