Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. For the text given here, see ‘Leichhardt’s Fate’, Herald (Melbourne), 27 December 1864, p. 3 (B64.12.07). The letter was reprinted in the Geelong advertiser, 28 December 1864, p. 2 (B64.12.05), where it was introduced as follows: 'In reference to our remarks about the supposed traces of Leichhardt found by Mr Mclntyre, Dr Mueller writes to the Herald:—'.

Sir,—

It is incumbent on me to express publicly my entire dissent from the opinion advanced in the Geelong Advertiser,

2

The Geelong advertiser, 24 December 1864, p. 2, commenting on a letter by David Wilkie and M to the Editor of the Age, 21 December 1861 (printed on 23 December 1864; B64.14.04), wrote:

After all this evidence, we are sorry to be under the necessity of dispelling the illusion. The "large L" marked on each tree is no memorial of Leichhardt, for the simple reason that he never used such a mark. Ludwig Leichhardt's mark was LL. The brace of doctors who have arrived at a contrary conclusion, may reasonably enquire, how we obtained our information. Our reply is that we got it where they should have looked for it, in the testimony of a competent authority—a fellow explorer of Leichhardt's—Mr Bunce, curator of the Botanical Gardens, Geelong, a gentleman not unknown to Dr Mueller.

The question remains, how came the trees to be marked with the letter L. We can, on the same authority, state a fact which may account for it. Leichhardt himself was surprised, on retracing his steps in his second expedition to find trees marked with a single L, but ascertained that they had been made by the blacks, who had been supplied with tomahawks by Mitchell, who had a short time before been exploring in the Victoria River (Cooper's Creek) district.

and from thence recorded in The Herald,

3

Herald (Melbourne), 26 December 1864, p. 2.

that no marks of Leichhardtian camps could be genuine, unless characterised by both the initials of his name. With such an assumption we could no longer recognise the trees marked L, on and about Cooper's Creek, as indications of Leichhardt's presence, and, therefore, would be called upon to give a new interpretation to the vestiges of the traveller who left so conspicuously and unequivocally the traces of his camps in those localities at a time when Leichhardt alone was in the field. Whatever may have been the intentions of Leichhardt for marking the camps of his third expedition, he indicated them, as far as evidence has hitherto led us, by a single L. If by some impulse the natives were prompted, near Peak Downs,

4

Qld.

to imitate the marks of Leichhardt's camp, it would not be supposed that this is anything but quite an exceptional fact, inasmuch as such imitations have occurred as yet on no other tracks of explorers; and even if the L marks noticed by Mr M'Intyre (and which this gentleman not for a moment considers the work of natives), were imitations by the aborigines, it is but rational to anticipate the existence of original marks of Leichhardt in the vicinity. Deeply, however, it is to be regretted that, whilst no efforts should be spared to throw light on the fate of the long-forsaken travellers, and whilst every possible measure should be adopted to free Australia of the just accusation of a long neglect towards them, that in so unconcerned a manner the very evidence of his movements, however well established, should be disputed, and that instead of aiding in poor Leichhardt's cause a line of action should be adopted out of which no possible benefit can arise to the forlorn explorers, and possibly, by shaking public confidence, an incalculable harm.

Melbourne, 26th December.