The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. ¶ Instituted 1883 ¶ Society's Rooms, Queen Street, ¶ Melbourne 8th July 1895. ¶ Dear Sir,...

Document information

Physical location:

Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Victorian Branch), 52d, Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Melbourne. 95.07.08

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Circular, 1895-07-08. 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/1890-6/1895/95-07-08-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.

Instituted 1883

Society's Rooms, Queen Street,

Melbourne 8th July 1895.

Dear Sir,

Last year the Government did your Society the favour of printing its annual volume of Transactions free of charge; but the exigency of State retrenchment will not allow of a similar favour being conferred this year.

There are two versions of this printed Circular, both bound in with the minutes of the Council meeting of 30 August 1895. The other version, not reproduced since they are very similar, explains the problem slightly differently: 'This year, however, the exigency of State retrenchment will not allow of a similar favour being granted, and the long continuence of the commercial depression has so reduced the number of subscribers on our Members' Roll, that the funds in the hands of the Honorary Treasurer are not even sufficient to cover the ordinary annual expenditure.'

The lectures and addresses read before members at the ordinary General Meetings of the Society held since out last publication was issued, together with the valuable journal and maps relating to Antarctic navigation

In the other version this is given as: 'relating to navigation in the South Polar Seas'.

and the landing on South Victoria Land effected this year (January 24th 1895) by Captain Leonard Kristensen, commander of the whaling steam ship "Antarctic,"

In the other version this is identified as a 'Norwegian steam whaling ship'.

are now ready for the Press. They cannot however be published for want of funds.

Under these circumstances the Council feels it imperative to make an urgent appeal to members for an immediate payment of all Subscriptions due for the years 1894-5. We need hardly remind members that the usefulness and the prestige of the Society largely depend upon the publication of its Transactions.

In the other version the appeal is for donations for the Publishing Fund from Life, Honorary and Corresponding Members, i.e. from those who did not ordinarily pay a subscription.

Trusting that you will be able to forward your subscription, or a donation to the Honorary Treasurer before the end of the month.

We subscribe ourselves,

Yours faithfully

Ferdd von Mueller		President
A. C. Macdonald		Hon. Sec. & Treasurer
William Potter		Assistant Secretary 5 The three names have been bracketted.

P.S. Members are cordially invited to use their best endeavours to increase the numerical strength of the Society.

A card attached to the Circular announced the next meeting of the Society at the Melbourne Town Hall on 9 August 1895 at 8 p.m. Two papers are announced: 'Central and inland West Australia' by J. A. Panton, and 'The Tyrol and the Dolomites' by Miss J. C. Law.