Gillbank (2011), p. 117, reports that the first consignment of Hermann Beckler's plants from the the Burke & Wills expedition reached Melbourne in October 1860. This letter represents an examination of that first collection, brought back by Georg Neumayer who had accompanied the expedition as far as the Darling River before turning back to Melbourne; he arrived back in Melbourne on 15 October (Age (Melbourne), 16 October 1860, p. 4). The plants were immediately sent to M and 'although only lately forwarded to [him] had already, with that gentleman's usual promptitude, been duly classified' ('Victorian exploring expedition', Argus, 17 October 1860, p. 5, reporting a meeting of the Royal Society of Victoria held on 16 October).
The specimens would have been the responsibility of the Royal Society, as sponsors of the expedition.
M did attend; see Argus, 17 October 1860, p. 5.
Please cite as “FVM-60-10-16,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on