Document information
Physical location:
Ag 34/7 Gregory papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 57.11.30Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Augustus Gregory, 1857-11-30. 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/57-11-30>, accessed May 10, 2024
1
MS envelope front: 'A. C. Gregory Esq. | Commander of the North Australian Expedition
| 66 Macquarie Street |
Sydney
|
Ferd. Mueller
'. Front annotated, probably by Gregory: '
Dr Mueller's
|
30 Nov. 1857
| Also one of [Dec]'.
30 Nov. 1857
My dear Mr Gregory.
I attended to day for the first time at the Exploration Committee of the philosoph
Institute, principly to urge the necessity of altering the proposed line of the Victorian
expedition
not to start from Port Curtis but from the Darling, as pr steamer every thing can
be brought up nearly to Mount Murchison for about £9 pr ton, as there would be another
line of search for Dr Leichhardt and as beyond Mt Murchison at once the discoveries
would commence, and principly that not the two expeditions should proceed at the same
time, for at least partially the same purpose
and
in the same direction.
They have however decided on sending three years provision and a large quantum of
stock to the junction of the Thompson River with the Victoria and on your answer it
will chiefly depend, wheather they will decide on the line of Port Curtis for conveyance,
as Mr Blandowski proposed, or wheather my proposition of going from the Darling to
that place will be carried out.
2
The Committee eventually sent out what became known as the Burke and Wills Exploring
Expedition, 1860-1.
3
Augustus Gregory's Leichhardt Search Expedition, 1858. See Cumpston (1972).
4
On 30 November the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute met to discuss
the starting point of the proposed expedition. M was in favour of the Darling River
with the subsequent route being towards the junction of the Thomson River and the
Victoria (now Cooper Creek). Blandowski and Wilkie proposed the junction as the starting
point with the route to this point being from Port Curtis on the eastern coast. Hodgson
suggested that the decision be postponed until a letter expected from Gregory had
been received. The Committee agreed. At the next meeting, 7 December, Gregory's letter
of 25 November 1857 to J. Macadam was read and Blandowski and M took leading parts
in the discussion of it; Gregory's letter is printed in Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, vol. 2 (1858), pp. xv-xviii. Hodgson moved and it was agreed that a flying party
be organized to explore the country from the Darling to the junction of the Victoria
and Thomson Rivers (Box 2075/1a, Royal Society of Victoria Exploration Committee Records,
Australian Manuscripts Collection, La Trobe Library, Melbourne).
— As far as I know Mr Bl. is not at all conversant with the use of astronomical Instruments,
and I really believe that he never would have come forward, had his party for collecting
zoological specimens not been broke up by government for reasons which the enclosed
article of fact & figures will show.
5
W. Archer (1857). See also Paszkowski (1967) and Darragh (2009).
However I have very little doubt, that many thousand pounds will be voted by the Council
for the proposed exploration, both Council & Government being afraid to throw cold
water on subjects of that class, which become so easily popular.
I shall gladly let you know what they are doing hereafter.
A paper on exploration, embodying also your excellent remarks, has been read,
and I hope to have done you full justice in it. Capt Clarke
will propose you as an honorary member of our Institute.
6
See B58.05.03. The paper was read at the meeting of 25 November 1857.
7
Andrew Clarke.
8
Gregory was elected an honorary member of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria
at an ordinary meeting, 14 April 1858. See Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (1859), p. vi.
I sincerely hope, that you will succeed in finding a clue of Leichhardts fate and
will explore
Central Australia
at the same time.
These achievements no one is more entitled to than yourself.
9
See Cumpston (1972), pp. 67-73.
With my sincere wishes for your welfare
I remain dear Sir,
your obedient
Ferd Mueller.
I will send you the transactions with my (in hurry compiled) paper as soon as out.