Melbourne bot. & zool. Garden,
5. Aug. 1861
Dear Mr M'Kinlay.
With feelings of extreme delight I learnt, that most fortunately and most judiciously the choice fell on you as Commander of the South Australian Search Exploring-party,1 and I cannot refrain from tendering you my cordial congratulation to the appointment and expressing my ardent wish for success. And I would couple with these wishes a second hope, that this will not be the last time when you appear on the field of exploration, but since for a series of years ample work will remain to be done by such excellent men as yourself, you will take a leading part in opening our great continent to geographical knowledge.
I caught nearly 3 weeks ago during cold & wet weather in one of the exploration meetings a bronchial inflammation, by which I have been ever since confined to my house; hence I could not take an active share in the last arrangements of the Exploration Committee.
If there is anything within my reach, that I can send you, pray command it without scruples; and if I can give you any information, only here locally obtainable, I will always exert myself to furnish it to you.
So I remain with the best wishes for your health & success
your attached
Ferd. Mueller.
John M'Kinlay Esqr
Leader of the South Australian Exploring Party.2
South Australia's relief expedition for the Burke and Wills Exploring Expedition, 1860-1.
On 9 August 1861, Sir Richard MacDonnell, Governor of SA, forwarded to McKinlay 'an open note just received from Dr Mueller of Melbourne' that was almost certainly this letter (GRG 35/631/6, Department of Lands, State Records, Adelaide).
Please cite as “FVM-61-08-05,” 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