The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: British New Guinea. ¶ Granville ¶ Now Port Moresby, PNG. ¶ 16th July 1887 ¶ My dear Baron — ¶ ¶ Mr Cuthbertson has presented to me your letter of recommendation on behalf of the Royal Geographical So...

Document information

Physical location:

A36 Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Vic. Branch) papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 87.07.16b

Preferred Citation:

John Douglas to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1887-07-16 [87.07.16b]. 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/1880-9/1887/87-07-16b-final.odt>, accessed June 15, 2026

British New Guinea.

Granville

Now Port Moresby, PNG.

16th July 1887

My dear Baron —

Mr Cuthbertson has presented to me your letter of recommendation on behalf of the Royal Geographical Society of Victoria

Letter not found.

—

You may rely upon my doing every thing I can to assist him in carrying out his explorations, and I believe that I shall be able to give him substantial help

On 12 July 1887, Douglas wrote to Cuthbertson: 'Baron von Mueller's letter which you have presented to me will of course insure for you my hearty cooperation in the work entrusted to you by the Royal Geographical Society of Victoria. I shall be happy to place Mr George Hunter's services at your disposal for a time, and this I am sure will be a material assistance to you in dealing with the natives. I need scarcely assure you, I think, that I wish you every success. You have an arduous task before you, and somewhat insufficient means, I fear, for the purpose of accomplishing the great ascent, but if energy and intelligence combined with a fine vigorous constitution wil suffice you ought to succeed' (A36, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Vic. Branch) papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Sydney).

—

Mr Robert Hunter and Mr Hartman of Toowoomba

Qld, where Carl Hartmann had a nursery.

have just come in after a rather successful excursion to the summits of the Range near Mount Obree

NG. See C. Hartmann to M, August 1887 (in this edition as 87-08-00b). See also W. Lawes to M, 21 September 1887, where Hunter is reported to have gone out again with Cuthbertson.

—

I am

Dear Baron

Yrs very faithfully

John Douglas

Baron F von Mueller

K.C.M.G.