Marsden^ arrived, and preached on the followiiig Sunday to the Diilitary in a harrack-room, and to the convicts in Mr. Johnson's new church. In Sept. 1796 he had opened a church at Parraraatta, havin*? formed it out of the materials of two ohi huts. Thenceforward he was one of the most active influences for good in the community ; | benevolent, but active and bokl, as determined to do his duty by his neighbour and to the law as he was di^voted to his God, hia advice and personal energies were continually called upon by succeeding Governors. For a long time it was his custom to go by boat from Parramatta to Sydney on the Saturday, in order to hold Divine service at Sydney on the Sunday morning, and then to Avalk fifteen miles to Parramatta to hold service there in the afternoon. His physical fjower was great and was on one occasion singularly tested* Uiu'uly convicts desired to get rid of him. One of them, knowing that Marsden's benevolence would prompt him to save any drowning man, fell purposely into deep water, affecting that he could not swim. When Marsdeu plunged in to the rescue, the fellow, who was an expert swimmer, endeavoured to drown him. Mr. Marsden was strong, and brought the man forcibly to the shore. A man of Marsden's energy was perhaps needed after PhilUp'g departure. Johnson had striven, but in vain. He is found imploring Phillip iu 1792 to cause a place of worship to be built, because ** now we are wholly exposed to the weather." In the same year he appealed to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel* Many convicts could not read, and lie had no books for those who could read. | His building of a church in 1793 was not prevented, but was discouraged by Grose, and it was not until 17147 that Mr. Dundas ordered the disbursement to him of the
- expenses he had incurred." This tardy justice was due
to the intercession of Pitt's friend Wilber force, who assured Dundas that Johnson, though described by Grose as ■* Writing to Bundas (on Mftraden'a arrival), Grose said— ** Your in- at ructions relative to the Rev. Mr. Maraden ah all be particularly attended to," He added that he bad wished to iimke the clergyman comfortable, but he had received from Johnaon * treatment very unbecoming his character as a clergyman to olier, and not very consiatent with my situMtlon to put up with/*
