Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne

21/5/81.

Allow me, Sir Henry, to adress to you a few lines more in the interest of the proposed and likely last search after traces of Dr Leichhardt's party. The Governments of South-Australia and Victoria have promised kindly to provide £300 each for this new enterprise, if the Governments of New South Wales and Queensland will do the same. As now the realisation of this new object in the cause of humanity and geography also will depend on the cooperation of your colony and Queensland, I would beg of you to give this proposition of looking once more for the lost explorers your generous consideration and support. If even the tale of Mr Skuthorpe should prove correct, of which we have no evidence yet, it would account only very partially of the fate of the eight people, which formed the missing party.

1

In late 1880 a cattleman, J. R. Skuthorpe, claimed to have found the journals of Leichhardt and a member of Leichhardt's party, Adolf Classen, together with other relics. However, he failed to produce them when asked to do so.

The area, over which the search is to be conducted has become more and more ennarrowed, so that it is almost sure, that the new expedition would bring final tidings. The cool season would be the best to commence operations & Mr Giles

2

Ernest Giles.

is ready to take the field again. The expedition will necessarily also be of advantage to all the Australian colonies for extended pastoral settlement, and the subsequent traffic augmented into the interior must find its way to the coast, a long line of which is commanded by New South Wales also for commercial purposes. Besides new spaces are required for the surplus herds and flocks of the settled districts, so that the colonists of your territory will also share in the practical benefits, which are sure to arise from further geographic exploits.

3

See also M to H. Parkes, 27 May 1881.

The honorable

Sir Henry Parkes

K.C.M.G., &c