The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 25/4/65 ¶ ¶ I have ventured, honored and dear Sir, on behalf of the Delegates of the Victorian Ladies to a committee for fostering Leichhardt's search, to transmit to you their letter of appeal, thin...

Document information

Physical location:

Colonial Secretary's Office - letters received, acc. 36, vol. 905, ff. 283-4, State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth. 65.04.25c

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Frederick Barlee, 1865-04-25 [65.04.25c]. 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/1860-9/1865/65-04-25c-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

A copy of B65.13.06 is enclosed with M's letter, inscribed: 'To the honorable Fred. P. Barlee Esq. with Ferd. Mueller's profound regards'. M's letter was published in Perth gazette and West Australian times, 19 May 1865, p. 2 (B65.05.04).

25/4/65

I have ventured, honored and dear Sir, on behalf of the Delegates of the Victorian Ladies to a committee for fostering Leichhardt's search, to transmit to you their letter of appeal, thinking that you might in your official & private positions be enabled to foster properly their noble objects. In an enterprise, which is likely to extend the geographical knowledge of your territory your Government would be directly interested and as a movement of humanity it claims the sympathy of all high minded people. The Ladies have by this mail adressed appeals to her Majesty, to the Princess of Wales and to the Princess of Prussia and to many leading Ladies and Gentlemen throughout the world. So they trust by united action their expedition will not suffer to be accomplished for mere want of support.

Would it be possible that a very small sum could be voted from the W.A. Exchequer for the furtherance of the enterprise & would it be attainable to form a Ladies Committee in W.A. to aid our fair apostles of Leichhardt's cause?

Specially you could still oblige me by giving me kindly all the information gained by the Messrs Dempster

See the Dempsters' 'Journal of an exploring expedition to the eastward of Northam', Inquirer and commercial news (Perth, WA), 11 September 1861, p. 2, where the entry for 19 July includes 'This morning our friendly guide, who joined as at Killaburing, who is known as a great traveller by the name of Gingnitch, gave us the slip, while collecting our horses. This man gave us to understand that a long time ago his friend Boodgin, who is also a rambler, related to him that three white men, with horses, had come to some large body of salt water a long way to the eastward, and after travelling some time along the shore, they turned back again, when they were either killed by the Jimbars, which they describe, or perished from want of water. He believes their bones still remain there.'

some few years ago respecting the traditional account of the natives according to which a party coming from the E. had perished in the E. outskirts of your colony and it would be well to learn how far these traditions carry any weight, apparent or real, with them of truthfulness and how far allowance must be made for misapprehension.

With sentiments of highest regards

I remain dear & honorable Sir,

your attached

Ferd. Mueller

MS annotated: 'Answered privately | F.P.B. | 19.5.65'. Letter not found.