The position of New Zealand here is very hard. In half a dozen words we have had no official friends here for a long while past - Featherston has not believed in our policy, theCrown Agents have taken their one from him and libels on the Colony have passed unchallenged. Following letters in the Pall Mall should have been officially answered long since - even if telegraphing the Colony for information were necessary. It is hard to disturb a settled opinion my arguments on Fraser have done good but you cannot easily turn back the torrent of opinion which for some time has set in any particular direction. We shall pay for it in the Loan we are now negotiating. We are busy about these negotiations. I am still confined to the house - I can just walk a little on crutches and that is all. It is a great nuisance being so tied up. I have so much to do today that I know you will excuse my writing briefly. With kind regards to all friends Most sincerely yours Julius Vogel(?)