Ferdinand von Mueller

1

See P. King et al. to M, 24 August 1894, and J. Mann to M, 22 September 1894.

The above letter was registered on 2 October 1894: ML MSS.853/2 letter register, no. 52, The Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (New South Wales Branch), Mitchell Library: 'M dated 29/9.94 acknowledging receipt of congratulatory lette

Melbourne, 29/9/94.

John Mann Esqr &c &c &c

Hon. Secr. R.G.S.A.

It has been quite touching to me, dear Mr Mann, to receive so unexpected and so generous a felicitation from the eldest and central Administration of the R.G.S.A. at the occasion of my being raised to a position in the Institut de France.

2

Although A. Milne-Edwards, director of the Muséum d'histoire naturelle in Paris, had promised to nominate M for election as a Corresponding Member of the Académie des Sciences of the Institut de France when a vacancy next appeared, M was not elected until 1 July 1895.

This solicitous and genuine act of kindness from you all I shall prize as among the highest of honors bestowed on me, and shall bear in most grateful remembrance til the end of my days, probably now not very distant. Indeed, of such a document as yours, emanating from Gentlemen so distinguished, and conveying wishes also for my future in so kindly wording, any mortal would be proud! While offering the expressions of my profound gratitude to the N.S.W. Geographers for their encouraging consideration and their magnanimous participation in my joy, it is especially significant, that this elevating message to me is headed by a Son of Admiral P. P. King and conveyed by a Son in Law of Sir Thomas Mitchell,

3

John Mann had married Mitchell's daughter Camilla Victoria in 1857 (ADB).

one of these two Coryphaeans ever illustrious for having effected more extensive detail coast-surveys of the world than any other Navigator; — the other celebrated for all times through having explored personally a greater portion of the vast Australian Continent than any other geographic Traveller, and both being and remaining irrespectively renowned through great other achievements!

In reverting to the Institut may I say, that this august Union has counted through more than three Centuries among its Members also leading Geographers; and indeed our favorite Science must necessarily always be much connected not only with telluric investigations but also with manyfold cosmic researches. In having been honored as an Australian Representative, to form a link in the chain for connecting generations of science of the past with those of the future, we must regard this memorable distinction from one of the two culminating seats of knowledge as a mark of recognition and encouragement to the whole science of Australia, of which I merely happen to be one of the Seniors; — so that also in

4

in over at.

this part of the world we should be more closely drawn into that intellectual brotherhood, which the bonds of science, indement

5

independent?

of all other worldly considerations in a lofty spirit unite for the universal welfare of mankind!

With my homage to the originating Union, through whose forethought and energy the Australian Society for geographic science under Royal Patronage became established and largely advanced,