Botanical Discovery.-] DTTRODTJCTORI ESSAY. CXXH1 
This extraordinary journey is second in paint of interest ami extent of unknown country traversed 
to Leichardt's only, and, unlike his, is no less fruitful of results in a botanical than in a geographical 
point of view. The energies of Dr. Mueller were here taxed to the uttermost; and the collections 
and botanical observations which were continuously and systematically made throughout the journey 
were brought safe to Sydney, and abound in novelty and interest. These have been sent to Kew, 
and a set retained for the herbarium at Melbourne. An excellent account of the vegetation of tro- 
pical Australia was drawn up by Dr. Mueller,* and communicated to the LinnjBSD 
published in its Journal (vol. ii. p. 137), and many of the plants discovered have been published by 
himself in that work, in the 'Kew Journal of Botany/ and in the 'Transactions of the Victoria 
Institute.' 
It would be beyond the object of this sketch to enter into more detail upon Dr. Mueller's publi- 
cations, which will be found in his 'Reports' alluded to, in the pages of the Transactions of the Phi- 
losophical Society and Pharmaceutical Societies of Victoria, in the ' Linmea/ in the ' Kew Journal ot 
Botany/ and in the ' Journal of the Linnsean Society of London/ 
Mr. Babbage's expedition to the countries around and north-east of Lake Torrens was under- 
taken in 1858. Mr. Babbage Mas accompanied by a plant-collector, Mr. David llergolt, who seems 
to have made a good herbarium, especially considering the desert nature ol the country. 1 he re- 
sults are published in a separate Report on the Botany of the Expedition, by Dr. Mueller (\ tOtoria, 
1869). 
In 1858, an Expedition under Mr. A. C. Gregory was despatched from Morcton Hay to discover 
traces of the unfortunate Dr. Leichardt, when collections were made by that officer along and near 
the Cooper's Kiver and its tributaries in subccntral Australia, which have been enumerated by Dr. 
Mueller in the official Report. 
III. COLONIAL BOTANISTS AND HAlinr.NS. 
The first Colonial Botanist of whom I have any information was Mr. Charles Fraser, who, as I 
am informed, was a soldier in the 73rd Regiment, then commanded by Lieut.-Col. M'Quarie. He was 
an indefatigable collector and explorer, and enriched the gardens of England by numberless plants. 
His collections of dried plants are, I believe, in the British Museum, and many are in the llookcrian 
Herbarium. He visited the Swan River in 1826-7, and Morcton Bay in 1828, and wrote excellent 
accounts of the vegetation of those districts (see Hook. Bot. Misc. vol. i. pp. 221 and 237}. Mr. Eraser 
also visited Tasmania, and established the Botanic Garden in Sydney. He died at the close of 1831 
or beginning of 1832. On Eraser's death, Mr. John M'Lcan became Acting Superintendent, and 
held that post till the arrival of R. Cunningham. 
Mr. Richard Cunningham was appointed in 1833, and was murdered in 1835 by the Blacks, 
when accompanying Major Mitchell's second journey (sec p. cxx.), when Mr. M'Lcan again became 
Acting Superintendent, and continued so till the arrival of Allan Cunningham in 183G, as men- 
tioned in the notice of his life (p. cxvi.). A. Cunningham soon after resigned, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. John Anderson, the botanical collector of Captain King's voyage to South America and 
survey of the Straits of Magelhaens, etc. It was on King's homeward voyage that Anderson was left 
at Sydney, where he made considerable collections, and held the appointment of Superintendent of the 
Garden till his death, when he was succeeded, in 1847, by Mr. Charles Moore, the present active 
* See page xxxix of tbis Essay. 
