N. L. Office, 23 Decr. /57. My Dear Sir, Immediately on my return to the office, after having an additional glass of beer after parting with you, I found old Isaac with Smith who half promised to advance a sum of money to him for some land on the Waikato, and knowing well your views regarding in general and Isaac in particular I took the liberty of opposing with all my might the advance in question, and although I rather staggered Smith with a certain vehement determination which seizes hold of me occasionally when I warm on a subject It took me at least two hours to convince Smith the loan of money to Isaac was in the present instance most injudicious as we would be upholding a man who would show us no mercy and was very stiff about the This was the culminating point with Smith who with all his deference does not understand a land question. He thought I was proposing to take an undue advantage on the Maori, whereas I am and have been morally convinced for some time although I cannot prove it --- that Isaac has stolen a march on us. Remove the settlers from his land by all means and all that sort of thing but to uphold him in loans when fair terms were offered to him which would get him out of his scrapes --- is to me unaccountable --- Smith has now fallen into my views on the subject and Farewell. J. Rogan. D. McLean, Esq.