From Ferdinand von Mueller to Henry Parkes   4 Aug 1891

Melbourne,

4 Aug. 1891.

To the honorable

Sir Henry Parkes, G.C.M.G.

Premier of NSW &c &c

It is with profound feelings of gratitude, dear Sir Henry, that I learnt from Mr Wolff, how generously you were inclined towards the forthcoming Swedish-Australian Expediton to the south-polar regions, in promising to ask the Parliament of your great colony to vote fully £2000 for this important enterprise, and in your deciding to bring this proposition very early before the legislative Assembly there.¹ Not only is your enlightenedness to be recognized as a sentiment representative of New South Wales, but it will also have the effect of accelerating the aid of those Australian Governments, which as yet have the claims for such a grand science-exploration and for such a promising access to Australian industrial developments under consideration in a truely federal spirit.

In the deepest gratitude and with the best expressions of regard,

I remain, dear Sir Henry,

yours

Ferd. von Mueller