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A39 Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Vic. Branch) papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 88.01.03Preferred Citation:
Ernest Favenc to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1888-01-03. 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/1880-9/1888/88-01-03-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
January 3rd /88.
30 Jamieson St
Sydney.
My dear Baron,
It was very kind of you to answer my letter so speedily, and you may be sure that
I heartily reciprocate your kind wishes for the new year.
With regard to my book on Australian Exploration,
if you can forward me any details concerning your trips to the heads of the rivers
in 1853-1855 I shall be most glad to embody them, and shall thank you very much, as
I have been only able to obtain very meagre outlines of these journeys. Your trip
to Sturt's Creek with Gregory,
I of course have, — and in addition, your influence in instigating the first journey
of Mr John Forrest, which I believe you offered to lead yourself in search of the
white men supposed to have been killed on an inland lake — Your work in connection
with the Ladies' Search Expedition, led by M'Intyre, and the help you have afforded
to E Giles in his expeditions.
1
2
Favenec (1888).
3
North Australian Exploring Expedition, 1855-6.
With regard to my coming trip,
I have not yet heard from Sir Edward Strickland as to what this society might do in
the matter,
of assisting to pay the salary of a surveyor; but if you know of any one fitted for the
billet, who would be willing to go under the auspices of your society, or the joint
societies, I think the matter could be arranged.
4
Favenc was proposing to explore an area east of Geraldton, WA. His letter to M was discussed at a meeting of the Council of the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical
Society of Ausralasia on 10 January 1888, the discussion being reported in
Australasian, 14 January 1888, p. 92. A sub-group of the Council met on 14 February, supported Walter Cuthbertson as
a surveyor who had been successful in that role during the Society's expedition to
Mt Obree in New Guinea, and decided to make a grant to Favenc, who was required to
make arrangements with Cuthbertson himself (M to A. Macdonald, 14 February 1888). Applications for the post of Surveyor had been made by Norman Taylor (N. Taylor
to M, 17 January 1888) and, in an undated letter to Favenc, by Siegmund Israel, who had arrived in Australia
from Germany on 26 January claiming to be an experienced explorer, and whom M had
advised to contact Favenc directly (A36, papers of Royal Geographical Society of Australasia,
Victorian Branch, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney). Despite
a report in the
Age
(Mebourne), 14 February 1888, p. 5, that 'Favenc will be accompanied on this trip
as representative of the Royal Geographical Society by Mr. Siegmund
Israel,
a geologist and botanist, who was lieutenant to Mr. Henry M. Stanley in his second
Congo expedition
', Cuthbertson accompanied Favenc (see Favenc (1889) and
Argus
, 16 February 1888, p. 4).
Siegmund Israel also claimed some support from the RGSA, being reported as saying
that 'The Royal Geographical Society of Australia would send instruments, maps, &c, and
he (Mr. Israel) would act as naturalist, botanist, &&, as well as leader
' of another expedition. This would be funded by a syndicate 'f
ormed by Victorian and Western Australian capitalists to fit out an exploring and
prospecting expedition to search for mineral and pastoral country in western Australian
territory
', and would '
strike north-east between Lake Moore and Lake Manga
[Monger?]' ('Interview with African Explorer',
South Australian register
, 20 June 1888, p. 6). However, see 'How Melbourne capitalists were duped',
Daily news
(Perth), 17 June 1889, p. 3
,
for an assesment of Israel's activities and character, including an account of his
fraud on the Victorian Railways.
5
Strickland was President of the NSW Branch of the RGSA.
I cannot at present do more than offer outfit, horses &c but, it is not so much a
matter of money as having a good accredited man with […]
6
Word obscured at bottom corner of page in pasting page into letter-book.
All collections made would of course be the property of the society by right. Nobody knows better than yourself
the number of other duties and anxieties that fall to the lot of the leader, and the
amount of ease afforded by having some one with you, whose whole time would be devoted
to acquiring whatever fresh knowledge came in our way.
I am writing rather in a hurry in fact you will see by the paper that it is during
my work time I am writing.
With kind regards I am
faithfully yours
Ernest Favenc