Perth
26th Oct 78
My dear Baron
I leave here in a month for the Grey River.1 I am then to explore the whole of the watershed on the North Coast2 as far as Port Darwin. This will be a very interesting trip & valuable results no doubt will accrue from this Expt3
I am sorry you have not the means of paying a Botanist.4 I have sent to Melbourne for a practical miner who knows something of Geology[.]5 I shall write to you before I leave giving you more detail of the proposed Expt perhaps you might be able to give me some information of the Northern Territory as you were on Mr Gregory's Expt.6 were the natives at all troublesome & other particulars. I send you a whole lot of plants collected on the Cane & Ashburton Rivers7 which no doubt will be interesting to you
About your land I am afraid the Govt. will not approve of your application as they no doubt will lay it out in Suburban lots8 As soon as I know for certain I will telegraph to you. Mr Whitefield offered me from 6/ to 7/- per acre. I have not much faith in the land about Perth it is so very poor however you may rest assured we will do our best for you My sister in law is writing to you,9 she has been several times to Mr Goldsworthy about your lands. You must however either select or sell before the end of the year.
You say that you want land for your widow. So you are going to join the happy state.10 I wish you every happiness. I was sorry to hear that you had been laid up. Saw Mr Brown11 who has gone on to Champion's Bay.
I remain
My Dear Baron
Yours sincerely
Alex Forrest
Please cite as “FVM-78-10-26,” 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 26 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/78-10-26