[At the recent meeting of the Commissioners of the International Exhibition,1 a communication was read from Baron Sir Ferdinand Von Mueller stating that he had received a letter from Baron McClay,2 the antropologist,3 who is at present in Queensland, suggesting the propriety of the Commissioners having some of the various native tribes in Australasia brought to the Exhibition, and intimating the readiness of the Queensland Government to bear their share of the expense. In forwarding a copy of Baron McClay's letter to the Commission, Sir Ferdinand pointed out, that providing the Governments of the several colonies were prepared to pay the expense of maintaining the blacks while here and of returning them to their habitation on the closing of the exhibition the proposal was worth consideration. It would prevent4 perhaps the only opportunity which anthropogists5 in Victoria would have of seeing and studying the races now inhabiting this continent and its adjacent islands.]6
Commissioners organising the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880-81, 1 October 1880 – 30 April 1881.
Letter not found.
Typesetter's error for anthropologist?
Typesetter's error for present?
Typesetter's error for anthropologist?
The article concluded with the comment: 'Considering the great interest which attaches to these fast expiring races of man, we think it a pity the Commissioners did not see their way to carry out the suggestion.'
Letter not found. The text given here is from a report in Record and Emerald Hill and Sandridge Advertiser, 24 September 1880, p. 3. The item is dated to September as the latest date it could have been written to be read at the meeting of the Commission held on 11 September 1880 (Leader (Victoria), 18 September 1880, p. 21).
Please cite as “FVM-80-09-00a,” 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