292 
SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
Wesleyan Missionary, states : “ The shipwreck we have expe¬ 
rienced 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 that the Mission once more 
bid 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 themselves to the work.” 
February 16th, 1830, Mr. Marsden sailed on his sixth visit, 
accompanied by his daughter, Miss Mary Marsden : he reached 
the Bay at a very important and critical time. War had broken 
out amongst the natives, and the Chiefs were haranguing their 
men as the vessel hove in sight, but immediately the news 
spread that Mr. Marsden had arrived, it put a stop to the 
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. 
