Ferdinand von Mueller

MacKinnon Parade West

North Adelaide

21st October 1885

Baron Von Mueller K.C.M.G. M&Ph.D. F.R.S. F.C.S &c.

Melbourne

Dear Sir,

Very many thanks indeed for the fine parcel of useful seeds which I received per S.S. "John Elder[".]

1

Edge of paper damaged, end of line lost. All subsequent brackets have the same meaning. See M to D. Lindsay, 15 October 1885.

Be assured that I shall make the best possible use of them.

You ask me to reserve one or two new Geograph[ic] localities for naming after some eminent men in Europe. I shall indeed be most happy to do so, and shall [be] ever grateful to you for your numerous valuable hints and also for the interest you are taking in my expedit[ion]. I trust that we will be enabled to make a grand collect[ion] of botanical specimens for you. I am very favora[bly] impressed with Lieut Dittrich and think he will prove a valuable acquisition to my party.

2

Compare with D. Lindsay to M, 17 December 1886.

I am thankful to you for the instruction and assistance you gave him. I had already made up my party when I received his application to accompany me — and so desirous was I of taking some one who could devote his time to collecting that not being able to afford to purchase 2 more camels [and] the necessary outfit I asked the Geographical Society to assist me. The Surveyor General

3

George Goyder.

who is on the Council said he believed the Govt would do all [I] wanted if I asked and recommended me to do [so.] I did so, asking for the loan of two Camels and outfit and £40 for rations — this was refused — and to shame them (the Govt) into consenting I told them that I had had one Camel offered me by a poor man and £20 by you

4

See M to D. Lindsay, 14 December 1886 (in this edition as 86-12-14a) and 21 December 1886; D. Lindsay to M, 17 December 1886 and 29 December 1886 (in this edition as 86-12-29a).

for as an inducement to my men to collect: [this] course had the desired effect and I was very pleased [to] be able to wire for Dittrich. We are taking a photographic camera and intend photographing the natives all through Australia. Altogether I hope to make the expedition an interesting and useful one from a scientific point of view, and if we can but find some [tr]aces of poor Leichardt

5

i.e. Leichhardt.

we will do a grand work.

The whole party was photographed today in bush costume and my wife will send you a copy.

6

See M to A. Lindsay, 9 December 1885.

Very many thanks for your good wishes. [We] shall leave Adelaide next monday.

You suggested that I should brand the trees with a hot iron —full name — I have a registered brand V 79 [on] my camels and I shall use that — it will be [quite] [di]stinctive enough for anything.