He had discerned the wonderful capacities of Australia for sheep farming, and having brought home some wool, and found it much approved by the manufacturers, he thereupon ventured to petition the King for a couple of merino {f:221} sheep from the royal farm at Windsor, to improve the breed.

The request was after "Farmer George's" own heart; he gave five, and thus Mr.Marsden did the work of agricultural improvement of the Benedictines of old.

He also obtained that three more clergymen and three schoolmasters should be sent out; and he strove hard for other institutions, chiefly for the reformation of the female convicts, which he could not at the time get carried out.

He likewise conducted an immense correspondence on behalf of persons who had not found any other means of communicating with their homes; and, at the same time, he became personally acquainted with Wilberforce, and many others of the supporters of the cause of religion.
Above all, it was in this visit to England that Mr.Marsden laid the foundations of the missions to New Zealand, and prepared to become the apostle of the Maori race.

These great islands of New Zealand had been discovered and named by Tasman in 1642, and first visited by Captain Cook in 1769.