To Malcolm Fraser   28 January 1889

28/1/89

 

Allow me to enquire, dear Sir Malcolm, whether the Government of WA. would like to avail itself for a year or two of the services of Dr von Lendenfeld for the investigation of the lower marine animals of your coast.1 This energetic and accomplished Naturalist has just completed his grand works on the Medusae and the sponges of other parts of the Australian shores,2 yours remaining extensively uninvestigated. So important are his researches, that the Royal Society of London voted £300 towards the cost of printing his illustrations. His employment there, would enrich much your Museum, and place the Colony more in communication with men of sciences abroad. Dr v. Lendenfeld is just free of engagements; but may any moment get a call to an University. For the completion of his last works he has been staying with an uncle, who is a nobleman in Austria. A few hundred £ would suffice for a years salary; instruments he has himself. So the whole cost would not likely exceed £500 for a years work on your shores.

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.3

1
Earlier M had recommended von Lendenfeld for a position in Sydney; see M to A. Stephen, 25 November 1885.
2
Lendenfeld (1887), (1888) (1889).
3
On 13 February 1889 Fraser sent a minute to the Governor, F. Broome: 'no doubt it would be very interesting to have further knowledge of the "lower marine animals". We have some good specimens of the "Teredo navalis" in the sternpost of the "Meda" — I believe — but whilst putting Baron Von Mueller's letter before Your Excellency I am unable to advocate any action. Geology and Mineralogy are two branches of Science useful immediately to us, but a grand work on Medusae and Sponges will not profit us at this date.' Broome replied on 16 February: 'Reply courteously that we are not in a position at present to avail ourselves of this offer. F.N.B.' See M. Fraser to M, 18 February 1889.

Please cite as “FVM-89-01-28,” 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 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/89-01-28