Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/361

work the first plough used in the colony. Governor King, besides encouraging Macarthur, availed himself of the services of Mr. Wood, a wool-sorter, in order to improve the sheep owned by others. The Rev. Mr. Marsden^[1] had improved his sheep, though not at such expense as Macarthur incurred. At the recommendation of Marsden and Macarthur, Wood was ordered to inspect all the sheep in the colony. In Sept. 1805 he made a report. Wherever settlers had endeavoured to improve the wool, beneficial results had been attained.

"But it is with concern that I observed this great national object may be many years retarded by an unaccountable prejudice which appears to prevail in favour of weight of carcase instead of fineness of fleece; coarse wool would "not pay for sending to England, nor if it would is it wanted, whereas, on the contrary, so great is the scarcity of Spanish wool that it sells for almost any price, and serious apprehensions are entertained by the best-informed people that the French will increase their manufactures of fine cloth and exert their influence over Spain to prevent Great Britain from participating in the purchase of the fine wool of the latter country."

The Governor reported that the examination of the flocks in the colony had been "very accurately" conducted by Mr. Marsden and Wood; that the change from hair to "wool of different degrees of fineness had been and continues ameliorating beyond belief." He was not about to apply the resources of the colony to the industry otherwise than by improving the flocks maintained for distribution to settlers—

"Experience having pointed out the fallacy of appropriating public labour and expense in works of that nature, which thrive so much better when conducted by the individual who has interest in its produce, and whose situation, unconnected with other duties, enables him to watch, and turn the various changes to an improving productive account."

He relied on Macarthur's energy to prove to settlers the advantage of the Merino blood, and was "convinced that compulsion," exercised upon the short-sighted people who bred sheep only for their carcases, would not be beneficial. In a private letter to Piper at Norfolk Island Macarthur wrote (June 1805): "Everything is settled to my satisfaction, and I entertain hopes of universal peace once more