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Sammlung Perthes Archiv, SPA ARCH PGM 328, Forschungsbibliothek Gotha der Universität Erfurt. 66.08.00aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to the Commission for the Intercolonial Exhibition, 1866-08 [66.08.00a]. 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/66-08-00a>, accessed September 11, 2025
1
MS is a printed report, set in the standard style of reports printed in the Votes and proceedings of the Victorian Parliament, but it was not published in that series. The approximate
dating is deduced from M to J. Hooker, 28 July 1866. Consistent with this, the copy found has been annotated by Petermann: ‘Rs. 24. Sept.
1866’ [Received 24 September 1866]. See also M to R. Barry, 22 August 1866.
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Intercolonial Exhibition, Melbourne, 1866-7.
Report of Sub-committee appointed to draw up Suggestions relative to the Preparation
of a Physical Atlas of Australasia.
In accordance with a request from the Commission for the Intercolonial Exhibition we
have the honor to submit the result of our reference to a proposition, emanating from
His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania,
that the material of practical information and utility to be brought together by
the forthcoming Exhibition might be utilized for the issue of a Physiographical Atlas
of Australia and New Zealand.
3
Colonel Thomas Gore Browne.
We regard His Excellency's suggestion eminently deserving of attention, it being especially
understood that the information to be concentrated would be sought not merely within
the range of the Exhibition.
A complex of extensive information can in no way be brought readier at a glance before
the mind than in the form indicated, as is well demonstrated by Alexander Keith Johnston's
Physical Atlas of the Globe.
In no way could the mass of heterogeneous knowledge now extant on the nature and
productions of the great countries we occupy be more easily blended and more conveniently
rendered available than in the form of a Physiographic Atlas.
4
Johnston’s work has evidently been catalogued with different titles. Public Library,
Museums, and National Gallery
(1861), p. 17, catalogues A. Johnston (1850) as
The Physical Atlas, The Geographical Distribution of Natural Phenomena
, listing its four sections.
The Public Library of Victoria (1880), vol. 1, p. 56, uses the title
The Physical Atlas, showing the Geographical Distribution of Natural Phenomena
for that edition and the second edition of 1856 (but in the entry under the author,
p. 715, a more extensive descriptive title is used!). MEL library has the second edition
of 1856, catalogued as
The physical atlas of natural phenomena
, but there is no provenance given to show when it was acquired. On-line editions
of A. Johnston (1850) have title pages reading
The physical atlas of natural phenomena
. Other variant titles have been found in diverse catalogues, but the physical descriptions,
when given, suggest the same compilation.
The second suggestion of the Governor of Tasmania, that a volume of statistics might
simultaneously be compiled, would perhaps be carried into effect by appending statistical
tables in further elucidation of the proposed series of maps.
Before we enter on an exposition in what limitation the subjects of the Atlas might
be fused into pages, we feel it incumbent on us to point out that to collect for mapping
and tabulation materials so extensive will necessarily involve lengthened considerations
and laborious research, so much so that to do justice to the task, and to bring the
information in consonance with the requirements of the present day, would need speedy
action, should it be desired to render such an Atlas already available before the
close of the French Exhibition.
5
The material assembled for the Intercolonial Exhibition was destined to be exhibited
afterwards at the Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1867.
To secure concise briefness the subjects might perhaps be distributed into ten maps.
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(1.)
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Geographical map, with indication of river- and mountain-systems, and of elevations,
and of records of oceanic currents.
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(2.)
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Geological map, with special oryctognostical references.
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(3.)
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Palæontological map, both phytologicial and zoological.
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(4.)
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Phytological general map, with special dendrological references.
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(5.)
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General zoological map.
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(6.)
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Climatological map, embracing the isotherms, isotheres, isochimenes, hyeotographic,
magnetic, and tidal indications, and records of aerial currents and pressure.
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(7.)
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Ethnological map, including linguistic references.
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(8.)
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Map indicating the ascertained agricultural and horticultural capabilities of varied
geological and climatological regions, and their probable adaptability to plants still
to be introduced.
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(9.)
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Map indicating the pastoral capabilities of varied geological and climatological regions,
and their probable adaptability to animals to be introduced.
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(10.)
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Statistical map, setting forth main data concerning the present condition of these
colonies.
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The expenditure of such an Atlas, even if unnecessary elegance would be avoided, must
unquestionably be considerable, chromo-typic printing being required. But if the various
colonial Governments could be induced to share in the expenditure for the edition
of a work in which all must have a vivid and united interest, the subsidy from each
colony need not be large, and might be at least partly refunded by sale.
For affording every opportunity to collect material we would further recommend the
transmission of a series of blank-maps to each Government, with a view of seeing these
maps filled up with all the reliable notes which in local documents and observations
might be extant, whereby, however, completeness should always be sacrificed to correctness.
Whoever in each department of science may be entrusted with the task to bring these
fragments of information into conformity, would also generalize thereon, in a corresponding
page of concise explanatory letter-press, and would augment the material for the map
from every available extraneous source.
In the Physiographic Atlas thus emanating we would possess a work which would give
a comprehensive and truthful picture of the knowledge hitherto actually obtained of
these Australian countries, a work which might be a guide even for progressive colonization,
a record which, in renewed editions, would keep pace with the advancement of discovery,
and on which researches of a more extended scope and of a more enlarged tendency could
be based.
The edition of the work itself might be allotted to a council of those men of science,
on whom here finally the elaboration of each special division of the Atlas would devolve.
JOHN J. BLEASDALE, D.D.
FREDERICK McCOY.
FERD. MUELLER.
6
MS annotation by M on the Gotha copy: Dieser Bericht ist von mir geschrieben. Ich
werde den Gouverneur von Tasmanien suchen zu veranlassen, dass die Regierungen der
5 australischen Colonien durch eine Beisteuer von jeder durch seinen Einfluss uns
die Mittel fűr den Atlas liefern. Er kōnnte bis zur Mitte des Jahres 1867 fertig sein.
[This report is written by me. I will try to induce the Governor of Tasmania that
through his influence the governments of the five Australian colonies supply us the
funds for the atlas by a contribution from each one. It could be finished by the middle
of 1867.]