MEMORIES OF MARSDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21713, 31 January 1934, Page 11

MEMORIES OF MARSDEN

MISSIONARY'S JOURNALS

OLD ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ARRIVAL FROM AUSTRALIA A collection of manuscripts written by the hand of the Rev. SamueJ Marsden was brought to Auckland yesterday by Mr. Eric Ramsden, of Sydney, who arrived by the Wanganella. The manuscripts, which ar© owned by one of Mr. Marsden's descendants, were entrusted to Mr. Ramsden so that he might show them to the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, and members of the Waitangi National Trust. Mr. Ramsden, who is a member of the Polynesian Society and the Royal Australian Historical Society, said the owner of the documents was anxious, for reasons of sentiment, that they should find a resting place in New Zealand. They included the original Journal of the Sixth Voyage in 1830. The journal was compiled during Mr. Marsden's visit to New Zealand in that year and was in perfect condition. Other documents included deeds relating to the brig Active, dated Juns 11, 1812, and February 11, 1814. Notes on the "Government of New Zealand," was a document of historic value written by Mr. Marsden on the return voyage from England to Port Jackson in 1810. Other papers included a copy of the journal of the first voyage to New Zealand in 1814, probably written by one of Mr. Marsden's daughters, but it was corrected in the missionary's own hand. The famous first sermon delivered at the Bay of Islands was the subject of a page written by Mr. Marsden later in life. The note was incomplete, but it stated: —"I never felt more happiness and joy than when I viewed the delighted countenances of those poor heathens on the Gospel for the first time being preached to them." Mr. Ramsden said the Pratt letters, about 30 in number, were under offer to the Hocken Library, Dunedin, and for that reason he did not bring them with him. As they referred particularly to New Zealand it would be unfortunate if they did not come to the Dominion. He was compiling a book relating to Samuel Marsden's last journey, in 1837, and in it he hoped to publish the Yates series of letters, together with new extracts from the journal of Martha Marsden. The Hawke and Shepherd journals had been purchased by the Mitchell Library, although he had done what he could to secure them for New Zealand. There were many illustrations and documents in Sydney that might well be copied and the copies obtained for the museum to be established in the Treaty House at Waitangi.