From Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Strickland   [Nov 1885]1

[Sir Edward Strickland has received a letter from Baron Von Mueller, of Melbourne, stating that he had received a letter from the Rev W. G. Lawes, the society's agent at Port Moresby, in which it states that no news has been received there regarding the expedition.2 Baron Von Mueller expresses an opinion that the fears that that have arisen are groundless.]3

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Telegraphic news, Sydney, this day', 'Meeting of the Geographical Society', Herald (Melbourne), 13 November 1885, p. 3. The meeting had been convened to discuss matters affecting the Society's expedition to New Guinea. It is possible, but unlikely, that the letter was sent near the end of October, see note 2.

See W. Lawes to M, 20 October 1885 (in this edition as 85-10-20a). Earlier, a report had been received indicating that the expedition had been massacred while attempting to navigate the Fly River.

See also W. Armit to M, 12 November 1885 (in this edition as 85-11-12a); and M to E. Strickland, 21 November 1885.

Please cite as “FVM-85-11-00d,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/85-11-00d