Document information

Physical location:

Private hands. 96.09.12

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to [Louis Smith], 1896-09-12. 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/1890-6/1896/96-09-12-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
An annotation on the MS is in the form of an undated letter to John Forrest from Frederick Illingworth, member of WA Legislative Assembly: 'Dear Sir | The Baron seems very much in earnest In this matter Victorian Parliamentary men are urging me to press the matter on your attention Can anything be done on the proposed lines of a Purchase as I understand it without the Conditions of Imprint Some Desert Waste seems to be the Barons idea | Yours Respectfully | F Illingworth'. Following M's death on 10 October 1896, on 19 October Forrest replied: 'I return this letter — our good kind friend the Baron has gone to that "bourne from which no traveller returns". sic transit &c &c' (for the source of the quotation, see Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3, scene 1).
It is uncertain to whom M's letter, which ends without valediction in the middle of the page, was addressed. It clearly passed through Illingworth's hands, and M may have sent it directly to him as part of his lobbying. However, the fact that it is now among L. L. Smith's papers suggests that M may initially have sent it to him, to help him marshal support from the 'Victorian Parliamentary men' to whom Illingworth refers, and that Smith then forwarded it to Illingworth. It would then have been natural for Illingworth to return it to Smith following M's death.
12/9/96.
Private
The following are the reasons, honorable Sir, on which some facilities might be granted me to purchase some land in the Darling-Ranges
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WA.
and in a region where natural boundaries exist through water-courses, or steep ranges, perhaps next to the large Gov Reserve for the preservation of the indigenous Fauna and flora.
3
'A reserve of 64,000 ha was created at South Dandalup in 1894' (Gregory & Gothard (2009), p. 622). The entry credits M, Bernard Woodward, John Forrest (premier) and William Robinson (governor) as being instigators of the reserve, near Pinjarra, WA. See also M to B Woodward, July 1894 (in this edition as 94-07-00b).
1, I was one of the four, who 1855-1856 penetrated into central Australia within W.A. territory,
4
On 3 January 1856, M, with A. C. Gregory, H. Gregory, T. Baines, J. Flood (collector), G. Phibbs (overseer), R. Bowman (farrier), C. Dean (harness maker) and J. Fahey (stockman), left the main camp at Victoria River on a southward journey of exploration. On 30 January, a depot party was left, and the Gregory brothers, M and Charles Dean went on as the exploring party until turning back on 10 March (Gregory (1858), pp. 35, 48).
when the extensive rich pasture-downs (basaltic) were discovered, also the first desert gold . At that time no dromedaries were available, no settlement existed on the coast or in the interior round for 5000 miles, the absense from habitations was for 16 months, and I sacrificed a much larger position in the meanwhile here.
5
It is not known what position M 'sacrificed'; he went on the Gregory expedition on leave of absence his position as Government Botanist, having faced retrenchment but going with an implicit assurance that he could resume the position when he returned (J. Moore to M, 18 June 1855).
2, I personally examined the vegetation of W.A. and the rural resources of the colony in 1867 and 1877 at very considerable private expense to myself, furnishing thus also a Report on the forest resources of W.A. with 21 plates,
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B79.13.10.
the whole being an honorary service.
3, I afforded without any remuneration cheerfully extensive information to W.A. colonists on rural and other industrial subjects for fully 40 years by correspondence .
4. I called forth several geographic expeditions in W.A, and sent on private means of my own and friends of mine Mr Giles twice to near the boundary of W.A. through S.A. territory
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Expeditions consolidated in E. Giles (1875); see M's introduction, B75.04.07.
5 I purchased the Giles grant of 2000 acres at its full value, applied for land ( 2000 acres ) at Swan River, when the area applied for was suddenly proclaimed a common, and then sold the grant at a loss,
8
There are numerous letters concerning this affair, which concluded with John Forrest selling the right on M's behalf; see notes to M to R. Goldsworthy, 26 December 1878, M had earlier unsuccessfully sought a grant of WA land independent of the grant to Ernest Giles; see M to M. Fraser, 7 August 1876, and notes thereto.
my wish to connect the area with my heridary
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hereditary?
rank being frustrated
6, I distributed as free gifts seeds for 40 years on very numerous occasion to W.A. Settlers, thus introducing vast numbers of rural plants into the territory there.
7, I sent in 1859 and in some subsequent years at very considerable expense a trained Collector , Mr Oldfield, to WA to gather still more material for the elucidation of the W.A. Flora with which I am so intimately identified, that every square - mile of that vast dominion will speak of me for all times .
10
There are almost 1,400 type specimens of Western Australian plants named by M in MEL, but many of these are species represented by more than one specimen, for example two syntypes of Acacia cibaria (MEL 724434, MEL 724432), both mentioned in B82.07.01.
8, I have sunk that last of my wordly
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worldly?
means latterly also in my researches, having come with monetary property to Australia near 50 years ago as an University-Man, never left it since, published a whole series of volumes of which W.A. will also at all future times have the benefit
9, I have done very much more for WA. all these long times than for any other Australian Colony, except Victoria , and would not accept any reward from the colonies unitedly. Such proposition is quite unworkable, would offend my sensitiveness of honor and would invite defeat .
10, The peculiarity of the WA. vegetation makes me wish that my title should be connected with that colony ; more particularly also as WA. has far more unalienated land, than any of the other colonies
11, I sacrificed domestic happiness and nearly all ordinary pleasures to serving professionally these colonies and posses not a single acre of land nor any other substantial property in all Australia.
12, I declined an offer of a free land grant as well from Governor Hampden as Governor Weld, altho' the Home Government expressed its willingness to acquiesce in it, because I was a Gov. Officer of another colony, though probably no objection to the acceptance of the gift would have been taken here.
12
Offers not found, but M refers to an offer by Weld in M to M. Fraser, 7 August 1876.
13, As I am to celebrate my 50 years Doctor-Jubilee next year and commenced my study of plants, even many also of W.A as far back as 1839, I cannot hope to live yet much longer , so that so small a favor as giving me facilities to purchase land, worthy of bearing a Noblemans name, ought to be offerred early , otherwise it will be to o late .
14. The land I would wish should not be remote from the coast for the sake of its climate and the originality of its vegetation and romantic aspect. Even if be ever so sterile and ever so inaccessible it will serve my purpose as the best monument of my long, successful and disinterested toil in this part of the world.