Document information
Physical location:
ML MSS.562, Letters to E. P. Ramsay 1862-91, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 74.12.24Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Ramsay, 1874-12-24. 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/1870-9/1874/74-12-24-final.odt>, accessed June 10, 2026
Christmaseve
1
Though filed, together with another undated letter, after M's letter to Ramsay of 4 September 1891, this letter is dated here to 1874, when the oceanographical research vessel HMS
Challenger
was in Australian waters and M was urging Ramsay either himself to go with it to New
Guinea, or to send a collector with it, to investigate the alpine regions of the eastern part of the island. In December 1874, M would not yet have known that the ship did not, in the end, visit New Guinea. See M to E. Ramsay, 26 August 1874; M to E. Ramsay, 1 September 1874; M to E. Ramsay, 9 September 1874; and M to E. Ramsay, and 14 February 1875 (in this edition as 75-02-14a).
Private
Can you tell me, dear Mr Ramsay, whether anything is known concerning the achievements
of the Challenger at New Guinea? I am still anxious to send a Collector, but have
to do it out of my private means. The main object for me would be to get the
alpine
plants. Pray do not speak of my enquiring, for it would only draw the attention of
competitors to that object. The question resolves itself to his. Did the Challenger-party
reach the Snowy hights?
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller