42 THE PASTOBAL AGE IN AUSTRALASIA 



him as a tja^ant, and sought to effect his overthrow, 

 he loyally stood by the Governor at a time when the 

 convicts were hatching plots against him, and sedition 

 threatened to wTCck the young community ; in 1806 

 he was grateful to King for his aid, and would have 

 lamented his retirement ; and when King finally left 

 the Colony, Mc Arthur joined all the most reputable 

 citizens in flattering addresses of gratitude and regret. 

 Just once again was he to take a prominent part in 

 public affairs, and suffer cruelly in consequence. The 

 story cannot be omitted from a sketch of his life, but 

 we must first record a peaceful interval of fruitful 

 activity. 



McArthur's despatch to England was a fortunate 

 event, and lent itself to the promotion of his designs. 

 He was then by no means forgetful of his pastoral 

 ambitions. Questioned by Commissioner Bigge twenty 

 years afterwards, he modestly told the story of his 

 tentative efforts. 



"In 1801 I took to England specimens of the wool of the pure 

 merino, and of the best of the cross-bred, and having submitted 

 them to the inspection of a committee of inanufacturers, they 

 reported that the merino wool was equal to any Spanish wool, 

 and the cross-bred of considerable value. Thus encouraged, I 

 purchased nine rams and an ewe from the royal flock at Kew, 

 and returned to this country determined to devote my attention 

 to the improvement of the wool of my flocks. I only landed 

 here five rams and one ewe of the sheep purchased from the 

 royal flock." 



Papers laid before the House of Commons in 1837 yield 

 evidence of his untiring perseverance. In July, 1803, 

 he addressed a memorandum to Lord Hobart, telling 

 the story of his efforts, his failures, and his successes, 

 and enlarging on the advisableness of cultivating such 

 an industry in Australia. He then apphed for an 

 extensive grant of land, with its usual accompaniment 

 of convict servants. 



McArthur soon began to experiment in wool-growing. 

 Early surveyors — men so skilled as Grimes and Robbins 

 — disparaged the natural grasses of Austraha, and did 



