Ferdinand von Mueller

22nd May 1863

My dear Dr Mueller,

Having applied on Monday last to Mr Brough Smyth to know what was doing about the Bruce Meteorite, I learnt yesterday that the Board had sent their Report to the Chief Secretary, and that you had not "applied" to be heard!

As I sent your letter claiming the right to be heard to one Member of the Board, and pointed out to a second Member the injustice of casting reflections on your conduct in the matter, without affording you an opportunity of justifying yourself, I am certainly astonished at the ground assigned for not examining you.

I have seen the Report, which proposed that the Board should be "authorised to communicate with Mr Bruce and the Trustees of the British Museum with the view of retaining if possible the larger Meteorite for the Natural Museum of this Country."

I shall write to Professor Maskelyn

1

Nevil Story Maskelyne.

therefore referring him to the Board, and shall wash my hands of a matter which has occasioned me more real pain than anything that has occurred since I came to the Colony because I feel that the course which has been indicated by the Board will place me in a false position, and throw discredit on all concerned.

2

See Lucas et al. (1994) for details of Barkly's earlier personal role in the dispute over the disposition of the meteorite purchased by James Bruce.