Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne 18/5/91.

To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Parkes, G.C.M.G.

Premier of New South Wales.

Allow me to approach you, dear Sir Henry, in reference to the aid you so generously afforded on behalf of N.S.W. for the forthcoming antarctic expedition. The hon. the Premier of Victoria has informed me, that the Ministry here is desirous to obtain direct from the N.S.W. Government a communication that yourself and your Ministry have kindly provided a contribution towards the antarctic fund, which statement would doubtless have much weight also with the Victorian Parliament. Mr Munro caused me to be informed in my position of President of the Victorian geographic Council,

1

i.e. the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.

that when such memoranda, as above indicated, had been received from other contributing Governments of the Australian Colonies, then also here the subject should receive consideration from this Government.

2

For an earlier response by Munro to M's lobbying for support for the proposed expedition, see J. Munro to M, November 1890 (in this edition as 90-11-00b).

May I avail myself of this opportunity also, to solicit that the sum, so kindly promised by your Government be allowed to be voted, even if by that time perhaps the geographic Council of N.S.W. may not have been able to raise the whole of the third, as you require, by private subscription in N.S.W.