Sir,
I have been desired by the ladies of the Leichhardt Search Committee to submit to you a copy of the journal of the late Duncan M‘Intyre, compiled by Mr Sloman from the diary and field-books of the lamented explorer, and very recently received through Donald Campbell, Esq., of Glengower.1
The committee trust that, with your usual courtesy and readiness, you will give publicity to these documents, to which, as the last records of a most promising geographer, so much melancholy interest is attached. These papers are, moreover, of special importance as bringing under notice a large tract of most fertile country in and adjacent to the tracks of M‘Kinlay and Landsborough, a tract of country formerly not described or mapped. Some explanatory geographical and phytographical remarks I have ventured to add in foot notes.
I am,
Sir,
your regardful,
Ferd. Mueller.
Melbourne, 22nd November, 1866.
Vic.
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Leichhardt search expedition. Journal of the late Mr M'Intyre', Age, 23 November 1866, p. 5 (B66.11.05).
A long extract from McIntyre's journal accompanied M's letter in print and was continued in the issues for 24 and 26 November (on p. 6 in each case). Cuttings of the article, including M's letter, have been assembled as a booklet that is preserved at the Royal Geographical Society, London, Archives, Journal MS, 1867, Mueller, F.
M evidentially sent his letter, or a version of it, to a number of newspapers that subsequently printed McIntyre's journal, or significant extracts from it, not always acknowledging M as the source. See, for example, Herald (Melbourne), 23 November 1866, p. 4; Sydney morning herald, 3 December 1866, p. 6; Australasian (Melbourne), 8 December 1866, p. 1126; Mount Alexander mail, 24 November 1866, p. 2; and Launceston examiner (Tas), 21 December 1866, p. 2. M also sent a copy to August Petermann, who published a German-language narrative of the expedition; see M to A. Petermann, 24 November 1866.
Please cite as “FVM-66-11-22,” 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