174 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
While Banks undoubtedly took much interest in the wool industry^ 
and did much to forward it, it is absolutely necessary to understand 
that his attitude to Macarthur must have biassed him in regard to 
some of his utterances and judgments pertaining to its development 
in New South Wales. 
The Rev. Samuel Marsden was chaplain to the colony, and also 
interested himself in farming pursuits. He writes to Banks, 27th 
April, 1803,* * * § asking him to use his influence to get two good English 
rams. 
Major Johnston brought out one ram. Captain Kent another, but they have 
been so badly chosen as to be of little or no value here . . . Nothing can be 
of greater importance than the improvement of our breed of sheep. The climate 
and soil both seem to agree well with sheep, and the wool promises to be very 
good. 
He began his letter with the compliment — 
I flatter myself you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing these few 
lines to you. Tho’ I have not the honor of any personal knowledge of you, yet, 
sir, from your known ardent wish to promote the good of the colony, I have 
presumed to trouble you with this sheet. 
Later on, 13th January, 1805, he writes! to Banks, stating that 
there were in the colony the Spanish, Southdown, and Teeswater 
breeds of sheep, and informing Sir Joseph of his desire to obtain 
Leicesters and Lincolns. 
Banks wrote to Capt. Waterhouse under date 8th July, 1806, J 
asking for accurate information as to the introduction of the Spanish 
breed of sheep into Port Jackson. Quoting Capt. Kent in this matter, 
Capt. Waterhouse replies, 16th July,§ in a very interesting letter well 
worth perusal, stating how the Spanish sheep were purchased by him 
and Capt. Kent at the Cape. They were progeny of Spanish sheep 
imported by Colonel Gordon. 
Captain Waterhouse to Sir Joseph Banks (Banks’ Papers). 
Great Armitage, 16 July, 1806. 
Sir, 
Having hurt my hand on my way down here is the reason I have not 
answered yours sooner, respecting the Spanish sheep in New South Wales. 
In 1797, I arrived in the “ Reliance ” at the Cape of Good Hope, together with 
the “ Supply ” (Captain Kent) and “ Britannia,” transport. On board the 
“ Reliance ” was the Commissary, for the purpose of purchasing cattle for 
the .settlement ; on board the “ Britannia, Gov’r King and Colonel Paterson, 
on their way to England, both which gentlemen had been acquainted with Colonel 
Gordon, who lost his hfe there. Col. Gordon had imported a few Spanish sheep 
to the Cape which had increas’d to tliirty-two. Mrs. Gordon was then going 
to England, and, for some reason, did not choose to leave anything that had 
* Hist. Rec., V, 99. 
t Jb., 543. 
: Ib., Vi, 109. 
§ lb., 110. 
