24/4/87.
Herewith, honored and dear Sir, I beg to send you manuscripts and specimens of two plants, new to your territory, trusting that the notes will prove acceptable to the L.S.1 of N.S.W. Perhaps you will allow me a look on the proof, before it is printed off.
Let me hope, that the L.S. of N.S.W. will join with the R.S. & RGS.,2 to recommend some support from your Government for the forthcoming contemplated antarctic expedition. The Premier of Victoria and his hon. Colleagues in the Ministry here view with favor the proposition, and would probably sanction a grant for the purpose, if the other colonies would also support the intended enterprise to some extent.
Midsummer would be the best time for the exploration of Mt. Seaview.3 It would not cost much to cut a mere track for pedestrians to the summit, as some of the settlements are not far from the mount. It seems extraordinary, that fully a century should have elapsed, ere this high Mt, (and yet comparatively so near the metropolis of N.S.W.4) became scaled. It must be also of entomol. interest, and may offer a new gold-field for the colony there.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Please cite as “FVM-87-04-24,” 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