Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS is a copy of M's letter written out by Rev. S. J. Whitmee. MS annotation by Whitmee: 'Copy of letter from Dr Ferd. von Mueller C.B., (sic) F.R.S. &c &c; Director of Bot. Gardens Melbourne, Victoria'. The copy is enclosed with a letter from Whitmee to the Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society, 5 January 1872, in which he wrote: 'In connection with the New Guinea Mission the enclosed letter which I received from Dr. Mueller while in Sydney last year may interest you. Dr. M sent my "Cruise" to Dr. Petersham (sic) of Gotha & it appeared pretty fully'. See 'Rev. S. J. Whitmee's Reise nach den Tokelau-, Ellice- und Gilbert-Inselen, 1870', Petermann's Geographische Mittheilungen , vol. 17 (1871), pp. 201-6. The 'Cruise' (Whitmee (1871)) is a booklet of 40 pp., the Australian sales of which repaid his outlay.

Melbourne Bot. Gardens

Jan 11th 1871

It was with extreme gratification, reverend & dear sir, that I read your letter in the Sydney Morning Herald,

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Sydney morning herald, 6 January 1871, p. 3, col. a.

in which you make such a noble appeal for the support of missionary labours in New Guinea. I feel convinced that by some well organised effort a large sum might be raised in the Australian Colonies for sending the harbingers of Christianity & civilization into a land larger than the United Kingdom of Britain in Europe. In one respect you may take a still more cheerful view of this immense new field for Missionary exertions — I allude to the climate. Unquestionably parts of the coast tracts of New Guinea are insalubrious, but others, open and near the snowy mountains will likely be very salubrious; especially if elevated localities for missionary settlement are sought.

Allow me also to remark that any mission locality is certain to receive additional support through the stay of naturalists; as not only geographers are anxious to carry from some settled point further enquiries into the large island, but as also Zoologists & botanists are most eager to become acquainted with the living natural products of N. Guinea. The Alps of this island are near the coast, & it might perhaps be so arranged, that through the natives in barter plants & animals might be obtained for our Scientific institutions. I am myself most anxious to acquire collections of dried plants from N. Guinea, particularly from the alpine & other inland localities, for comparison with the plants of the N.E. of Australia; & I should be quite glad to place some fund at the disposal of any New Guinea Missionary with a view of obtaining plants. Others would doubtless similarly support the Mission. In such additional efforts the "Works of God" would be brought also from thence in their glory before us, & new resources be gained for the yet wild barbarians, & additional means afforded for them to settle in peaceful occupations.

It seems to me a great pity that no system of collecting through missionaries & their congregations is initiated in all the newly occupied spots.

I may add that whenever a vessel of the missions started from Melbourne, no opportunity was lost by me to send plants of Tea, Coffee, Peru bark and other utilitarian & commercial plants to the missions, & that I always feel a delight if I can thus aid in promoting the welfare of a new Christian settlement.

The Rev. S.J. Whitmee