Auckland 23rd. April, 1846 Dear MacLean, Your letter of 26th. August last was received by me in October in the country. I have not been in Auckland since until the present time. It has given me great pleasure to learn that your residence at Taranaki has been both agreable and serviceable to yourself, your fellow countrymen and the natives. A few months ago, I, amongst others, flattered myself that there was a dawn that the troubles of New Zealand would gradually cease; but of late matters, in consequence of the altered relations of the Company with the Government, bear a different aspect. I am sick of New Zealand Politics. It is pretty evident that the country will be the svene of strife and bloodshed for many years; and that infliction is to exist to gratify bigotted ignorance and a desire to oppress. The greatest enemy the late Governor had in the world was that sycophant Clarke - or Creeping Jesus. The country congratulates itself upon its riddance of him. I was sorry for Captain FitzRoy - that he countenanced such an ignorant mischievous character. But he did so, to the mortification and alienation of many who were friendly disposed towards him. It was his misfortune. ''General Heki'' has, we are led to believe, about six hundred fighting armed men with him now inclusive of about one hundred mounted Horsemen. So says ''Creeping Jesus'' who says he saw them a few days since, and reports from others are similar. All the Natives in those parts to be the same towards the Europeans, excepting that they seem to view their fighting with the soldiers in the light of sport. It is impossible to forsee into what catastrophe the