Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. For the text given here, see Swedish-Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Correspondence with the Hon. Sir Thomas Elder, G.C.M.G. and with the Royal Academy of Science Stockholm, privately printed, ‘Only to be perused by the Members of the Antarctic Committee’, 22 July 1892 (X919.45 MAC, Library, Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Melbourne), p. 3.

Adelaide, 2nd June 1891.

To Baron Sir F. Von Mueller, K.C.M.G.

My dear Baron,—

Your telegram referring to the desirableness of a visit from Count Wachtmeister reached me yesterday afternoon.

2

Telegram not found.

I immediately went and placed it in the hands of our President, Sir Samuel Davenport. We decided to telegraph you to this effect:—“Sir Thomas renews promised assistance to Antarctic Expedition, conditionally that required amount to efficiently equip is absolutely available. Please inform what purpose will be served by visit here of Count Wachtmeister? We desire to relieve Sir Thomas, in present state of health, from approach not absolutely required.”

3

A. Magarey to M, 1 June 1981 (in this edition as 91-06-01a).

We desired to convey thereby the following intimations, viz,—That in order to ensure the success of the Antarctic Expedition, Sir Thomas does now renew his offer of £5000 to the purposes of the Expedition, upon the express condition that there shall be raised sufficient funds to ensure that with such a donation from him the venture shall be beyond all question so thoroughly and properly equipped as to be in a position efficiently to carry out the purpose of the Expedition. This being the case Sir Thomas does not require that anyone should wait upon him with any such object as to enlist his sympathy with the venture, nor to induce him to subscribe to its funds

As Sir Thomas is in a state of health rendering it undesirable that he should be troubled by having to meet strangers, our Council has avoided going to him or in any way unnecessarily approaching him as to the business he has placed in its hands.

With these explanations you will I am sure appreciate the tenor of my reply to your enquiry.

If, nevertheless, upon any grounds, you deem it desirable that Count Wachtmeister should come over, and meet Sir Thomas, I will, with the greatest of pleasure wait upon Sir Thomas and ascertain his wish in such a matter, and immediately inform you as to his decision.

4

Wachtmeister did travel to Adelaide and see Elder; see A. Magarey to M, 9 June 1891.

For the present, I shall await the favour of your reply. Our Government has declined any grant, as we requested! We are still trying elsewhere.