Wanganui, 6th July, 1849. Letter from P. Wilson dated July 8th. 1849 . New Plymouth, 8th. July 1849. My dear Mac, We are looking for you daily, but in vain. Poor MacShane died on Friday, 6th. at noon, after holding out most extraodinarily. On Monday he desired Mr. Govett to write to the Government, respecting his state; but as he seemed to think he had not put his case strongly enough, he desired me, on Monday morning, to address a letter to Sinclair, and to state precisely my thoughts as to how he was. This, I immediately complied with; with which he was quite satisfied. "Were I to be guided by past experience in similar cases, I should say he could not last many days. Yet I have been so often astonished by rallies of his case, since the 18th. or 20th. of last month, that I declined giving a decided opinion as to immediate result; for, though well marked organic lesion renders it altogether hopeless that he should ever recover to even ordinary convalescence, yet he may so far rally as to prolong existence for an indefinite time." However, after the date of above, he never did rally, but sank gradually till Friday, as above stated, when life terminated. He suffered nothing, and died without indication of delirium, or the slightest aberration of mind. Govett had been most attentive to him throughout. Of course I continue in charge of the Hospital, and its interests, till we hear from Auckland; and also, of course, I want you here more then ever. I have a strong suspicion that the Captain entertains the notion that I had a knowledge of, or was accessory to, the letter that Turton wrote to the Government; which I noticed to you in my last. Nothing now is farther from the fact; for all that I knew about it was gleaned from a short conversation I had with him, (Turton), on the previous Sunday, when he stated that Mr. Halse was going to write to the Attorney General, for opinion; and that he himself intended also to write, and would shew me his letter in the course of the week. If, therefore, he, the Captain, is under such impression, his evil couusellors in all probability have done it. But the sooner he is quit of them the better. We cannot make up our minds to end the days of poor Peter; for, as you say, he is really a faithful fellow. So we keep him chained up here, giving him only a daily run about. I believe, if he were regularly, and well fed, he would lose the propensity to murder. But your man is not the fellow to do that, When we first chained him up, I asked William to bring him food daily, but have never seen his face on such an errand. I hope the Campbells will now think of making their appearance here. We are all anxiety for Saturday's post, as to your proceedings, hitherward. The funeral takes place to-morrow at ten o'clock. Poor fellow, he was always most anxious to know how the Henui bridge was getting on; and it is not a little singular that he and the procession will be to cross it. It is a very creditable structure, and looks well. Wicksteed is now a regular Omatian, not having been once in town since he first went out, some two months ago. H. Halse, report says, is just about to be married to the pretty Mary Ann. He has done his cottage up very neatly, and has it very nicely furnished. We have got a new, and very respectable settler, a Mr. Newman, consigned to Sam King, being a Corker. Now that I have got a heart, I ride very seldom. One reason is, our approaches to the Henui have been so wretchedly bad that I would rather walk to town than ride, under the circumstance. Tell Breadalbane that he must bring me a ; for I don't want to depend on him for milk and butter. Peter Elliot now prepares butter only for Auckland, as it pays him nearly double. So tell Campbell to bring plenty of cows with him. I am getting in a quantity of seeds into the garden, and am now fully stocked with fruit trees. I believe I have from sixty to seventy grafting of apples, plums, cherries; and besides a goodly number of gooseberries and currants; which will yeild fruit this year. You see what you lose by going away. Should you go to Wellington, I wish you could procure me a good broadish-brimmed white, or black hat; and a large Tam o Shanter bonnet. Mind that my head is of a large globe-turnip shape; at least, your hat is considerably too small, and sits on me very insecurely. MacShane died on your sofa; so my wife insists that it must be taken to pieces, stuffing washed, and remade, before you use it. So should you find yourself put to a few shillings' expence, blame her at your convenience. Ramsden, singularly enough, lost his voice completely in one night; and I've no immediate prospect of his recovering it. I have recommended a long voyage; and he has determined to taks a trip to England; leaving his wife and child here. My fear is, he is predisposed to consumption. I write this in a great hurry, as I have plenty to do in preparing for to-morrow. Helen and Pat unite in kindest regards, and in the hope of seeing you soon, believe me, my dear Mac, very faithfully yours (Signed) P. Wilson. To:- Donald McLean Esq.,