Ferdinand von Mueller

Hamilton

1

Vic.

Monday 9th May 87

My dear Baron

Yours addressed to me here I duly got.

2

Letter not found.

Since I saw you I have seriously thought of the New Guinea subject — and as I am quite sure no funds will be got for Exploring in Central Australia — I should very much like to try New Guinea — and now that Mr Forbes has made an open rupture with the R.G.S.

3

Henry Forbes. Forbes had travelled to Melbourne seeking funds ; see M to E Ramsay, 30 March 1887 (in this edition as 87-03-30b) and notes thereto. Acrimonious letters had been exchanged in the press between Forbes and A. Macdonald, secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia ( Macdonald to Editor, Australasian , 23 April 1887, p. 791; Forbes to Editor, Argus , 6 May 1887, p. 9 ) . The C ouncil of the Victorian Branch considered this and other correspondence at its meeting of 10 May and passed a resolution cri t ical of Forbes ( Argus , 12 May 1887, p. 9). Forbes wrote again to the Editor of the Argus (16 May 1887, p. 7), refuting the claims made in the Council.

Giles was clearly aware that the Victorian Branch had received a grant of £1,000 towards its own expedition to New Guinea, ultimately led by Walter Cuthbertson ; see M to W. Cuthbertson, 28 May 1887.

I suppose they are not likely to support him any further with the funds at present at their disposal and Mr MacDonald the Hon. Sec informs me that Mr Chalmers is not likely to be available for the present season — therefore I have decided to make an application to the R.G.S. through you to send me to New Guinea I am ready to go at a moments notice — With regard to your kind recommendations on my behalf to the Govt of Western Australia of course I should be highly pleased to obtain any such a position as you suggested

4

See M to J. Brooking, 3 April 1887 (in this edition as 87-04-03a), where M suggested that Giles be appointed a Resident Magistrate in an appropriate area of WA.

but I am very much afraid there will be too much local feeling to permit an outsider into the charmed circle of Government employ over there —

I have therefore written out the enclosed application

5

See E. Giles to M, 10 May 1887.

— through you to the R.G.S. to send me to New Guinea — But if you like to delay it until some reply arrives from Western Australia — I am quite agreeable — though all delay tends to shorten the season available for New Guinea Exploration

I shall be back in Town in 2 or 3 days — and will come and see you on these subjects