Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS not in M's hand but he was responsible for it; see M to A. Macdonald, 9 May 1888.

Copy

Melbourne

7 May 1888.

To his Excellency Will. Macgregor, M.D., C.M.G.,

Governor of British New Guinea &c &c.

At a recent meeting of the Council of the Vict. Branch of the R.G.S.A.,

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Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.

I was instructed by my Colleagues to convey to your Excellency our felicitation for being placed in the exalted position of her Majesty's Representative in British New Guinea and the Western pacific Islands, a position which with all its difficulties and multifarious having unusual dangers and great responsibilities needs all the high qualifications, which your Excellency is enabled to bring to bear on this office. Our Council feels sure, that under your Excellency's last great dominion, added to the British empire, will soon enjoy all the blessings of civilisation in addition to those of Christianity, and will become throughout the peaceful and prosperous abode not only of the autochthones but also of enterprising Colonists under the wise and liberal British laws. The Victorian Council of the R.G.S.A., desires me further to add, that its members and indeed all those of our branch share the deep interest in the development of geography in the great papuan Island, which is evinced by the other branches of our Society; and we also are conscious, that no other portion of the surface of our planet, hitherto largely unexplored is more worthy of vigorous exploratory researches than the territory, over which your Excellency holds the Gubernatorial sway. Indeed we hope, that it may be the privilege of our branch, to aid substantially [...]

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