Melbourne bot. Garden
10/3/73
Let me assure you, dear Sir Henry, that I am fully sensible of the generosity shown by yourself and your honorable colleagues towards Mr Giles; and let me beg of you to express my best thanks for the liberal support also to the other members of your Ministry.1 I am convinced, that Mr Giles will acquit himself creditably also on this occasion, but we must not expect too much, as disasters may befal the party, however cautious the small band may be, and as the country is sure to be widely inhospitable in its present state, altho' the discovery of minerals and the dissemination of good fodder herbs and grasses will render every square mile of your whole territory sooner or later available for settlement.
Mr Giles has had from me or rather through me now £350.- .- for this expedition, a small part of which I have advanced myself, so as to give him no delay, it being important that he should be at Mount Olga2 before the end of April. He thus gets fairly provided this time, indeed far better than the last. As there is space for a dozen expeditions for many years to come, I trust his operations will not lessen the chances of your own explorers. Indeed what value can be an extensive territory to any state, unless it is mapped
Very regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
The map of Mr Giles's tracks, prepared in Adelaide reflects much credit on your Survey Office. The new plants of this expedition will be published this month in the 59th number of my "Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae."3
Please cite as “FVM-73-03-10a,” 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