S. F. Balser
Great Northern Hotel
Cooktown1
10/10/88
My dear Baron,
I have received your two letters.2
I only saw Dr McGregor for a few minutes & had not an opportunity of laying the matter you mention before him. I understand he is anxious to attempt the ascent of Mount Owen Stanley3 & had arranged to do so last month but the [...] rush called him away very hurriedly. How would it do for you to arrange with him, either to assist him in his expedition or to be allowed to have a collector as one of the party. I hope myself to do more exploration next season but cannot at present decide. I must first have an interview with the Administrator & know from him what he is likely to do
Rest assured my dear Baron that I shall make collections in all my future travels for your benefit.
In assisting the Administrator or in giving a collector £500 would go a long way
Your kindness in thinking of me is great but I cannot at present say what my movements may be.
The expenditure of money in New Guinea exploration with very poor results has been exceedingly great & I should be sorry to encourage more unless there was every reason to believe in equivalent results.
The Veitch Collector has not yet done any Highland travelling & I do not think has done much drying of Lowland plants.
Thanks for information re preserving.
I wish I could see your Exhibition4 but must return at once.
I got married last Saturday.
Kindest regards
yours most truly
James Chalmers
Man of war officers ought to be able to give you great help. Try Admiral Fairfax. I shall speak to those I meet.
Please cite as “FVM-88-10-10,” 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