[When in Rockhampton1 lately, I saw a number of the Queenslander, wherein was published a letter from Dr. Mueller in reply to one of yours, on the subject of some information gleaned by Mr. Powell from blacks, to the effect that a white man was supposed to be living somewhere in the interior among the wild blacks, and it was believed he must be one of Leichhardt's party.2
Feeling the greatest interest, like most old colonists, in the fate of the lost explorers, I wrote to Dr. Mueller to give me all particulars, so far as known, and if he could not do so to favor me with your address, so that I could apply to you for full particulars. 3]
Qld.
See M to R. Baird, 21 February 1870, published in Queenslander, 19 March 1870, p. 2 (B70.03.02).
Scott's having addressed his letter to Baird implies that he had received a reply from M (letter not found). The remainder of Scott's letter to Baird gave details of an overland trip he intended to take, saying that he could make a detour of 100 miles or so and saying that
If you believe I would have any chance of getting into contact with those blacks giving the report, you would much oblige by sending me full particulars—i.e., if you believe there is any probability of truth in the reports, and that visiting the locality would not cause me to make a greater detour than I have mentioned.
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Leichhardt search expedition', Brisbane courier, 6 June 1870, p. 3, a letter from A. M. Scott to Robert Baird dated 24 May 1870. Scott's letter to M is dated to May 1870 on the basis of the date of Scott's letter to Baird, and that Scott was 'in Rockhampton lately'.
Please cite as “FVM-70-05-00a,” 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