From Ferdinand von Mueller to Hans Gundersen   27 Mar 1890¹

S. Yarra,²

27/3/90.

In reply to your letter, received this day, dear Consul,³ I would beg to point out, that in the Presidential Adress delivered at the Vic branch of the R. G. S. A.⁴ in Sept. last no definite statement was made, that the desired Australian subsidy of £5000.-.- was actually obtained, altho' in the Antarctic Committee's Report was alluded to a former willingness of the Vict. Government, to contribute to that sum, if the Governments of the other Colonies of Australia would likewise contribute. You will be aware, how anxious I was, that this subject should come before the intercolonial conference last month, but that this hope was not realized. I have written to the Hon. Dr. Agnew, a former Premier of Tasmania, to see whether the monetary promise from that Colony could be actually fixed. Further the President of the antarctic Committee wrote to the Hon. Sir John Hall in New Zealand, for trying to get subsidies from the Government there. I would advise, that no further arrangements are made for the present in Sweden, til we see, what aid we actually can reckon on from the several Austral. Governments. As the Australian Association for the Advancement of science will meet next year in New Zealand, we must make a strong effort there for furthering antarctic researches, that colony being so much interested in it through geogr. position. After all these vain endeavours here, it may perhaps be best to try, how far united aid of Baron Dickson and Commandeur Foyn may be able, to bring a reconnoitering in the far south for steam whaling about, — with a hope, that the Australian Governments will reward the enterprise then.

With regardful remembrance your

Ferd. von Mueller

Consul General H. Gunderson &c. &c.⁵