Ferdinand von Mueller

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'The Leichhardt mystery', a report in the Leader (Melbourne), 27 March 1880, p. 6, of a lecture given by M at the West Melbourne Presbyterian Church on 16 March 1880 in which he discussed efforts being undertaken by Du Faur to organize a party to follow up reports that a white man had been living with an Aboriginal tribe. These reports M considered added some credibility to stories that a member of Leichhardt's lost expedition might have survived for some time. The extract is introduced by 'he read the finishing passage of a letter from Mr Du Faur worded thus:—.'

Du Faur had been excited by reports that Classen's skeleton and diary, together with other artifacts, had been found, and was attempting to raise support for an expedition to test the claims. He had organized a meeting in Sydney on 16 February 1880, which was poorly attended despite his 'having sent out over fifty MS invitations to it'. He reported that M, 'after reading my letter', asked Sir Thomas Elder for assistance (E. Du Faur to the Editor, 18 February 1880, Sydney morning herald, 20 February 1880, p. 7). For a report of the meeting, see Sydney morning herald, 17 February 1880, p. 5.

Du Faur's letter to M is dated to February 1880 on the assumption that what M received was a copy of the letter calling the Sydney meeting.