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59.08.05a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Circular, 1859-08-05 [59.08.05a]. 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//letters/1850-9/1859/59-08-05a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS not found. For the text given here, see B60.14.05. The item is introduced with the following remarks: 'The following letter was prepared, and kindly lithographed by the Surveyor-General, in his office, and through the favour of Messrs. Vaughan and Wild it was at once despatched to all the resident squatters throughout the colony, and to many even beyond the River Murray, as also to many of the citizens of Melbourne and proprietors of freeholds in the country:—'.
Melbourne, 5th August, 1859.
Sir, —
The great importance of the object must be our apology for anxiously soliciting your kind cooperation in the contemplated exploration of Central Australia.
We deem it unnecessary to urge the incalculable advantages that would be secured by a successful exploration of this vast continent, and the duty of this colony to contribute for this purpose.
We earnestly beg, however, to direct your attention to the generous offer of £1,000 that has been made, on condition that £2,000 should be subscribed within 12 months. About £1,000 only have as yet been obtained, and that chiefly in Melbourne; and as only one month remains to complete the required amount, we venture to make this personal appeal to you, in the full assurance that you will appreciate our efforts to accomplish an object of so great national importance, and that you will not refuse to aid us with a contribution to the Exploration Fund.
We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your very obedient servants,
William F. Stawell,
John Hodgson,
Ferd. Mueller,
John Macadam,
David E. Wilkie.
The favour of an immediate answer is respectfully requested, addressed to the hon. treasurer, David E. Wilkie, Esq., 106 Collins-street east, Melbourne.
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The letter was followed by these remarks: 'Within one week our prospects began to brighten, and within the specified period of 12 months the subscription-list amounted to £2,199, exclusive of the handsome offer of Messrs. Turnbull and Cadell to subscribe £500 in carriage of goods on the Murray and Darling Rivers for the exploring party.' Among the donors was Jeremiah G. Ware of Koort Kortnong near Camperdown, Vic, who gave £100 on condition that he remained anonymous, but the Committee released his name when he died (Geelong advertiser, 11 January 1860, p. 2).