Pr. McC. presents his Comps. to Mr. Bruce and begs to say in reply to his letter of the 17th1 that he quite understands the nature of his promise to Dr Mueller and also that he only promised half the Meteorite to the Melbourne Museum and Pr. McC. on the part of the Melb. Mus. certainly wished it to be understood that Mr Bruce's and Dr Mueller's views as to the division of the Meteorite were guaranteed by him. In accordance with Mr Bruce's former note in wh. he mentions his having given a promise to Dr Mueller and suggests that Pr McC. shd apply to Dr M. for permission to cut the Meteorite a mutual friend Mr Selwyn the Govt Geologist called on Dr M. and arranged with him that the meteorite shd be brought down at the expense of the museum and be cut after plaster casts were taken of it. His Ex. the Gov.2 has made a suggestion to Dr M. to the effect that if the Brit. Mus. purchase Abel's Meteorite & send it back for the Melb. Mus. there wd. be no necessity to cut the large one and this meeting the views of Dr M. wd probably be the most satisfactory solution of the difficulty for all parties3 and as Mr Bruce has put the management of the affair into Dr M's hands his wishes will be followed in the matter
N.M., M.4 21/2/62.
[James] Bruce Esqr
Cranbourne
Please cite as “FVM-M62-02-21,” 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