From Edmond Marin La Meslée to Ferdinand von Mueller   6 June 1883

6 June [188]3¹

To

Baron Sir F. von Mueller K.C.M.G.

Dear Sir

I have been requested by the Hon. W. A. Brodribb to reply to your letter of the 23rd ultimo.² I beg to express the deep regret which is felt at your decision not to allow yourself to be nominated for the office of President of the Geographical Society of Australasia, at the same time the Society will be glad to obtain your services in the position you suggest in your letter.

In the Constitution of our Society, a copy of which I enclose, you will see that your views have been met on most important points. It provides for a Vice President & three members of the General Council in each associated province & it would be well if the Society were started at once & the Vice President & Committee [chosen]. I have already communicated on the subject with some Melbourne Gentlemen who wrote to me at the time I was engaged forming the Society & Messrs. Skene, Surveyor General, the Honble J. J. Casey, J. Shillinglaw, Secretary of the Central Board of Health, Robt Arrowsmith & Captain Pascoe³ of Queenscliff & Mr A. C. Macdonald the Surveyor & map publisher have already signified their desire to assist. They with yourself would form a good nucleus & if you could secure the services of Mr Byron Moore as Secretary & elect a local Council I am certain that the society would meet in Melbourne with the same amount of success as it did in Sydney where we commence with 230 members. We shall be glad if you will kindly cooperate in the way you suggest.

I remain, Dear Sir

Yours very faithfully

Marin La Meslée

Hon. [Secy] Survey Dept