THE FOUNDING OF AUSTRALIA 221 



bearing some signs of failing powers : as though his 

 now frequent attacks of illness impaired Banks's efforts 

 to give the utmost attention to matters before him. All 

 this was nothing to MacArthur. There were four thou- 

 sand sheep on his farms. He expected them to double 

 every two and a half years. Ten years of experience 

 lay behind him. Telling his own story at the Office of 

 Trade, he convinced the Committee that there was a 

 great future in store for New South Wales. The statistics 

 which he offered would show them the possibility of 

 supplying England with any quantity of the finest wool 

 that she required. And he was determined, on his return 

 home, to devote his entire attention to the subject. The 

 support of persons interested in the matter soon became 

 highly encouraging. He went home having apparently 

 converted everybody. The Government made him a new 

 grant of ten thousand acres. He took back with him five 

 Spanish merino sheep which he had bought at the King's 

 sale in 1804, x and a number of plants and fruit trees. 

 He now became the leading planter and agriculturist 

 in the Colony, extending his operations constantly, and 

 adding largely to its prosperity. Hence MacArthur came 

 to be called the real Founder of New South Wales. 



A friendly competitor was the Rev. Samuel Marsden, 

 chaplain and magistrate. Governor King describes him 

 to Banks as the best practical farmer in the country. 

 In 1804 he owned twelve hundred sheep, and held seven- 

 teen hundred and twenty acres. He wrote a few letters 

 to Banks with encouraging views of sheep-breeding, and 

 proposed experimenting with Leicester and Lincoln 

 sheep, two rams of which he had instructed his agent 

 to export. 



1 The prosperity of the King's farming is well shown by the prices 

 given by MacArthur : 6 153. od., 11, 16 i6s. od., 23 2s. od., 21, 

 28 73. od. The heaviest fleece weighed 7 Ib. 2 oz. ! Banks also gave 

 some heavy prices at this sale. 



