From William Hooker   5 February 1856

Royal Gardens, Kew.

Feb. 5th 1856.

My dear Dr Mueller

I think it is only 2 or 3 days since I wrote to you.¹ But to day on going to the Admiralty, they said to me, "have you any commands for North Australia"? — "Why", I said, "I sent there two days ago". — "How"? — "Through the Colonial Office". — "You had better send by us. In a day or two we are going to send an Officer to Sidney & thence to the Gulf of Carpentaria. We are aware that an Expedition is gone to the interior from the Victoria River; &, should anything happen to it & they require succour on the Coast, it is most important that we have a Vessel in the Gulf of Carpentaria, & we will do our utmost that nothing shall be wanting that we can do, for the safety of the Officers of this Expedition." — All this was very pleasant for me to hear: & you will all of you be gratified to know that. The Vessel, H. M. S. Torch, was in the Fiji islands in attendance on H.M.S. Herald, Captn Denham.

Of course I went directly to the Colonial Office & arranged that my little dispatches should be sent, par prèference, by this conveyance, as likely to be the first to be in communication with you.

I told the Admiralty all about you & of the high character I had heard of your Commander & of Mr Baines.

How truly glad I shall be to hear news of you all!

faithfully & affectionately yours,

W. J. Hooker.