The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne botanic Garden, ¶ 26/11/65. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 6. Oct. 1865 ¶ F. Barlee to M, 6 October 1865 (in this edition as 65-10-06a). ¶ ¶ ...

Document information

Physical location:

Colonial Secretary's Office - letters received, acc. 36, vol. 567, f. 214, State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth. 65.11.26

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Frederick Barlee, 1865-11-26. 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/1860-9/1865/65-11-26-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Melbourne botanic Garden,

26/11/65.

Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 6. Oct. 1865

F. Barlee to M, 6 October 1865 (in this edition as 65-10-06a).

and to express to you my warm thanks, shared by the Ladies of the Leichhardts Search Committee, for the noble manner in which your Government responded to the call for setting the truth or intenability of the rumour of a party, which might have been Leichhardt's being destroyed within the precincts of your explored territory, at rest.

The Ladies rejoice, that so far our hopes of bringing still rescue to the remnants of that gallant expedition, are not entirely destroyed; they have desired me to render known this generous service through the public press, a desire with which I gladly complied.

'The search for Leichardt', Australasian (Melbourne), 25 November 1865, p, 9 .

Allow me also to express the Ladies best thanks for the efficient manner in which the service of enquiry has been carried out by Mr Watson.

MS annotations: 'Let a copy of this letter be forwarded to the R. M. [Resident Magistrate?] at Champion Bay, with a request that he will, by direction of the Governor communicate its contents to Constable Watson | Fred Barlee 13:12:165', and 'Done [illegible initials]'.

It will be of interest to you to learn, that the Search party, despatched by the Ladies is likely to leave the northernmost Leichhardtian Camp on the Flinders's River

Flinders River, Qld.

at the end of next month. In all probability the party will penetrate quite into your territory and thus render also important geographical discoveries for the benefit of your colony.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your most obedient

Ferd. Mueller.

The honorable Fr. Barlee, Colonial Secretary of West Australia.