Ferdinand von Mueller

Monday

1

The letter from G. S. Fort to M, cited by M below, was written on a Sunday and would have been delivered the following day; the present letter has been dated on that basis.

This morning, dear Mr Macdonald, I received the byefollowing letter from Mr Fort.

2

G. S. Fort to M, 9 October 1887.

Will you kindly give your opinion thereon, so that we may have the advantage of the viceregal presense.

Mr Forbes epistle,

3

See H. Forbes to M, 5 September 1887 (in this edition as 87-09-05a).

I suppose, you like to place before the Council, who can give then full force to your reply. I will merely acknowledge the letter pro forma,

4

See M to H. Forbes, 26 October 1887.

except explaining that the specific elaboration of the plants even in Europe would take a great deal of time. Whether he has all the notes (some he has) or not, cannot affect his sending a short report and a sketch map. A full list of the plants would be only suitable as an appendix for his new volume , the printing of which (so far as I am aware) has not even yet commenced.

5

Forbes's only known book is H. Forbes (1885), published in both London and New York editions. There are appendices to each section, with lists of plants and some animal groups after each section of the book, with a major Appendix VI, pp 497- 523, a 'Prodromus Florae Timorensis' by specialist authors including descriptions of several new species.

We shall of course be delighted, to have Mr Giles, if he will be ready within a reasonable time , and I will telegraph to him at Port Darwin to that effect, if you concur in this. Or a telegram to that effect I could send him yet to Brisbane.

6

Ernest Giles went to the Kimberley district, WA, in 1887, travelling by 'the eastern route', to prospect for gold. See M to S. Davenport, 5 October 1887 (in this edition as 87-10-05a), and M to S. Davenport, 16 October 1887.