The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot. Garden ¶ 7/1/73. ¶ ¶ Allow me as a comparative stranger to ask you, dear Mr M'Kinnon, whether you will be one of 25 Gentlemen, who by subscribing each ten pounds would enable Mr Giles,...

Document information

Physical location:

Box 12/6 Mackinnon papers, bay 16, La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 73.01.07

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Daniel Mackinnon, 1873-01-07. 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/73-01-07>, accessed July 7, 2025

Melbourne bot. Garden

7/1/73.

Allow me as a comparative stranger to ask you, dear Mr M'Kinnon, whether you will be one of 25 Gentlemen, who by subscribing each ten pounds would enable Mr Giles, now in Central Australia, to resume his geographic expedition from the overland telegraph line to the river Murchison on the West coast.

Ernest Giles was forced to abort his Central Australian expedition in November 1872 when his two companions declared their intention to return to civilization. Giles arrived back at the Charlotte Waters telegraph station at the end of November, from where he telegraphed M to tell him what had happened (E. Giles to M, 3 December 1872 (in this edition as 72-12-03a)). M immediately set about raising new funds as this letter shows, not knowing that Giles meanwhile had returned to Adelaide. With the money M raised, Giles set out again in March 1873. See E. Giles (1889), vol. 1, p. 137. M's copy of this work, preserved at MEL, is inscribed: 'Presented to my best friend The Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller K.C.M.G. &c &c &c who enabled me to commence the Horse Expeditions herein detailed and through whom I became known to Sir Thomas Elder which enabled me to carry out the Camel Expeditions which close this narrative. With the very best regards of the Author, Ernest Giles. London 5th Decr., 1889.'

Mr Giles has already discovered one third of the way across, and requires £250 to refit. Each subscriber shall be honored by his name being given to some new geographic locality. It would be a pity if the poor man was compelled at this stage to relinquish his noble enterprise for want of some slender means.

With regardful salutation

Ferd. von Mueller.

Perhaps you may know a generous friend, who would likewise afford his aid.