442 . ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEAXAJMD. Chap. XVII. 
wise and comprehensive benevolence of a man who 
extends his charity to a starved pauper with the greatest 
care and circumspection ; and vrho lays him in a warm 
bed, and brings cleanliness, repose, and comfort to his 
aid, rather than a too abundant supply of mere food, lest 
the sudden change should destroy instead of saving the 
object of his compassion. Under the constant su- 
perintendence of a Marsden, how beautiful must have 
been the results of such a system ! how healthy, how 
contented, how grateful would have been the revived 
patient at the end of his well-fostered convalescence ! 
Marsden revisited the mission in later times ; and 
some of his letters, dated in August 1819, are pro- 
duced by Mr. Coates before the House of Lords' Com- 
mittee of 1838. These letters speak but little of the 
spiritual improvement of the natives up to that time. 
He says, " Their misery is extreme. The Prince of 
" Darkness, god of this world, has full dominion over 
" their bodies and souls. Under the influence of dark- 
" ness and superstition many devote themselves to 
" death ; and the chiefs sacrifice their slaves as a satis- 
" faction for the death of any of their friends ; so great 
" is the tyranny which Satan exercises over this people, 
" a tyranny from which nothing but the Gospel can 
" set them free." He adds, " We cannot hope for the 
" Gospel having its full effect, according to the ordinary 
'* course of the Divine proceedings, without the united 
" aid of the Christian world. Suitable means must 
" l)e provided for the civilization and evangelization of 
" the inhabitants of New Zealand; and if this be done, 
" there can be little doubt that the important object 
" will be attained." 
The civilizing department of the mission had made 
considerable progress. Marsden says : " 17th Septem- 
" ber 1819. I believe that there is ten times more land 
" in cultivation at the present time, in the districts 
