446 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XVIL 
" have no right to expect that that influential body 
" will give a hearty support to its representative." 
The letter of the thirteen chiefs had doubtless been 
suggested by the missionaries ; for the natives were 
incapable of conceiving its purport, and it was the 
missionaries who proceeded to bring about much 
stronger measures in November 1835. At that 
period, a formal declaration of independence was drawn 
out by Mr. Busby, apparently in consequence of the 
designs of Baron de Thierry, who had some wild 
notions of assuming the sovereignty of New Zealand to 
himself. A circular had been issued from the printing- 
press of the Church Mission, inviting the natives not 
to allow de Thierry to land ; and the missionaries, as 
well as the Agent accredited by Great Britain to them, 
took an active share in procuring the execution of this 
declaration of independence. It was finally signed by 
35 natives, calling themselves the hereditary chiefs and 
heads of tribes of the northern parts of New Zealand. 
The document was witnessed by Messrs. Williams and 
Clarke, of the Church Mission, and two resident 
traders,* and the copy and translation were certified 
by Mr. Busby, as British Resident. A petition was 
also brought round to various parties by Mr. Williams, 
praying for protection against irregular British settlers 
and Charles Baron de Thierry. This last paper, 
although signed by many of the Church Missionary 
body, was signed by them as individuals ; and the 
Secretary of the Church Missionary Society protests, in 
his evidence before the House of Lords, against their 
signatures being considered of the same force when 
unaccompanied by the letters C.M.S. 
Sir George Gipps, the Governor of New South 
* Mr. Clendon, the fortunate vendor of the site for Russell to the 
New Zealand Government in 1840; and Mr. Gilbert Muir, ano- 
ther large land -shark. 
