Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS accompanied by separately printed extract from Record (South Melbourne), 1 January 1887, without author attribution, headed 'Exploration of New Guinea'. The extract has been annotated by M: 'Written more than two years ago'.

15/2/89.

It is most gratifying to me, dear Dr MacGregor, that amidst the onerous and responsible duties, devolving on you in your elated

2

elevated?

position, you will advance also the investigation of the Flora of your rich and extensive territory.

3

i.e. New Guinea.

Were it in my power, I would despatch a collector to you; but since many years the resources of my establishment have no longer admitted of keeping a collector of plants in the field, I am myself quite without worldly property, as I sunk all I had, in my researches; so I can also in this individual manner do nothing. But as the Rev. Mr Chalmers, I presume, would accompany you to the heights of the Owen Stanley’s Ranges, he would doubtless do part of the plant-collecting, in which he gained experience during his former journeys. Moreover the mere process of forming botanic collecions for study, (not for ornamental appearance) is so plain, that no difficulty would exist for the Rev. Mr Chalmers to instruct some of his disciples for this task there, should he not be able to go himself.

The collecting material, needful for the purpose, will early be despatched; altho’ Mr Sayer left lots of unutilized paper at his departure in Port Moresbye, so that a large supply muxt be stored away there somehow yet.

The Alcohol will be useful in voyages, to plung into it succulent fruits and flowers with their leaves, those of each sort tied up in a little calico together.

The Council for the Melbourne-meeting of the "Austral. Association" has rightly postponed our gathering til the end of the year ,

4

The second congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science was held in Melbourne in January 1890, with M as President.

so as to follow not too quickly the medical Congress.

5

Intercolonial Medical Congress of Australasia, Melbourne, January 1889.

That will give 2 or 3 more months time, for bringing the results of any highland-explorations before the Association.

What is your opinion of the fever there?

In my letter, sent a few weeks ago, I mentioned already, that our geogr. Council would devote £500 – to this years Highland Explor. In N. Guinea.

6

Letter not found. The Council of the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia agreed when it met on 1 March 1889 to provide a subsidy of £500 for a proposed expedition to Mt Owen Stanley in New Guinea; see Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Vic. Branch), vol. 7, part 1 (1889), p. 13, and M to W. MacGregor, March 1889 (in this edition as 79-03-00k).

I can spend from Departmental means £20 or £30 as payment to teachers, if they collect during the Expedition plants for me, to any appreciable extent