428 Dr. Parry's Essay on the Nature, Produce, Origin, 



flock has been raised from 30 ewes, purchased in 1793, out of a ship from 

 India, and from about 8 or lO Spanish and Irish sheep, purchased since. The 

 other half of his flock were obtained in 1 801, by purchases from an officer who had 

 raised them in the same time, and from about the same number of ewes that Captain 

 M' Arthur commenced with. This statement proves that the sheep have hitherto 

 muhiplied more rapidly than it is calculated they will do in future ; but this is 

 attributed to the first ewes being of a more prolific kind than the Spanish sheep are 

 found to be: for since Captain M'Arthur has directed his attention to that breed, 

 he has observed the ewes do not so often produce double lambs. 



As a further confirmation of the principle of increase that Captain M'Arthur has 

 endeavoured to establish, and which he is positive time will prove to be correct, 

 he would refer to the general returns transmitted from new South Wales, In X796, 

 (since when not 100 sheep have been importfd) 1531 were returned, as the public 

 and private stock of the colony. In 1801, 6757 were returned; and although, 

 between those periods, all the males have been killed as soon as they became fit, 

 yet there is a surplus, over the calculation, of 633. 



Captain M'Arthur is so convinced of the practicability of supplying this country 

 with any quantity of fine wool it may require, that he is earnesdy solicitous to 

 prosecute this, as it appears to him, important object ; and, on his return to New 

 South Wales, to devote his whole attention to accelerate its complete attainment. 

 All the risk attendant on the undertaking he will cheerfully bear. He will require 

 no pecuniary aid ; and all the encouragement he humbly solicits for is the pro- 

 tection of Government, permission to occupy a sufficient track of unoccupied 

 lands to feed his flocks, and the indulgence of selecting from amongst the convicts 

 such men for shepherds, as may, from their previous occupations, know something 

 of the busiiicss. 



* John M'Arthur." 



Some samples of this wool were given by Captain M'Arthur to that truly patri- 

 otic manufacturer and magistrate, Thomas Joyce, Esq, of Freshford, near Bath, 

 from whom I have received a specimen equal in fineness to almost any which I 

 have ever seen. 



I believe that Captain M'Arthur, who had succeeded in obtaining the most 

 essential part of the prayer of his petition, was permitted to take with him to New 



"y^ 



