Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS annotation: 'A.T.M. 3/6/91'. The file also contains the envelope, addressed ' Urgent A. Magarey Esq. &c Hon. Secr. Royal geographic Society of Australia, Adelaide .' and cross-written, possibly by Thomas Elder: 'Baron Sir F. von Mueller re Antarctic Exploration’, and by Magarey, ‘Enclosed letter to Sir Thomas Elder forwarded 3/6/91. Hon J. L. Parsons re action in the House.' The envelope bears three one-penny Victorian stamps and is stamped: 'REGISTERED G.P.O. JE 2 91'.

2/7/91

2

The annotations and date stamp (see n. 1), and also the date M gives for the letter he has received from Elder, all make it clear that M has mis-dated the present letter, and that he actually wrote it on 2 June 1891.

Your telegram, received last evening, dear Mr Magarey,

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Telegram not found.

did not make it clear to me, on what conditions the generous Sir Thomas Elder would be one of the two main supporters of Baron Nordenskiold's Expedition. My letter, sent on Tuesday of last week as yet unanswered by you Sir George Grey has undertaken to bring our wish directly before the NZ. Parliament

4

as yet ... NZ. Parliament interlined.

will have informed your honored council of the good prospects of the enterprise, in four colonies or five also, of my view, that £15000 will provide two efficient steamships and the other costs of the expedition, as at present the arctic whaling and sealing steamers can be purchased cheaply in Sweden, and such would be best adapted for the Nordenskiold-Voyage, if additionally fortified, which should be done in the present European summer, so that the season of 1892-1893 may not be lost, the ships requiring to be here not later than June of next year. You see therefore, how urgent it is, that we should be in the position for telegraphing through the Swedish Consul General to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, that £10000 are secured in Australia, Baron Dickson giving £5000[.] I thought therefore, that the coming of Count Wachtmeister to Adelaide might accelerate the arrangements with your Maecenas

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Sir Thomas Elder.

there. The young Nobleman was willing, to make the detour, before he leaves after a brief stay here for India and Polynesia on his trip around the world, especially as he knows Baron Nordenskiold personally . Does Sir Thomas require the fulfilment of any other conditions than an assurance, that an efficient expedition be sent out? One on the Erebus- and Terror-scale would cost £50000 at least, perhaps twice as much, and getting the Admirality to incur that extra-expenditure seems at present quite hopeless, as we tried that plan in vain. As I had this morning a very kind letter from Sir Thomas, written on the 30 May,

6

Letter not found.

in acknowledgement of an introductory note, given by me to Mr Carr Boyd, I think, that I may encroach with a direct letter through your Council on our great Patron,

7

Letter not found.

so that we can telegraph to Sweden how the financial matter actually now stands. I was rather surprised, that your Government takes the view, that S.A. would derive no practical advantages from antarctic exploration. I feel sure, it will be followed by a flotilla of Sealing and Whaling and Guano-Steamers, some of which surely will supply at Port Adelaide also some clippers and factories, refit and replenish for new annual voyages. I look eagerly forward to some definite information from you.

Please telegraph me clearly after the receipt of this letter.

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No reply telegram has been found.