Ferdinand von Mueller

1

The file includes a covering letter written by M but signed by A. Macdonald, Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, to the Secretary of the NSW Branch, J. Mann, 20 August 1890, reporting that M had brought Elder's letter before the Council of the Victorian Branch and seeking the co-operation of the NSW group in arranging the proposed expedition.

There is a copy of the letter in Elder's hand among the papers of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (SA Branch) Inc., 1401/33, State Library of SA, Adelaide, accompanied by a covering letter from Elder to the Branch's secretary, A. Magarey, dated 8 May 1891, saying that the copy was being sent at the request of 'Professor Watson', i.e. Archibald Watson, professor of anatomy at the University of Adelaide. The copy is dated 28 June 1890, suggesting that it was copied from an earlier draft of the letter sent to M.

Printed versions of Elder's letter appeared inTransactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Victorian Branch), vol. 8, pt. 2 (1891), pp. 24-5, and in sometimes variant forms in newspapers including the Age (Melbourne), 23 August 1890, p. 11, and Daily news (Perth), 15 September 1890, p. 4.

Copy

2

MS is marked ' Copy ' in a different hand.

Knock Castle Largs, N.B.

3

North Britain (i.e. Scotland).

2nd July 1890.

My dear Baron von Mueller,

I was delighted to receive and have had much pleasure in carefully perusing your inaugural address to the Australian Association for the advancement of Science

4

B90.13.01.

in Melbourne.

5

The copy of the letter at the State Library of SA includes an additional passage at this point: 'and have also to thank you for the Census of Australasian Plants [B89.12.03?], which you have favored me with on former occasions, and which are creditable to the compiler and acceptable to the recipient'.

The paragraph in your address, referring to Geography, has revived the interest, which I have always taken in Australian exploration, and as you say, that "Talent, Enthusiasm and Experience" are available at present, I cannot but agree with you, that it would be almost a " reproach ", to permit the opportunity to pass for completing , what you properly describe as the main-work of Australian Land exploration .

You say, that this work in the past has devolved on nine travellers only , and that space seems left now for only one more great explorer to rank with the nine . This being the case, I would like to furnish the tenth Exploring Expedition ;

6

The passages indicated have been underlined, but probably not by Elder.

and if you will take the matter energetically, as you have done successfully on former occasions, I will hold myself responsible for the funds, so that no unnecessary delay will take place.

Everything of course will depend on the Leader of the Expedition and his party; but being on the spot and connected as you are with the various Geographical Societies, not only in the Australian Colonies but elsewhere, you will have no difficulty I should think, in helping me, to succeed in this scheme.

7

This sentence omitted from the copy at the State Library of SA.

What I would like you to do, my dear Baron is this — viz: to intimate to the Melbourne Exploration and Geographical societies and to other kindred societies in the Australian Colonies, that I am willing to bear the whole charges of this proposed final expedition, provided a scheme is formulated and submitted for my approval. I have already referred to the importance of finding a thoroughly competent leader, as upon that much of the success of the expedition will depend; He ought to be a man not merely of pluck, courage, energy, influence over men and possessed of all the required physical qualities, but of such scientific attainments, as will enable him, to report advantageously on the topographical, geographical, botanical, geological and other features of the tracts of land, which he may travel over; but I need not expatiate at length on this branch of the subject, as no one knows better than yourself, the special qualifications, required by the party conducting such an expedition, if it is to be thoroughly successful.

8

The copy at the State Library of SA adds 'and to meet the wants of the public' but omits the next sentence.

What I would like you to do is this: viz to intimate to the Melbourne Exploration and Geographical Societies, and to other kindred Societies in the Australian Colonies " that I am willing to bear the entire cost ." I hope that in the midst of your important and engrossing pursuits you will be able to help me in the way pointed out — Let a scheme be carefully prepared in concert with the best experts for the final important work of Australian Land-exploration, and transmitted to me, when, if approved, I shall immediately take steps, to have the scheme realized at my own charges.

9

In the copy at the State Library of SA, a further paragraph is included at this point:

Everything will of course depend on the leader of the expedition & his party but being on the spot and connected as you are with the various Geographical Societies you will have no difficulty I should think in engaging parties suited for the task; — I am perhaps asking too much of you, but if unable to give me your personal aid you may have it in your power to put me in communication with some other party or parties who would fall in with my proposal, and give me the help which I have asked of you:— You are I think a leading member of the Melbourne Exploration Society and will probably bring the subject before them at an early meeting: — I still retain my position as Vice President of the S.A. Society, and having in large measure recovered from my late illness it is my intention to return to South Australia with my partner, Mr Barr Smith, in the early part of next year.

Have the goodness to write me at my present address and