My dear McLean, I was afraid you had been ill or something had happened to you for I would not believe that you had forgotten your old friend. Your letter therefore has given me very great pleasure for now I know that you are all right. It is no slight satisfaction to me to know that those who send it to me and as I have no access to documents pray throw any light upon them which you can. I should of course only notice such things in a dispatch to the Secy. of State. My wife and Bratts desire their kindest regards. I wish you could see Harold in Jack boots riding a pony little bigger than a newfoundland dog which he manages to keep trotting while the orderly's big horse is in a canter. They all send love to Douglas. Ever yours very sincerely, T.G.B. If I can do anything for you with the Secs, of State you know that you may command me but I suppose I have not much influence in N. Z. affairs now that I am no longer governor. have behaved so shamefully to you and who laid it as a crime to my charge that I relied entirely on your advice in all Maori affairs, have been obliged to come to you themselves Sooner or later justice will be done and people will find that no man in New Zealand understands the Maoris as you do or will ever have half the influence you have among them. Gust's change of opinion is a great triumph. I had always a high opinion of his rectitude and though he differed from me strongly I meant to have employed him when I had the means and I strongly recommended him to Sir George Grey. His avowed opposition to my views will make his opinion very valuable and if the Assembly can ever get hold of it they will attach much weight to it. I am more and more convinced that the best chance of peace vanished when Stafford's ministry went out and I so soon followed them. The Maoris knew that we were determined to enforce submission and there were signs of their yielding but as soon as Fox dropped his tail and eat dirt they became more and more exacting and now firmly believe that we are afraid of them. The Bishop says we must admit they can thrash us and that then they will be very gracious to us but there is no precedent in History for such an assumption. Sir G. Grey may put off the evil day and I dare say he will but it must come sooner or later in spite of all his efforts and all the orders of the Home Govt. I often see a Brother of Mannings who is settled here and gets letters from New Zealand. He says the Ngapuhis and all the North are unsettled and ready for anything. Do you remember the deputation from the Ngatiwhatuas which came to thank me for saving them from destruction just before I came away from New Zealand? It is strange that this very tribe should so soon be the aggressors: surely they must have had some European advice. Davis is capable of any villainy but I dont know that he has any special alliance with the Ngatiwhatuas. As you ask so kindly about our doings here I may tell you that I find it much easier to get on and follow the advice you used so kindly to give me than I did in New Zealand because there is no Superintendt. between me and the people. I can look after the schools, interest myself in agriculture and take part in every thing without waking up the jealousy of any one. Indeed I think people seem pleased that I should do so. We therefore get on very well and people are most kind and civil to us. The report that my Commission was being delayed while an enquiry was made into my conduct in New Zealand originated with that prince of gossips, Blackett, who came here and told the Editor of the Mercury, who in his turn announced it in a manner which he thought wd. not be disagreeable to me. It astonished me, however, and I was not sorry to get my Commission and be sworn in. Our mutual friends the meek Archdeacon and Stokes, will I am sure in this termination of their suspense. You know how very much pleasure it will give me to see you and Douglas here whenever it suits you to come. On your return from England it really will hardly be out of your way but we shall be glad to see you at any time. I hear Sir G. Grey's dispatches are all to be printed for the Assembly. If there is anything in them, which requires notice from me, I hope you will