Document information
Physical location:
MS 13071 Royal Society of Victoria Exploration Committee, box 2088/5, letter copy book, pp.30-4, La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 61.06.24aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Alfred Howitt, 1861-06-24 [61.06.24a]. 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/61-06-24a>, accessed May 18, 2024
Exploration Committee
Royal Society of Victoria
Melbourne June 24 1861
1
At a meeting of the Exploration Committee on 18 June, M, Ligar and Wilkie were made
a subcommittee to confer with Howitt on stores for his expedition to Cooper’s Creek.
At the next meeting, on 21 June, M read the subcommittee's report and a draft letter
of instructions to the leader that were discussed and accepted by the committee. Macadam
then copied and sent the letter (Box 2088 B/1). See also Exploration Committee to
R. Burke, 24 June 1861.
Sir
The necessary authority having been issued to organize and equip the Party which you
are intended to conduct to Coopers Creek for the purpose of ascertaining as far as
possible the position of the Victorian Exploring Party
and their probable requirements you are now instructed to proceed, as soon as your
arrangements are completed, by Cobbs
coach with your chosen companions to Swan Hill taking with you those articles of
equipment which have been purposely provided at Melbourne by the Exploration Committee
for your party.
2
Burke and Wills Exploring Expedition, 1860-1.
3
Cobb & Co.
You are next desired to purchase at Swan Hill those horses, requisite for mounting
your party and for conveying your equipment and stores, the number of horses being
limited to 16; or if you find on local enquiry it preferable, you will only purchase
at the above mentioned locality such horses as are immediately required for your journey
to the Darling, and you will add then as opportunity occurs, the remainder of packhorses
for conveying stores.
In order to render the progress of your party as easy as possible, you are desired
to avail yourself, if practicable, of any steam communication, which may exist between
Swan Hill and Menindie for forwarding your equipment to the latter locality, where
you are authorized to obtain such a supply of provisions, as in addition to your equipment
can be conveniently carried on your packhorses.
In case the needful provisions for your party cannot be drawn from any Expedition
Stores left at Menindie
or elsewhere, you are authorized to effect their purchase either there or in some
other convenient locality.
4
NSW.
It will be for your judgment to decide, whether it is desirable to secure the services
of one of the Aborigines of the Darling for the purpose either of sending the first
dispatches of your progressive movements or to aid you in tracing the vestiges of
the Exploring party.
Having thus far completed your prearrangements at the outskirts of the settlements
you are requested to proceed to Coopers Creek with as little delay as is consistent
with the prosperity of your party. Arrived at Coopers Creek it will be one of the
main objects of your mission, to ascertain the position of the depôt, which the Committee
has reason to believe being formed there, to put yourself in communication with the
Officer commanding at the Depôt, to ascertain as exactly as possible the intentions
and prospects of the travelling party and to collect all other information with a
special view of guiding the Committee, how far they can adopt measures for aiding
the expedition and advancing the security and comfort both of the travelling and Depot
party.
The results of your observations you will be good enough to communicate with the utmost
dispatch to the Committee under such arrangements as you can most conveniently and
safely effect.
At the same time you are particularly requested to render all possible aid and cooperation
to the Expedition, and you are in carrying out these instructions provided with a
larger supply of provisions Stores &c than will be needed for your own use, in order
to enable you to replenish some of the most essential stores at the Depôt.
But whilst the Committee wishes you to understand, that you are
not
placed in a position subordinate to the Victorian Expedition, but on the contrary
that we concede to you independent action, the grave responsibility will devolve on
yourself of leaving nothing within your reach undone, that can be conducive to the
welfare safety and support of the Victorian Expedition, placing implicit trust in
the exercise of your ability judgment and philanthropic disposition under all circumstances,
when you can be of any possible service to the Exploring party, circumstances which
are beyond the control of our foresight and which to meet we cannot afford you special
guidance.
In case no party will be found at Coopers Creek or on any of its tributaries or anabranches,
you will unquestionably find documents buried, which will enable you to judge of the
movements of the Victorian Expedition. Under such circumstances your own discretion
alone must guide you, whether you should proceed beyond Cooper's Creek with a view
of obtaining further intelligence, or whether you should immediately return to the
settlements and forward dispatches to the Committee. But under no circumstances whatever
are you entitled to risk the safety of your little party in an endeavour to proceed
further onward, than the means at your command will with perfect security justify.
You are also requested to mark on your way at every halting place some tree with the
letter H, and you will also bear in mind, that should you not fall in at Coopers Creek
with any members of the Victorian Expedition you are expected to bury documents setting
forth the cause of your presence, for the information of the Exploring party, and
this measure is to be effected under such arrangements, as will secure as far as possible
concealment of your notes before the Natives and yet afford facility of recognition
by the Exploring party.
In the event of your being prompted to return without having effected a direct communication
with the Victorian Explorers, the Committee requests you to conceal any of your surplus
stores on or near to Coopers Creek so as to be, if possible, readily attainable for
the Expedition on its return.
In case you should meet on your way a Messenger of the Expedition, you are authorized
to open the dispatches, of which he may be the bearer, in order that you may judge
what ought to be your next proceedings, which may be materially altered by the tidings
thus conveyed to you. It is hardly necessary to remark that such dispatches accompanied
by your own reports should not be further detained on their way to this Committee.
Mr Welch will be regarded ad "interim," as the successor in the command of your party
should you unfortunately be disabled to continue its Leadership. The same gentleman
is at liberty to join at his own option either the Victorian Expedition, if approved
of by the Leader, or to remain with you; and you will endeavour in case of his joining
the main party, to obtain if you deem it requisite a man of the Expedition now in
the field, to strengthen the small band under your special command.
It is scarcely needful to point out, that the Committee expects you to leave any of
your spare horses at the depôt or to place them at the disposal of the Commander of
the Victorian Expedition, if so required.
By the Honorary Treasurer of the Exploration Committee, you will be provided with
authority not only of effecting the purchases pointed out in these instructions, but
also to buy after your return to the settlements such supplies as may be immediately
demanded by the Victorian Expedition; and should circumstances render it urgent, you
enjoy the Committees consent of at once acting in the most efficient manner to aid
the party, whether it be by a new journey or otherwise.
Finally the Committee wishes to impress on your mind, that your selection for the
honorable and responsible post you now occupy is made under the anticipation, that
all your measures in this enterprise will be characterized by that prudence caution
and energy, which you have shown in former journeys under the auspices of the Government
and that your exertions will be worthy of the undertaking on which you are now engaged.
I have the honor to be
Sir
your most obedient Servant
(Signed) John Macadam M.D.
Hon Secretary Expr Comtee R.S.V.
Alfred W. Howitt Esqe
Leader of the Contingent Party Victorian Exploration.