10 June 1891
….. If private contributions are now very energetically collected the funds for obtaining two ships (& all their equipment) may be considered as secured, especially as Sir Thomas Elder has, according to letters received by me within the last few days, taken a most generous interest in the undertaking.
It is important that the funds should be collected — both the Government subsidy and private subscriptions — during this month (June), to enable us to telegraph through the Swedish Consulate at Melbourne, that at least £15000 are actually secured for the equipment of two ships. Baron Nordenskjold can then during July-October get his ships overhauled and make all other preparations during the northern Winter, so that the ships may start from Sweden next March and be during next June in Australia, in August at Macquarie Island and during Septr-February 1892/93 in the Antarctic sea.
I hope to overcome any difficulties in New Zealand and South Australia, Western Australia has already made promises. Would you also inform the Honble Mr Mereweather how affairs now stand in consequence of the magnanimous offer of Sir Thomas Elder. The more funds we have the better. Could the Australian Native Association get from each of its member one shilling? Such an identification with this undertaking would exercise an influence on Parliamentary candidates.2
Leibius, in his letter to Mann, stated that he would bring the matter raised by M before the Council of the Royal Society of NSW on 24 June: 'I am much afraid however that it is scarcely possible to collect all the funds required during this month of June, especially in the face of the electioneering excitement’. (An election was to be held in NSW over several days in late June and early July 1891.)
Leibius's letter was read at General and Administrative Council meetings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (NSW Branch) on 26 June and 3 July 1891. At the latter meeting, 'The Hony Secretary was requested to communicate with Dr Leibius and to express the entire sympathy of this Council with Baron Von Mueller in his endeavours to forward this matter' (ML MSS.774/1, minute book 1890-8).
A shorter extract was included in the report of the meeting of the Royal Society of NSW on 1 July 1891, Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 25, p. 305 (B91.13.24).
Please cite as “FVM-91-06-10,” 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 5 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/91-06-10