From Thomas Hatton Richards1    19 March 1890

Government House

British New Guinea

19th March 18902

 

S.S. "Merrie England"

Dauan3

My dear Baron von Mueller

I little thought when talking to you at the University ball in the Melbourne Town Hall last July,4 about Sir William MacGregor's ascent of Mount Owen Stanley, that I should so soon have an opportunity of joining him as Private Secretary, which I did a month afterwards. I have often intended to write to you but we have been so busy travelling and exploring5 that I fear I have sorely neglected many friends. Since I have been up here I have become quite an explorer which by the way reminds me you kindly proposed me as a member of the F.R.G.S. I suppose my wanderings here would remove any difficulty.6 I suffer from fever a good deal but the work of exploring a new country is very interesting. The Fly River is very wonderful. We have just returned from an expedition past our Boundary. We went inside the Dutch Possession 9 miles. On this last trip we came across a new river up which we got 120 miles deep fresh water all the way. We discovered a new Palm there of which I took two photographs a copy of which I will send you when printed as no doubt you will find it interesting.7 I could write very much more of our travels but time presses.

The enclosed letter was found in one of the large envelopes you lent Sir William to put specimens in. I forward it to you in case you may want it for record.8

A case of specimens is going down to you by this week’s steamer. Captain Hennessy desires me to tell you that the Seeds about which he telegraphed to you9 were delayed in transmission through the Agents Office, but it is hoped they have reached you by this time.

Mr Chalmers sends his kind regards to you.

I know your time is much taken up, but if ever you have a few minutes to spare I should be very glad to hear from you. And please be sure and let me know at any time if I can be of any use in doing anything for you.

Hoping you are quite well

Believe me

Sincerely yours

T.H. Hatton Richards

1
Front of sheet annotated by M: Answ 4/4/90. Letter not found.
2
Printed letterhead paper; second 8 deleted in printed ‘188’.
3
Dauan Island, Torres Strait (9o 27' S, 142o 32' E.).
4
16 July 1889 (Argus, 17 July 1889, p. 7 col. d).
5
The initial letter of words beginning with ‘e’ may be have been written as a capital letter; they have not been so transcribed unless the context requires it.
6
See nomination certificate dated 19 May 1990.
7
Photograph not found.
8
Letter not identified.
9
Telegram not found.

Please cite as “FVM-90-03-19,” 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 24 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/90-03-19