Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Copy at National Archives, London, CO 309/80, Victoria, original correspondence, Despatches September to December, 1866, f. 308 (enclosure 1 to no. 38, 17 Dec 1866). A copy was sent from the Colonial Office to the Royal Geographical Society, London, on 27 February 1867.

Melbourne, botanic Garden,

23 Nov. 66.

Sir Henry

I have the honor to submit to your Excellency a copy of the journal of the late Duncan M'Intyre, who was sent by the Ladies Committee of Victoria supported by the Governments and Inhabitants of this and the other colonies in search of the illfated Dr Leichhardt.

2

The Colonial Office copy is accompanied (pp. 310-14) by cuttings headed 'McIntyres Journal' from the Melbourne Age, 23 November 1866 and 1 December 1866. See M to the Editor, Melbourne Age, 22 November 1866.

Your Excellencys predecessor directed me, to transmit for the information of the Home Government any documents bearing on the progress of the Expedition, in as much as her Majesty had condescended to grace the Ladies enterprise with her Royal support.

3

When first approached, Queen Victoria felt unable to associate her name with the Committee, as none of the Colonial Legislatures had expressed approval of the appeal. However, by the time it was raised again by Sir Roderick Murchison in January 1866, Colonial Government support had been given, and after seeking the approval of the Colonial Secretary, the Queen agreed to donate £100. However, the money was not paid until October 1866. (Information supplied by the Deputy Registrar, Royal Archives, Windsor Castle. See Keeper of the Privy Purse (Sir Charles Phipps) to Colonial Secretary (Edward Cardwell), 18 January 1866 (RA PP/VIC/1866/20810); Receipt in favour of Leichhardt Search Fund dated 27 October 1886 (RA PP/VIC/2/106/11309)).

I may be allowed to remark, that the Expedition is reconstructed and that the party has received orders to search the country around the Gulf of Carpentaria at first, with a view of learning whether Dr Leichhardt perished there or passed the Gulf country in safety and further to ascertain, under what occurrences the descendents of Europeans seen between the Carpentaria tribes are there detained.

His Excellency

the hon. Sir H. Manners-Sutton, KC.B.