The Australian sheep (there are about a hundred millions of him) was originally bought by the King of England for his royal farm from the King of Spain-or, some say, from the wife of the Spanish Ambassador in London-at the price of two creamy coach-horses. At least, that is the pedigree people speak about. There were some rather less noble ancestors, who came through a mere republic; they were given by the King of Spain to the Dutch Republic, and sent by the Dutch Republic to the Cape of Good Hope. Then, during the short spell when the English held Cape Colony before giving it back to the Dutch, they were imported from the Cape to Australia by Captain John Macarthur. There were also a few skinny, hairy, Bengalesesheep, which came first of all-but they were not referred to in polite circles. Some of the original Australian sheep, at any rate, were undoubtedly bought by the King of England for two creamy coach-horses. An old Australian journal, The New South Wales Magazine of 1833 and 1834, tells why the coach-horses were given.
George the Third was a keen experimental farmer, and hedearly wanted some Spanish merino sheep. But Spain was doing so well with merino wool that it was a crime in Spain to export Spanish rams.
However, the King got some ewes all right. A British fleet happened to pass a Spanish fleet, and, by way of complimentary gifts, the Spanish admiral gave the British admiral some sheep for sea-stock. They were not eaten on board; and, when the fleet arrived in England, Sir Joseph Banks (the scientist) happened to see them; and, as he knew what they were, he had them presented to the King.
But the King could not get any rams. The Spanish Ambassador was asked, but he dare not promise them. Then the Lady Ambassadress was approached. She was closely watched; and it was discovered at last-on the occasion of the King"s going to open Parliament-that she had a weakness for the cream-coloured horses that drew his state-coaches. The Ambassadress was at once asked if she would like a pair. They were just what she wanted. So two creamy coach-horses were ordered from Hanover and brought over to England for her. It cost nearly ?8,000 to get them to England. But, when they did get them, the Lady Ambassadress had what no other lord or lady could boast of.
What could she do in return? The donors would accept a few Spanish sheep by way of compliment.
It was useless for the Spanish Ambassadress to ask the Spanish Government for the sheep; so the Spanish Ambassadress applied to the Spanish smugglers to select a few. They "selected " a few from various flocks by their own well- known methods of selection, drove them through Spain and France, and shipped them at Hamburg.
That is the story-on the authority only of The New SouthWales Magazine, which tells it-of how the King of England came by his Spanish flocks. Later, in 1804, Captain John Macarthur bought eight of them, apparently in pretty bad condition, at His Majesty"s sale at Kew.
C. E. W. Bean
Author.-Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean, M.A., author and journalist, was born in New South Wales in 1879. At the outbreak of the Great War, he was appointed official war correspondent for the Commonwealth and was attached to head-quarters staff in Gallipoli and France. On his return, Captain Bean edited the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914- 1918. Previously he had written On the Wool Track, The Dreadnought of the Darling, and Flagships Three.
General.-Notice the easy, chatty newspaper style, without any attemptat " fine writing. " The honesty of the writer shows in the phrase "on the authority only of The New South Wales Magazine." The Sir Joseph Banks mentioned was the scientist of Cook"s expedition when the eastern coast of Australia was charted. See if you can find material to show how important the sheep industry is to Australia.
