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Unit 2, p. 11, VPRS 1092 Governor's letter books, VA 466 Governor, Public Record Office, Victoria. 63.05.27Preferred Citation:
Henry Barkly to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1863-05-27. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/63-05-27>, accessed April 20, 2025
27 May 1863
My dear Dr Müeller
I am glad to learn that you are to have a hearing in regard to the arrangements as
to the meteorites.
1
See H. Barkly to M 22 May 1865.
I have sent back the Board's Report to the Chief Secretary with copies of Professor
Maskelyne's application to myself & of my reply.
As you may not have a copy of the "Argus" of 5th December last with Mr Bruce's final
letter, I enclose one which I have procured but which I shall be glad by & bye to
have back again.
I do not see in it the passage to which the Board refer declaring that he gives the
meteorite to the museum here "reserving to the British Museum the power of claiming
one half provided they would be at the expense of dividing it" I have read it however
but hastily.
2
In his letter to the Editor ('The Bruce Meteorite',
Argus
, 5 December 1862, p. 7), summarizing the history of the dispute about the fate of
the meteorite he had purchased, James Bruce wrote:
On 3rd January last, Professor M'Coy … made a request for the Melbourne Museum. In
my answer I inform him that "I had purchased it for the British Museum, but I would
allow him one half provided the Melbourne Museum would be at the expense of removal;
that the authorities of the British Museum be communicated with, and an offer made
to them of one half, provided they would be at the expense of dividing it".
Bruce went on to say:
as, notwithstanding my request for on early decision, I did not receive any answer
from Professor M'Coy until 4th February, I think I was fully justified in concluding
he had considered my conditions not acceptable, when on the 31st January I finally
handed it over to Dr. Mueller for presentation to the British Museum, according to
my original intention.
Believe me
yrs faithfully
(signed) Henry Barkly
Dr Müeller