She was more fortunate in her old age than most of her sisters, as she was bought by the Victorian Government and turned into a boys’ training ship, her name being changed to _John Murray_. For many years, until well into the late war in fact, she lay in Hobson’s Bay as spick and span as ever, occasionally making short cruises under sail for training purposes. About the middle of the war, like many another gallant old windjammer, she was fitted out and sent to sea in the face of the German submarines and was wrecked in the Pacific. “Loch Etive,” of Captain William Stuart and Joseph Conrad fame. The _Loch Etive_, launched in November, 1877, had the honour of being commanded by Captain Stuart of Peterhead, for long the well-known skipper of the famous _Tweed_, and the still greater honour of having Mr. Joseph Conrad as one of her officers. She also was a fuller ship and for some years Captain Stuart failed to get anything remarkable out of her, though he drove her unmercifully; but in 1892-3 she made two very good voyages. [Illustration: “MERMERUS,” in Victoria Dock, Melbourne, 1896.] [Illustration: “BRILLIANT.” _Photo lent by Captain C. W. Davidson._] Leaving Glasgow on 15th October, 1892, she arrived at Melbourne on Xmas Day, 70 days out from the Tail of the Bank. Loading a wool cargo, she left Melbourne on 26th January, 1893, and arrived in the London River on 29th April, 93 days out. On her next voyage she left Glasgow at 8 p.m. on 23rd September and arrived at Adelaide 10 a.m., 12th December; towed to powder ground and discharged 20 tons of gunpowder, and berthed at the wharf same afternoon; commenced discharging on 13th, discharged 800 tons of cargo, took on board 300 tons lead spelter, towed down the river and anchored off the Semaphore on the 16th; left on the 17th, and arrived at Melbourne on the 19th. Here she discharged 750 tons, the remainder of her inward cargo, and loaded wool and sundries for Antwerp and Glasgow. Left Melbourne Heads on 18th January—detained a week in Bass Straits by light easterly winds—passed within 3 miles of Cape Horn at noon, 15th February—crossed equator at noon, 15th March—signalled Lizard at noon, 12th April, and docked in Antwerp on 15th April, 87 days out.