To Alexander Macdonald   29 December 1886

29/12/86

 

It was almost anticipated by me, dear Mr Macdonald, that we should be unable to get printing done at the Gov. office, I being aware, that all means there are heavily taxed by Parliamentary and Routine-work. If we can get a good number of subscribers, we can then also print independently, as you now endeavour to do.1 A good canvasser is still wanted.

The three short papers of Mr Roberts, Mr Sayer and Mr Dittrich for our January-meeting will be of a variety of interest. Mr Giles will be the main one; but I have not yet heard of him; perhaps you have.2

It seems to me, that the governments of S.A. and of W.A. should be asked to provide the comparatively small fund, as both territorily are interested in the country NW of Lake Amadeus. The best plan of Mr Giles would be to write us a letter to our Council which we could make speedily the base of communications to Adelaide and Perth.3 As we have now a Royal Charter,4 we will have to make some strenuous efforts in our branch also with advancing the antartic cause, ere the season gets too far advanced for next summers work. Could we have fortnightly meetings? My room would be always at the disposal of the joint Committee, and my dwelling is near two omnibus-lines. We might sometimes also meet at your place, if your kind Lady's household is not too much disturbed thereby. I am sure, there will be always be work every alternate week, to carry the antarctic proposition timely through.

With best wishes for New Year

Ferd. von Mueller.

1
The Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia failed to publish a volume of Transactions for over a year at this time.
2
The Society did not meet in January 1887. The next meeting was held on 17 February, at which Ernest Giles read a paper entitled ‘Past explorations in Central Australia and suggestions for further explorations north and west’. In addition, J. F. Roberts ‘read notes on a recent tour through New Caledonia’, while papers by W. Sayers and J. Banner [Bulmer? — see M to A. Macdonald, 4 January 1887] were postponed until the next meeting (Argus, 18 February 1887, p. 3). As a result of the hiatus in the publication of the Victorian Branch’s Transactions, none of these papers were ever published.
3
Giles' proposed expedition eventually proceeded in 1889, not under his leadership but that of William Tietkens.
4
The Geographical Society of Australasia was granted the prefix 'Royal' in a letter from the Colonial Secretary, Lord Stanhope, dated 18 October 1886.

Please cite as “FVM-86-12-29,” 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 16 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/86-12-29