Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS annotation by M: 'Ret & answ 14/2/88'. Letter not found. See also M to S. Davenport, January 1888.

Adelaide — 12 Feb /88

My dear Baron,

Do not think me negligent in not having replied to your letter conveying for your Geographical Society their with your sympathy at the Illness of Sir Thomas Elder, and your congratulations to Sir Edwin Smith. The latter had gone to Sydney but has now returned — & you may rely on my conveying to him your good wishes. But as to Sir Thomas Elder the state of his health is still, I regret to say, such as requires his friends to visit him sparingly as he is yet very nervous & weak. He is at Mt Lofty

2

SA.

— Last Saturday week I rode up to see him: but finding Sir Henry Ayers & Mr Barr Smith there before me I returned without intruding on the above principle — and I thought it better to verbally convey your message there by letter as he would fidget about answering it. I hope in due time to effect all your wishes.

Now, I wish to say to you that Sir Thomas' Illness having consumed so much time passing the date at which our branch of the Geographical Society had proposed to start Mr Tietkens exploring about Lake Amadeus

3

NT.

and our continued inability to disturb him re camels & pecuniary donation he had proposed for us — we fail to see our way, as a Society , to carry out the enterprise now at least: and therefore we wish your Society to understand, whilst greatly thankful to them for their generous contribution of funds — viz abt

4

about?

£20 — in aid if we could have started — we can no longer feel we have a right to avail of that offer — & it is our duty to honorably tell them so.

It is however within our intentions, as individuals , to propose some other way of acquiring knowledge of that almost unknown region on which we may yet write you. Should it assume due shape.

I hope you are well & happy.