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86.05.18b

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Ferdinand von Mueller to Henry Forbes, 1886-05-18 [86.05.18b]. 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/1880-9/1886/86-05-18b-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Geographical Society's Expedition to New Guinea', Leader, 22 May 1886, p. 29. It is introduced by
Letters were received from Mr. Forbes from time to time announcing the successful progress of the expedition, and hopes were entertained that in the end a larger amount of information relative to New Guinea would be placed at the disposal of the society. These hopes, however, were dissipated by the receipt of the following telegrams from the Rev. Mr. Chalmers and Mr. H. O. Forbes, announcing the collapse of the expedition [J Chalmers to M, 17 May 1886, and H. Forbes to M, 17 May 1886 (in this edition as 86-05-17a)]. … The following replies were sent on Tuesday by Baron Von Mueller:—‘.
See also M to J. Chalmers, 18 May 1866 (in this edition as 86-05-18a).
To Mr. H. O. Forbes.— Sorry to hear of your inability to continue in the field here.
2
Forbes had indicated that he intended returning to England.
The council will make every effort for the resumption of the exploration, and we must try to get this money from all the colonies. Will telegraph you again after council meets to-morrow.
3
The Argus (20 May 1886, p. 5) reported that at the special meeting of the Council of the Victorian Branch of the Geographical Society
On the motion of Baron von Mueller it was resolved that Mr. Forbes be asked whether in the event of the Geographical Society subsidising him he is willing to make his expedition a geographical one solely—his efforts to be concentrated in ascending Mount Owen Stanley in the present cool months; that he be asked the minimum expenditure which the expedition would entail; and also, whether he will remain in Cooktown for 10 or 14 days while an effort is being made to see whether sufficient funds can be raised here and in the other colonies for such an expedition.
Forbes telegraphed his reply to the Secretary, Alexander Macdonald: 'Impossible for me to give satisfactory reply to your message without personal interview. After seeing special commissioners for New Guinea I shall leave for New South Wales and Victoria to discuss position personally' (Age, 24 May 1886, p. 5). However, on 4 June Macdonald received a telegram from Forbes, stating that he would stay in Cooktown to await the outcome of efforts being made by the Special Commissioner of the Protectorate, John Douglas, to obtain funds from the Australian colonial governments (Argus, 5 June 1886, p. 8). See also H. Forbes to M, 10 June 1886 (in this edition as 86-06-10a).
Willing to purchase share of plants at fair valuation.