negotiator with the Maories so invaluable and also give a wider and more extensive scope of opinion to the public in general as to their sense of appreciation of your unequalled merits to that colony. However we know not at present what may be the issue of this outbreak but we fear that it is not going to be easily subdued and once that the spirit of enmity is aroused it will be difficult to bring back the same harmonising feeling of mutual friendship & forbearance which for so long had happily pervaded amongst you. The native conference amused us much. The incoherent and somewhat outrey sentiments of loyalty to the Queen & Government were ludicrous in the extreme, but what of course pleased us most were their innocent expressions of confidence in and fidelity towards friend M'Lean. It is quite a luxury to us to get a newspaper. Do send one oftener. Your name now frequently appears in many of the home journals. I don't know if you have yet heard that Catherine sailed along with Archy's wife Oct last by the ship "Wild Duck" from London. They go direct to Wellington. Of this arrangement Mrs M'Lean will herself I trust on their safe arrival inform you as to the why and wherefore. This step was considered advisable by all relatives at home and I think you will yourself agree considering your visit home was postponed