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Royal Geographical Society, London, Archives, JMS/13/190. 69.03.31

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Preferred Citation:

Frederick Barlee to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1869-03-31. 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/69-03-31>, accessed September 11, 2025

Copy
1
Original letter not found. The copy is in an unknown hand.
Perth, W.A.
31 March 1869
My dear Dr. Mueller
I am happy to be able, in reply to your letter of 28th Febr.
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M to F. Barlee, 28 February 1869.
to say that your request, that Mr Monger's discoveries should be followed up and that the rumors as to the fate of Leichhardt, as narrated by the natives to Mr. Monger and Mr. Roe,
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See A. Hughan to M, 29 March 1867, and Hunt (1866), installment of 14 November 1866.
should be tested, will be carried into effect.
A party has been organised to start shortly after the 10th April and their movements will only be finally decided on, when we know, whether you will or will not be in a position to accompany the expedition. I am greatly in hopes, that this letter may not find you at Melbourne till your return thither from this Colony.
The party has been organised very much in the way you suggest and the command will be entrusted to a very smart young surveyor, named Forest,
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John Forrest.
who will be guided by you, should you accompany him, and who is fully capable of carrying out the expedition successfully in your absence.
I feel so strongly that you will be present, that I refrain from entering into any long detail of the arrangements, but should circumstances prevent your coming, I will send you a full account next month.
I have made much use of your report on the rust disease and extracts from it have been published in the local papers.
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B65.09.01; see M to F. Barlee, 28 February 1869 (in this edition as 69-02-28c). The full report was reprinted in B69.03.03; extracts in other papers have not been identified.
It has been a sad scourge to us here. I am glad to hear of the success of the
Zamia

Search for Zamia in

s, their retention of vitality must be very great.
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See postscript to M to F. Barlee, 28 February 1869 (in this edition as 69-02-28c).
The party will consist of six; four Europeans, two natives, a cart for some distance and then pack horses; I think one pack horse for each man in addition to his riding horse, will convey all that is necessary.
I have secured natives known to the tribe who report the deaths of white men 11 days journey from Mongers furthest.
Hoping soon to become personally acquainted with you I am
Very faithfully
Yours
(Signed) Fred. Barlee