Ferdinand von Mueller

On board of the "Siam"

1

M was en route from Melbourne to WA.

5/10/77

It affords me extreme pleasure, dear Sir Joseph, to introduce to you the hon. Thom. Elder, whose name is known to every man of science as that of a generous promotor of Australian Geography. Mr Elder is as eager to be introduced to so famed a man as yourself, as you will be glad to become acquainted personally with him, who sustained so liberally the geographic enterprises of Col. Warburton and the two last expeditions of Mr Giles.

2

Ernest Giles.

I like you, to conduct the hon. Gentleman through your princely establishment and to let him enjoy the guestship one evening at the Royal Society, when you occupy Sir Isaac Newton's chair.

3

Hooker was President of the Royal Society of London.

It is likely, that Mr Elder will arrange for some further geographic travels by Giles after his return.

I am for a few weeks off to West Australia, and intend to visit Shark-Bay and also the country east of York, to observe personally the late spring vegetation and early summer flowers,

4

For M's WA itinerary, see Dowe (2023).

especially on geographic considerations while I also hope to reestablish my fluctuating health, which suffered much under the cruel and undeserved oppressions, to which I was a victim since several years. We all look forward to your and Dr Asa Gray's researches in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, countries which I myself was longing to visit since several years.

5

For descriptions of J. Hooker’s journey see Allan (1967), pp. 231–232; Desmond (1999), pp. 248–250.