SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
176 
It is no part of my plan to attempt a recapitulation of the chief 
events in regard to the introduction of an improved breed of sheep 
into New South Wales. Opinions may differ as to the proportion of 
praise to be awarded to Macarthur as compared with other claimants 
in this connection, but all impartial people will admit that his services 
were of the very greatest advantage to the young colony, no matter 
whether he received adequate reward or not. 
The Brabourne papers (published in the ‘‘Historical Records” in their 
place) contain several letters showing Sir Joseph Banks’ interest in 
the wool industry. 
He received fleeces from Captain Macarthur,* * * § and was urged by 
Governor King to send out wool-cards. f Macarthur’s wool, sent to 
Banks as President of the Royal Society, was reported upon by an 
expert — H. Laycock.J 
Banks writes§ to Mr. Fawkener, of the Office for Trade, Mliitehall, 
September, 1803, in regard to the prospects of the wool industry in 
New South Wales. He writes in a depreciatory tone — he has not seen 
any New South Wales wool to equal the best Spanish, the grass of 
New South Wales is inferior, and the freight of wool from New South 
Wales considerable. He thought Captain Macarthur’s view of the 
industry too sanguine. 
He writes a letter,] | 31st March, 1804, presumably to Macarthur, 
■on pastoral pursuits. He suggests the temporary occupation of land 
as sheep-runs. This letter contains what now appears to us a remark- 
able paragraph : — * h I ' I yj iJ 
I doubt much the propriety of granting land in perpetuity to a scheme which 
embraces nothing but the feeding of sheep. The run over land suited for that 
purpose is all that can be wanted, and as your sheep will retire as the colony 
increases, no inconvenience can possibly derive from such an arrangement; and 
at all events I think you may be certain that the tops of the hills represented by 
Capt. Waterhouse as such excellent sheep pasture cannot be wanted for the plough 
in less than four or five centuries. 
Banks writing to King, under date 29th August, 1804,^ says : — 
I do not think you need to trouble yourself about getting possession of the fine- 
wooUed sheep for Government. If the project for breeding them succeeds, they 
must soon become so abundant that the genius of your people, who will not let 
a potato stay under ground till it is ripe, will soon spread them over the country. 
A proposal has been made to institute a company here with capital of £10,000 
for the purpose of increasing the breed of sheep, which are to become the property 
of the subscribers — the wool, I mean — and the mutton to remain that of Mr. 
* Hist. Rec., iv, 208. 
t Ib., 207. 
t Ib., V. 80. 
§ Ib., 225. 
II Ib., 365. 
•: Ib., 459. 
