5/8/85
From the papers I see, dear Mr Pulsford, that plants were despatched already by the Expedition from Thursday Island.1 Should they arrive, it would be best, to ask the Council of the Society, to have them forwarded in toto to me, as I could best separate the specimens into a set for Sydney and one for Melbourne and name the Sydney-set simultaneously here.
Regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller
In some instances the material may be so scanty, that a separation of the specimens in Sydney might impair the examination. The Sydney-set would be soon after receipt remitted, and I should like to know, whether in such a case it is to be forwarded to the technologic Museum or to the bot. Garden there.2
The Royal Geographical Society of Australasia's New Guinea exploring expedition. The newspaper report to which M refers has not been found. The plant specimens were collected on Thursday Island by W. Bäuerlen; see M to E. Strickland, 29 October1885.
Edward Strickland minuted M's letter: 'Mr Fitzpatrick | Be pleased to comply with the request of The Baron Von Mueller and report to me having done so'. J. J. C. Fitzpatrick was assistant secretary. There is a second annotation: 'Ansd. 7/8/85'. Letter not found.
Please cite as “FVM-85-08-05,” 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