Document information
Physical location:
MS 2474, f. 567, Bibliothèque Centrale du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. 96.08.15Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Alphonse Milne-Edwards, 1896-08-15. 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/1890-6/1896/96-08-15-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
M had started a letter on 10 August 1896, writing: 'It is so difficult'. This was
crossed out and the page turned upside down to become the second page of the present
letter.
I have just been informed, dear Prof Milne-Edwards, that the "Australien" will not
take any freight-goods as the ship has come into
Quarantine
; so the destined for you, can only be sent by the September-Steamer.
2
A member of the crew was suspected to have smallpox as the vessel left Albany on 18 July 1896; passengers disembarking in Adelaide were quarantined until 11 August and the crew member remained detained there until after the vessel left Adelaide on its return voyage on 17 August. The vessel unloaded cargo by lighter on 23 July at the Port Phillip Quarantine Ground
and continued to Sydney and Noumea where passengers were held in quarantine. On the
return voyage, with over 100 passengers who had boarded in Sydney,
Australien
remained in quarantine while anchored in Port Phillip Bay where coal was loaded for departure before the quarantine period was over (various Australian newspapers including
Sydney morning herald, 12 August 1896, p. 5;
Argus, 15 August 1896, p. 6;
Evening journal
(Adelaide), 17 August 1896, p. 2).
Very regardfully
your
Ferd von Mueller