To Nevil Maskelyne   25 January 1862

Melbourne bot. & zool. garden,

25 Jan. 1862

My dear Sir

I should have replied to your letter, dated 3. Oct, by last mail, had it been possible to obtain by that time any positive information on the requisite means needed to remove the large mass of meteorite iron, buried some distance from this city. I submitted your letter soon after its arrival to the Mining Department, from whence arrangements are made to ascertain the cost of removing the meteor, difficulties being experienced, as it has to be brought across an unbridged water-course and I think to be extricated out of a swampy place. The estimates of removal have not yet been arrived at, whilst the January mail is closing and hence I regard it incumbent on me to reply at least preliminary to your letter.

I would advise, that the influence of the Secretary of State for the Colonies should be solicited, to induce the Government of this colony to forward this large meteor to the noble British Museum, where the value of the specimen would be higher appreciated than elsewhere. Some of our population are however very anxious to retain the specimen in the colony; but I believe any application from the Authorities of the British Museum supported by the Home government will place you in possession of the meteor.

The smaller specimen, referred to in my letter to Professor Owen,1 and weighing about [2-]300 lb is now on its way home, having been shipped by my colleagues, the Victorian Exhibition Commissioners, to London per. [Anne] Bright for the Great Exhibition.2 This specimen is the private Property of A. Abel Esq of Ballarat who asks for it what we here consider a high price £300 -"- But his nephew, Prof Abel of Woolwich, is instructed to effect the sale of that specimen, as far as I have hitherto learned, after its exhibition in London.

Trusting that I shall be able to aford the amplest information by next [steamer] & requesting that you will convey to Professor Owen the sentiments of my highest regards, I remain

my dear Sir,

your very obedient and attached

Ferd. Mueller

 

To Dr Maskelyne

&c &c &c3

1
See M to R. Owen, 25 September 1861.
2
Although expected to have sailed earlier in January, the woolship Elizabeth Ann Bright did not leave Melbourne until 28 January ( Argus , 22 February 1862, p. 4).
3
See Lucas et al. (1994).

Please cite as “FVM-62-01-25a,” 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 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/62-01-25a