AustLit

Includes brief section, 'Romantic History' (by N. B.), which notes 'Mr Archibald Marshall [q.v.], the celebrated English writer, visited Australia some years ago, and in a recent volume of reminiscences he writes' a fanciful version of how Captain John Macarthur (q.v.) introduced Merino sheep into Australia. The piece includes a brief extract from Marshall's text which recounts the relevant anecdote concerning 'the Spanish ambassador in London', 'a pair of Royal cream-coloured ponies' and the engineering of 'a private exchange' which it is suggested brought about the subsequent wealth of the Australian wool industry. (content appears in the topical monthly column, 'Contributed Comments')