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86.08.27b

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Ferdinand von Mueller to Richard Armstrong, 1886-08-27 [86.08.27b]. 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/86-08-27b>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Antarctic exploration', Sydney morning herald, 2 September 1886, p. 12 (B86.09.06). It is introduced by 'The following correspondence touching the revived project of Antarctic Exploration has been handed us:— Baron von Mueller writes to Captain Armstrong, R.N., as follows:—'.
August 27, 1886.
You may be aware, dear Captain Armstrong, that I have urged in my last presidential address at the Victorian Branch of the Australian Geographical Society, the colonisation of the Antarctic Islands, or rather of Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands, and New Macquarie Islands,
2
B87.05.03. The first part of M's 'very lengthy annual address' was delivered on 18 January 1886 (Age, 19 January 1886, p. 5), but from the report of the adjourned meeting, held on 3 February 1886, it appears that the address was not concluded, although an address on 'South polar problems; or the objects and value of Antarctic research' was read by G. S. Griffiths' (Record [Emerald Hill], 6 February 1886, p. 5).
See also Home et al. (1992).
and now it occurs to my mind that for your great professional talent and your remarkable spirit of enterprise a new career, congenial to your taste, might thus be opened. Perhaps you are acquainted with some leading colonist in New Zealand who could for you ascertain from the New Zealand Government whether your highly valuable services could be rendered available for initiating such a project. In the committee for Antarctic research, founded here, I proposed that domestic animals, game, trout, and eel, should be taken to the three islands mentioned, particularly to Macquarie Islands, so that when a depot is formed there for Antarctic research, at once advantages would accrue from those introductions. Dr. Hector has just sent me his very elaborate report on the fishes suitable for food occurring on the New Zealand coast, and marked on this document those kinds which extend to the Auckland Islands.
3
Hector (1872); see M to J. Hector, 4 September 1886. The copy with Hector’s annotations not found.
It would thus appear that a very promising opening for the fishing interest existed on these islands; and if goats were liberated, soon some clearings would be effected in the dense scrub, while hardy pastoral grasses, clovers, and some fodder herbs could be sown.
It seems a great pity that those islands are left almost unutilised, when the Shetland Islands and Hebrides are getting over-populated. In any scheme of yours for the occupation of the islands, I shall take a very profound scientific interest indeed. If you call at the Geographic Society in Sydney you could see the print of my last annual address, and could read what I said on the Antarctic Islands.
Yours, &c,
Ferd von Mueller .
4
See R. Armstrong to M, 29 August 1886 (in this edition as 86-08-29a).
Barton B. Fraser sent a letter supporting M's proposals to the Editor, Sydney morning herald, 11 September 1886, p. 8.