27/5/81
I feel grateful, dear Sir Henry, that you will bring the proposition of a new search after Dr Leichhardts party under the consideration of your honorable colleagues.1 No official correspondence on the subject has arisen but with the Australian Governments, and it would seem best that each colony simply gave a grant, which I could disburse, rendering a public account of the expenditure. Should any disasters or other troubles arise, I alone would be responsible, and no new calls could be made for aid on any of the Governments. I corresponded with Sir Thomas Mitchell on Leichhardts fate as far back as 1849 from Adelaide,2 and ever since felt a deep interest in the lost expedition. A small camel-party now, with the overland telegraph as a base-line for operations ought to give us some clues of the expedition, or will at all events add to the geographic knowledge of Australia, from which all the colonies will benefit. Would it not be a pity, if the subsidies of South Australia and Queensland were also lost?
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Please cite as “FVM-81-05-27,” 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