Document information
Physical location:
MS 13071 Royal Society of Victoria Exploration Committee records, box 2078/3, La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 62.01.26Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to David Wilkie, 1862-01-26. 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/1860-9/1862/62-01-26-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
26/1/62.
Dear Dr Wilkie.
I presume you are aware, that Dr Beckler sailed since some days. It is therefore superfluous
to discuss the question in reference to the certificate we were to draw up for that
Gentleman.
I wondered that he asked at all for a certificate as I do not see what earthly use
it can be to him particularly as I fully expect, that the Commission will speak in
favorable terms of his services. I for one am convinced, that he did more than hundred
others in his place could & would have done. Why are you becoming such a perfect stranger
to the garden?
1
When Beckler decided to return to Germany, he sought a testimonial from the Royal
Society of Victoria’s Exploration Committee, that had overseen the Burke & Wills expedition.
At its meeting on 17 January 1862, the Committee agreed that M should draft a suitable
letter for the secretary, John Macadam, to sign on its behalf. At a subsequent meeting,
however, which M did not attend, this decision was rescinded. M attended the next
meeting and forcefully expressed his dissent from the Committee’s decision. In the
meantime, however, as M states in this letter, Beckler had sailed for Europe without
waiting for the Committee’s testimonial. He left Melbourne on 20 January aboard Yorkshire, bound for London (Argus, 21 January 1862, p. 4).
your attached
Ferd Mueller