Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.562, Letters to E. P. Ramsay 1862-91, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 91.04.00d

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Ramsay, 1891-04 [91.04.00d]. 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/1890-6/1891/91-04-00d-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Private
Friday
Only some few words to say, dear Dr Ramsay, that the birds are from Mt Yule (11000'),
1
New Guinea.
not from any of Sir Will. Macgregor's
2
i.e. MacGregor's.
travels. I do not think, that they could have been partly sent home, as all the expenses of that Ascent £300 were borne by the Vict. Branch of the R.G.S.
3
Royal Geographical Society [of Australasia]. Europeans ascended Mt Yule for the first time in 1891, during an expedition sponsored by the Victorian Branch of the RGSA; see M to A. Cogniaux, 28 March 1891 (in this edition as 91-03-28a). The specimens collected were in Melbourne by March, and some ferns were sent to Kew; see M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 16 March 1891. Zoological specimens were not distributed until early April, after they had been displayed for members of the RGSA on 3 April; see M to C. Hedley, 7 April 1891 (in this edition as 91-04-07b). Probably after the receipt of this letter, Ramsay appears to have appealed to Charles French Snr for help. French supported Ramsay's request and reported to him that 'You may rely upon me trying my level best to have the birds at least sent on to Sydney, and I shall "keep at" the Baron until he makes the promise, which I feel certain he will do' (C. French to E. Ramsay, 22 April 1891). French subsequently reported: 'I think I have pretty well settled the N. Guinea bird question, as I put it to the Baron this way, that you, as a scientific author in Ornithology, are as much entitled to receive all N. Guinean Z. [Zoological] specimens, as he is to receive B [Botanical] specimens from the same place, and as he is, as you are aware, so jealous of anyone "dabbling" in N. Guinea plants, he of course could not resist my " logic "? more especially as McCoy does not work on Ornithol.' (C. French to E. Ramsay, 2 June 1891) (both letters at ML MSS.563/3 E. P. Ramsay papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney). Despite its being filed between M's letters to Ramsay dated 18 November 1885 and 6 January 1886, the present letter is therefore dated to early April 1891 as the latest likely date that Ramsey could have approached M for bird specimens, for this reply to have been sent, and French to have intervened.
Perhaps Mr Macdonald would allow you the loan , but if you should write, do not say, that I suggested it
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.