The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. ¶ ¶ Society's Rooms, Queen Street. ¶ Melbourne ¶ ¶ 14th May ¶ 18 ¶ 94. ¶ To the President and Council ¶ Royal Geographical Society of Australasia...

Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.2134/1, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (New South Wales Branch), Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 94.05.14a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the President and Council, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, New South Wales Branch, 1894-05-14 [94.05.14a]. 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/1890-6/1894/94-05-14a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

MS annotation: 'Recd 21st May No 94/32 before Council 5th July 94 letter to Melbourne on the 6th see Fol. 409' [Letter not found]. For a published version of this letter, see B94.14.03.

Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.

Letterhead includes the emblem of the Society with 'Instituted 1883' underneath.

Society's Rooms, Queen Street.

Melbourne 14th May 1894.

To the President and Council

Royal Geographical Society of Australasia

Sydney.

Dear Sirs,

As you are aware, the Council of this Branch of our Society recently decided to commence and carry on from time to time the publication of rare Books and Maps having a special geographical and historical value for Australasia. The first practical result of this new departure will be found in the forth-coming volume of the journal of the Victorian Branch now in the hands of the printer.

Transactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Victorian Branch), vol. 11, issued June 1894.

In the course of our deliberations on this subject a proposal has been made to us which we deem to be of great importance to the general body of our Members as marking a distinct advance in carrying out one of the objects for which the Society was established ten years ago. This proposal came before our Council as an offer to publish, under the auspices of the Society, a Memoir from original sources, of the eminent Australian navigator, Captain Matthew Flinders, by Mr. J. J. Shillinglaw F.R.G.S., one of our Vice Presidents, whose reputation as a writer on Australian historical subjects is well and favorably known.

The matter was dealt with at special Meetings of the whole Council of this Branch when it was unanimously resolved that the other Branches should be earnestly invited to assist in publishing a work which cannot fail to appeal to the national sentiment of all Australians as well as to the interests of Geographers and other men of science in all parts of the world.

We have much pleasure in forwarding to you herewith Draft Prospectus of the Book and this will give a clear idea of its contents and the character of its illustrations. The materials are drawn from the private journals, letters, and papers with which Mr. Shillinglaw has been honored by the family of the Navigator and from other sources, on which this Council are satisfied the Author has spent long years of research.

It is gratifying to know that in the matter of printing and embellishment the resources of the Colony are adequate to the production of a volume of national importance which from its character should be worthy to take a place in every Public Library on the same shelf as the Standard edition of the Life and Voyages of the immortal James Cook.

The scheme is to publish an edition of 1000 Copies 500 of which will be available for distribution amongst those Subscribers whose names shall have been received by the Honorary Secretaries on or before the 16th day of July 1894.

To such Subscribers the price will be £1. The price to the public will be £1.7.6. as stated in the Prospectus.

The names of Subscribers will be recorded in the first edition only.

In order that the work may go to press forthwith, it is necessary that no delay should take place in forwarding the names of Subscribers, to the Office of the Victorian Branch.

Shillinglaw's book was never published. The State Library of Victoria holds a publisher's prospectus, dated 1879, for a work by Shillinglaw with the same title.

Commending this project to the cordial co-operation of your Council,

MS annotation: 'Letters 94/32 & 37 | Melbourne Branch Re Mr J. J. Shillinglaws publiction on Capt Flinders | Before Council - 5th July 94'.

We are,

Your faithful Servants,

Ferdinand von Mueller	President.
A. C. Macdonald	Hon. Sec & Treas.
Wm. Potter	Assistant Sec.