Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botan Garden

28/8/66

Sir John.

1

Some accounts in the Melbourne press of the arrival in Victoria of the new Governor in August 1886 refer to him as Sir John Manners-Sutton, using his first given name (e.g. Herald, 13 August 1886, p. 2); others, however, reflected his preferred use of his second given name, referring to him as 'Sir J. Henry Manners Sutton' (Argus, 13 August 1866, p. 4).

I have the honor of submitting to your Excellency a copy of the new agreement entered into between the Ladies Committee and Mr D. Campbell of Glengower for the continuation of the search for Leichhardt.

2

See Agreement, 27 August 1866 (in this edition as 66-08-27).

In as much as her Majesty has condescended to grace the enterprise with her support, and as also the Right Honorable Mr Cardwell was pleased to encourage this search-movement, I feel it incumbent on me to submit any document to your Excellency, which may bear materially on the prosecution of the enterprise. In doing so I act also in the sense of your viceregal predecessor, who desired me to report progress from time to time on the results of the Ladies Expedition for information of Her Majestys Home Government. Mr Sloman, the present Commander of the Expedition, is instructed to devote in first instance his attention and the means at his disposal for the purpose of throwing light on the circumstances, under which the savages at the Leichhardt — and Flinders River became mixed with the half casts now existing there. Should these prove descendants of Leichhardts party, he is requested to ascertain under what causes the missing travellers perished, where their remains are resting and whether any of their journals or other records are preserved. For arriving at satisfactory conclusions on these subjects, the native youth, captured by the late leader of the Expedition, will probably afford much facility. In the event of the half-strangers among the hords of the Gulf tribes proving unconnected in any way with Leichhardts party, it will be Mr Slomans second object to ascertain whether the missing Expedition passed the territory of Carpentaria in safety. To fulfill these calls will occupy the remainder of the time, for which M'Intyres party was originally organized, and thus the present obligations of the Ladies Committee towards the Governments and the Supporters of the enterprise will be redeemed.

Since your Excellency may possibly not be fully aware of the circumstances which gave rise to the renewed efforts of enquiring into Leichhardts fate by field operations, I beg to enclose some documents in elucidation of the subject.

3

MS filed with copies of B65.13.06; the version printed in the Argus of Gideon S. Lang to M, 20 April 1865; and printed copies of the circulars distributed by the Ladies’ Leichhardt Search Committee (see M to A. Petermann, 25 March 1865 (in this edition as 65-03-25b), n. 7) and the Medical Society of Victoria (in this edition as M65.05.05).

His Excellency the hon. Sir John Manners-Sutton, K.C.B., Governor of Victoria &c &c &c

4

MS annotation by H. Manners-Sutton: 'Acknowledge | HCMS | 1st Sept/66'; acknowledgment not found. ('HCMS' refers to the Governor's son and private secretary, Henry C. Manners-Sutton.)