Friday night June 27, My dear Mr. McLean, As the Wh. Swan has not arrived, and as I leave tomorrow per Storm Bird for Wellington, and therefore may see you. I just write a few lines to inform you that I have received your note of 5th ()- and am sorry Dr. Knight has been disappointed. The little packet which has been missed, contained a long letter from myself and a French work on Lichens - , by De Lise, with Atlas of Plates - which I had promised to lend Dr. Knight, and which he had wished greatly to see - and I had long waited for a good opportunity. Do not however think of it - such things will occur, and do oocur with us all. Mr. Watt told me to day, he fully expected you by Steamer (Wh. Sw.) You will be a little surprised when you hear of our Civil Commissioner. The town has been full of no other talk all the I little thought poor old Waitangi would ever have been the means of so much talk among the Settlers. As I find you do not take in the H. B. I have addressed one to you to go with this. It is rather a curious coincidence to see the two Papers - pulling together in a public matter. One thing I am very very sure of that Sir George will find it a step in the to allow of any deed , and made, with the of the - to be called in question. As sure as ever the Waitangi Deed is so dealt with, so surely will the Natives apply to have other Deeds similarly dealt with. I am about to petition Sir George for compensation, and I intend to accompany my petition (which will be drawn ) with a Letter, of few words, to be signed by the Settlers and J. P. S - say a dozen or so; and I ask you to sign it. I shall send up to Wood, from Wellington. Before you quite leave us, I should like to have a note from you, stating, how you found the Natives of on your first coming here - and whether you (then) had reason to believe, that my exertions among them had been of an useful and beneficial nature. I had arranged to go by Storm Bird, because she was advertised to sail on Tuesday 1st July and now she leaves 3 days earlier!! I wished to you. The little sums of which I gave you a Memo. perhaps you will kindly place to my Credit at Bank of Hoping to hear from you, Believe me, my dear Sir, Yours sincerely, Wm. Colenso