Document information

Physical location:

Sammlung Perthes Archiv, SPA ARCH PGM 328, Forschungsbibliothek Gotha der Universität Erfurt. 85.11.26a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Bernhard Perthes, 1885-11-26 [85.11.26a]. 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/85-11-26a>, accessed September 10, 2025

1
MS is a one-page letter accompanied by a four-page document, the text of which is given here. However, what M says in the latter about the departure of Lindsay's expedition suggests that the document has been misplaced in the archive and does not belong with the letter. Since Lindsay's expedition left Adelaide on 26 October, the document must have written in the last week of October 1885, and it is most unlikely that M would then not have sent it for another month but then have sent it unaltered with this letter. While no earlier letter to Gotha that the document might have accompanied has been found, the printed report (see n. 3) includes additional information about Lindsay's expedition that almost certainly came from M.
26/11/85
Diese Notizen, geehrter Herr Perthes, mögen Ihnen für Ihre wichtigen "Mittheilungen" willkommen sein, zumal da neue Hoffnungen dadurch erweckt sind, das Geschick des unglücklichen Leichhardt u. seiner armen Gefährten zu ermitteln.
Mit bestem Grusse
der Ihre
Ferd. von Mueller
In dieser Woche ist Herr David Lindsay von Adelaide abgereist, um den Verlauf des Finke-River's weiter zu verfolgen, u. dies wird ihn u. seine Untergebenen, zu denen auch ein Deutscher, Hr. Lieutenant Dittrich gehört, in die Gegenden bringen, in welchen wahrscheinlich unser unglücklicher Landsmann Dr Leichhardt mit seinen Gefährten umkam.
Mr Lindsays Parthie ist mit Dromedaren versehen, u. da auch in diesem Jahre wiederholte Regenschauer das dürre Innere Australiens erfrischt haben, ist zu hoffen dass nun endlich auf das Geschick des deutschen verschollenen Naturforschers und Geographen volles Licht geworfen wird.
Mr Lindsays Expedition ist von Privatleuten, welche Heerden in Central Australien besitzen, ausgerüstet; wird aber auch weitere Vermessungen vornehmen, so dass wieder wohl ein neues Stück der Karte Australiens fertig werden wird. Die Parthie soll etwa ein Jahr abwesend sein auf dieser Forschungs u. Vermessungs Reise.
Ich selbst habe noch nicht die von O'Donnell und Anderen kürzlich gelieferten Karten gesehen, was sich daraus erklärt, dass deren Reisen auf Privatkosten für Weide-Unternehmungen gemacht sind. Mir sind aber diese Skizzen alle versprochen, u. sollen Ihnen Abzeichnungen davon zugehen, sobald ich solche zu liefern vermag.
26/11/85
These notes, esteemed Mr Perthes, might be welcome to you for your important Mittheilungen,
2
M is probably referring to H. Dittrich to M, 13 November 1885 (in this edition as 85-11-13a), which was published together with additional information about Lindsay's expedition not included in either Dittrich's letter or the document that follows here in Mitteilungen aus Jusus Perthes' Geographischer Anstalt, vol. 32 (1886), p. 60.
especially since new hopes are raised of ascertaining the fate of the unfortunate Leichhardt and his poor companions.
With best greetings
Your
Ferd. von Mueller
This week Mr David Lindsay has left from Adelaide
3
See D. Lindsay to M, 21 October 1885 (in this edition as 85-10-21c), and Express and telegraph (Adelaide), 26 October 1885, p. 2.
to continue following the course of the Finke River and this will bring him and his subordinates—among whom there is a German, Lieutenant Dittrich—into the region in which our unfortunate compatriot Dr Leichhardt probably died with his companions.
Mr Lindsay's party is provided with dromedaries and since this year repeated showers of rain have also refreshed the dry interior of Australia, it is to be hoped that now at last full light will be thrown on the fate of the missing German naturalist and geographer.
Mr Lindsay's expedition is equipped by private people who have flocks in Central Australia, but will also carry out further surveys so that a new piece of the chart of Australia will probably be finished. The party will be absent about a year on this exploratory and surveying journey.
I have not yet myself seen the map recently produced by O'Donnell and others, which is explained by the fact that their travels were made at private expense for grazing enterprises. However, these sketches are all promised to me and copies of them will reach you as soon as I am able to supply them.