Guide to the Papers of Robert Brown (as filmed by the AJCP)
M1193, M2494-M2496
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Online Items
Fonds Add MSS 32439-32441. Robert Brown Papers, 1800 - 1854
Series Add MS 32439. Correspondence, 1793 - 1812
The subject-matter of the correspondence includes Brown's appointment as naturalist on the Investigator in 1801 (ff. 24-44), the exploration of the southern coast of Australia (ff. 45-66), botanical discoveries made during the voyage and at New South Wales in 1802-1803 (ff. 67-79), the exploration of the northern coasts (ff. 80-97), the decision of the naturalists to remain in N.S.W. in July 1803 (ff. 98-102), the loss of the Porpoise (f. 127), MacArthur's views on the wool industry (f. 140), botanical discoveries in Tasmania in 1804 (f. 146) and in N.S.W. (f. 162), the return of Brown and F. Bauer to England in 1805 (ff. 183-88), Brown's correspondence with Sir James Smith, 1806-1827 (ff. 190-233), Sir Joseph Banks' summary of the work of Brown and Bauer (ff. 237-45), M. Flinders' captivity at Mauritius (ff. 256-67), the drawings of Bauer (f. 288), Brown's work in describing and classifying his botanical discoveries, the release of Flinders (ff. 330-35), the publication of the Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae in 1810 (f. 340), the botanical and ornithological work of G. Caley in N.S.W. (ff. 349,361), Flinders' discoveries concerning the magnetic needle (ff. 353-70)...
Series Add MS 32440. Correspondence, 1813 - 1825
Filmed selectively.
G. Caley to Brown, 21 January 1814 (Item ff.27-28)
Sir Joseph Banks' attitude to sale of his collection; American threat to N.S.W.
M. Flinders to Brown, 1 April 1814 (Item ff.31-32)
Illness; requests papers on calculs found in human bladder.
O. Swartz (Stockholm) to Brown, 4 October 1814 (Item ff.50-51)
Acknowledges Bauer's drawings; botanical matters.
G. Caley to Brown, 8 June 1815 (Item ff.83-84)
Offers specimens; British Museum; discoveries in N.S.W.
G. Caley to Brown, 27 July 1815 (Item ff.85-86)
Wishes to return to N.S.W.; Brown's visit to Manchester.
G. Caley to Brown, 5 November 1815 (Item ff.89-90)
Transport of specimens from Manchester to London.
W.J. Hooker to Brown, 9 November 1815 (Item ff.95-96)
Acknowledges Prodromus and Bauer's drawings; work on mosses.
A. de St. Hilaire (Paris) to Brown, 10 November 1815 (Item ff.97-98)
Praises Prodromus; botanical matters.
—(Gibralta) to J. Horsburgh, 15 February 1816 (Item ff.103-4)
Interest in publications on Tahitian languages; relations between Pacific Islanders and Europeans.
G. Caley to Brown, 23 February 1816 (Item ff.105-6)
Delays in sending specimens; crossing of Blue Mountains and discovery of Macquarie River.
O. Swartz to Brown, 20 May 1818 (Item ff.183-84)
Acknowledges New Holland work and other publications.
A.B. Lambert to Brown, 13 July 1818 (Item ff.192-93)
Progress with plants; receipt of seeds from Australia.
G. Caley (St. Vincent) to Brown, 29 September 1818 (Item ff.198-99)
J. Oxley's discovery of Lachlan River; West Indian specimens.
Sir Stanford Raffles (Penang) to Brown, 4 March 1819 (Item ff.222-23)
Specimens to be collected by Jack at Sumatra.
G. Caley to Brown, 6 March 1819 (Item ff.224-25)
Sends seeds; problems in N.S.W. with departure from Phillip's plan.
A. Cunningham (Sydney) to Brown, 29 March 1819 (Item ff.228-31)
Specimens collected west of Blue Mountains; wide dispersal of plants; Brown's Prodromus; proposed journey to north coast.
G. Caley to Brown, 21 July 1819 (Item ff.242-43)
Specimens attacked by insects; establishment of botanic gardens.
G. Caley to Brown, 3 April 1820 (Item ff.260-61)
Oxley's discoveries in N.S.W. and theory of inland sea; Pt. Macquarie.
A. Cunningham to Brown, 1 May 1820 (Item ff.264-67)
Despatch of specimens; visit to N.S.W. of Russian naturalists; P.P. King's voyage to north coast; J.T. Bigge.
A. Cunningham to Brown, 12 June 1820 (Item ff.270-71)
King's impending voyage; interview with J.T. Bigge; establishment of Sydney Botanical Gardens.
Series Add MS 32441. Correspondence, 1826 - 1858
Filmed selectively.
A.T. Brongniart (Paris) to Brown, 23 January 1826 (Item ff.1-2)
Brown's memoir on plants discovered on P.P. King's voyage; botanical research.
S.N. Casstrom (Stockholm) to Brown, 14 April 1826 (Item ff.5-6)
Naming of plants collected by Sparrman in South Sea Islands.
C. de Martius (Munich) to Brown, 15 May 1831 (Item ff.145-46)
Acknowledges Supplement to Florae Nova Hollandae.
C. de Martius to Brown, 8 August 1831 (Item ff.151-53)
Exchange of publications; refers to J. Lhotsky.
P. Neill to Brown, 2 November 1831 (Item ff.157-58)
Tasmanian plants; acknowledge Supplement to Prodromus.
G. Macleay (Sydney) to Brown, 22 March 1832 (Item ff.169-71)
Introduces C. Sturt; publication of Sturt's journals; friends in N.S.W.
J. Mitchell to Brown, 22 October 1833 (Item ff.222-23)
Sends specimens; loss of land grant in N.S.W.
Brown to W.T. Aiton, 26 October 1835 (Item ff.292-93)
Salary of naturalist on Captain Beechey's voyage.
P.P. King (Penrith) to Brown, 28 October 1835 (Item ff.298-99)
Search for R. Cunningham; appointment of curator of botanical gardens; growth of Sydney; formation of Patriotic Association.
T.L. Mitchell (Sydney) to Brown, 11 November 1835 (Item ff.302-3)
Sends specimens from River Darling.
A. Cunningham (Sydney) to Brown, 16 May 1839 (Item ff.334-35)
Retirement from botanical gardens; expedition to New Zealand; illness.
W. Griffith to Brown, 12 October 1841 (Item ff.359-60)
Appointment to Malacca; botanical discoveries.
Sir Robert Inglis to Sir Robert Peel, 10 February 1843 (Item ff.377-78)
Claims of Mrs M. Flinders to pension.
R.C. Gunn (Launceston) to Brown, 30 November 1843 (Item ff.[?]5-98)
Despatch of specimens; departure of Sir John Franklin; J.C. Bicheno.
R.C. Gunn to Brown, 8 May 1844 (Item ff.404-5)
Despatch of sponges; skins sent to Sir William Hooker; criticism of British Museum; plants collected at Glenelg River.
W. Clelland (Calcutta) to Brown, 3 June 1845 (Item f.413)
Death of W. Griffith; disposal of his collection.
J.C. Bicheno (Hobart) to Brown, 7 September 1846 (Item ff.418-20)
Dispatch of specimens from Flinders Island; changes in convict system; failings of Governor Eardley-Wilmot.
Brown to Admiral Beaufort, 8 March 1847 (Item ff.424-26)
Career of M. Flinders; claim of widow for pension.
Rev. W.B. Clarke (Sydney) to Brown, 20 October 1849 (Item ff.452-53)
Geological specimens collected by Sir Thomas Mitchell; discovery of copper, lead, gold; Californian gold rushes.
P.P. King (Sydney) to Brown, 24 June 1853 (Item ff.464-65)
Possibility of pension for Mrs Flinders from N.S.W. Government; King and Macleay families.
Fonds. Robert Brown Papers, 1800 - 1855
Series I. Botany Library: Correspondence
Correspondence, 1807 - 3 June 1850 (File Vol. 1)
Filmed selectively.
T.G. Azaola (Manila) to Brown, 15 November 1845 (Item f.14)
Acknowledges pamphlet; undertakes to procure specimens.
Sir Joseph Banks. Statement on preparations for second voyage of Capt. J. Cook and withdrawal of Banks. (4pp.) (Item f.17)
J.C. Bicheno (Hobart) to Brown, 1844 - 1848 (Item ff.54-61)
Collecting of botanical specimens; acknowledges publications; R.C. Gunn; despatch of fossil woods from Flinders Island; lamentable state of Hobart botanical gardens; pamphlet by Sir John Franklin on his Governorship; character of Sir John Eardley Wilmot and his clash with Bishop F.R. Nixon; meetings with Sir Everard Home; dismissal of Eardley Wilmot; appointment of Government Naturalist; improvements in communications. (7 letters and program of funeral of Eardley Wilmot, 10 Feb. 1847)
Rev. W. Buckland to Brown, 7 March 1844 (Item f.99)
Government grant for publication of work on botany of Antarctic by J.D. Hooker.
Brown to Rev. W. Buckland, 11 March 1844 (Item f.100)
Proposed publication of work on botany of Antarctic.
G. Caley to J. Dickson, 1807 - 1817 (Item ff.109-12)
Despatch of botanical specimens for Brown and Sir Joseph Banks; refers to book on N.S.W. by J. White; work on birds. (4 letters, faint)
A. Cunningham to Brown, 17 September 1831 (Item f.122)
Despatch of plants collected at Norfolk Island.
R. Graham (Edinburgh) to Brown, 27 January 1845 (Item f.180)
Financial difficulties; losses incurred on investments in Australia.
G. Grey (Adelaide) to Brown, 1841 - 1843 (Item ff.196-98)
Sends botanical specimens from King George's Sound and South Australia; introduces explorer E.J. Eyre; sends seeds from tropical Australia. (3 letters)
Brown to Eliza Grey, n.d. (Item f.199)
Acknowledges plants and seeds; South Australian plants; G.F. Angus about to visit Australia. (draft)
Eliza Grey (Adelaide) to Brown, 10 June 1845 (Item f.200)
Despatch of plants and seeds; G.F. Angus and his paintings.
Sir Everard Home (Hongkong) to Brown, 15 January 1843 (Item f.218)
Sends plants from Chusan; imminent departure for Singapore and Port Essington.
Sir Everard Home to Brown, 12 January 1847 (Item f.219)
Sends wood found below high water mark at Auckland and Bay of Islands.
Sir Everard Home to Brown, 3 June 1850 (Item f.221)
Appointment to Australian Station; requests suggestions for botanical searches.
Sir William Hooker to Brown, 18 December (Item f.252)
Introduces Dr Sinclair, proceeding to Australia on convict ship; wishes to carry out botanical searches.
Lord Minto to Sir William Hooker, 4 January 1844 (Item f.260)
Publication of Antarctic researches of J.D. Hooker; recommends direct appeal for funds to Sir Robert Peel.
P.M. Roget to Sir William Hooker, 11 January 1844 (Item f.261)
Suggests application be made to Royal Society regarding publication of Antarctic researches of J.D. Hooker.
Sir William Hooker to Brown, 24 January 1844 (Item f.262)
Sends correspondence on publication of Antarctic researches.
Sir William Hooker to Brown, 18 February 1846 (Item f.270)
Payment for Drummond's set of Swan River plants.
Correspondence, 10 December 1805 - 1854 (File Vol. 2)
Filmed selectively.
Capt. P.P. King (London, Sydney) to Brown, 1824 - 1854 (Item ff.3-13)
Paper by A. Cunningham; arrangements for meeting; transmission of specimens; introduces W. Macarthur; Paris Exhibition; Eureka uprising; Sir Charles Fitzroy; W. Macleay. (11 letters)
A. Macleay (London, Sydney) to Brown, 1814 - 1841 (Item ff.74-77)
Brown's Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae; introduces T. Harington. (3 letters and reply)
Miss Macleay (Sydney) to J.-P. Gaimard, 18 December 1826 (Item f.78)
Best wishes for voyage of Astrolabe.
W. Macleay (London, Sydney) to Brown, 1824 - 1854 (Item ff.79-84)
Arrival in Australia in 1839; crops; weakening influence of emancipists; divisions in Sydney society; collecting of crustacea and insects; garden at Elizabeth Bay; Lieut. J. Wilkes; A. Macleay; journey to Macleay River; introduces W. Macarthur; growth of Sydney. (6 letters)
G. Macleay (Sydney) to Brown, 7 August 1848 (Item f.85)
Death of father; relations with W. Macleay...
J. Mitchell (Wooler) to Brown, 22 August 1831 (Item f.122)
Mental trouble incurred on voyage to N.S.W.; botanical studies; sends Flora of Berwickshire by G. Johnston.
W. Nicol (Edinburgh) to Brown, 1 December 1834 (Item f.143)
Analysis of specimens of Australian wood.
Sir Stamford Raffles to Brown, n.d. (Item ff.162-65)
Examination of plants from East Indies; seeds from Java; arrangements for meeting. (4 letters)
A. Richard (Paris) to Brown, 30 December 1814 (Item f.179)
Introduces Roman Catholic missionary De Montrouzir travelling to Australia and New Guinea. (French)
T.E. Smith (Norwich) to Brown, 10 December 1805 (Item f.220)
Welcome on return to England; Smith's work on New Holland plants.
C. Stokes to Brown, 28 August 1834 (Item f.243)
Offer of Bishop W. Broughton to take articles to N.S.W. for A. Macleay.
Correspondence, December 1800 - 1854 (File Vol. 3)
Filmed selectively.
W. H. de Vriese (Amsterdam) to Brown, 19 April 1843 (Item f.33)
Collection of East Indies plants. (French)...
Correspondence concerning arrangements for Australian voyage, December 1800 - March 1801 (Item ff.100-15)
Letters of Col. J. Durham, Lt.Col. T. Durham, H.Chirton, Sir Joseph Banks, E. Cooke and Brown referring to Brown's detention in Ireland, his appointment as naturalist on H.M.S. Investigator, and his hope of retaining his ensigncy during his absence...
Correspondence concerning Australian expedition, September 1803 - May 1806 (Item ff.116-27)
Letters of Capt. P. G. King, Capt. M. Flinders, Sir Joseph Banks and Brown referring to wreck of Porpoise, botanical riches of south coast, plans to visit Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island, storage of specimens on H.M.S. Investigator, plants deposited on H.M.S. Calcutta; Brown's ill-health, disappearance of G. Bass, unusual specimens, summary of botanical specimens collected by Brown in Australia, cost of transporting collections from Liverpool to London, work of Flinders on astronomy during voyage...
Correspondence concerning pension awarded to Ann Flinders, 1847 - 1854 (Item ff.132-48)
Letters of Sir Francis Beaufort, Sir Everard Home, Ann Flinders, Ann Petrie, W. Petrie and Brown referring to Brown's efforts to secure pension for Ann Flinders, award of pensions by N.S.W. and Victorian Parliaments, search for tombstone of Capt. M. Flinders, erection of tablet to Flinders and his wife in parish church, and assistance of Capt. P.P. King in N.S.W.
Series. Supplementary Correspondence, 26 November 1806 - 7 January 1855
Filmed selectively.
W. Aiton to Brown, 27 November 1827 (File f.3)
Sends plants collected by A. Cunningham in New Zealand.
J. Arnold (Yarmouth) to Brown, 15 June 1817 (File f.5)
Application to accompany Sir Stanford Raffles to Sumatra.
A. Cunningham (Parramatta) to Brown, 16 July 1822 (File f.59)
Voyage to north-west Australia with Capt. P.P. King; despatch of plants; suggests genus be named after King; opening of interior of N.S.W.; C. Fraser; plans for exploration...
A. Cunningham to Brown, 21 February 1833 (File f.60)
Sends specimens of woods of Norfolk Island; W.J. Hooker.
J. Drummond (Swan River) to Brown, 6 January 1833 (File f.75)
Description of rare orchid; unable to identify its genus.
Brown to R. C. Gunn, 8 September 1844 (File f.107)
Acknowledges dichytodorous plants of Van Diemen's Land and fossil woods; sends publications. (draft)...
R. C. Gunn (Launceston) to Brown, 27 January 1845 (File f.108)
Acknowledges publications; Gunn's isolation; collecting of specimens in Van Diemen's Land; journey on foot to Macquarie Harbour.
Capt. P. P. King to Brown, March 1825 (File f.150)
Sends list of specimens collected by A. Cunningham on voyage.
Capt. J. Mangles to Brown, n.d. (File f.168)
Sends list of plants collected on voyage to Swan River.
K.F. Meisner (Basel) to Brown, 7 January 1855 (File f.174)
Sends observations on Australian Protecea; hopes paper will be published by Linnean Society.
J. Milligan (Flinders Island) to J. Bicheno, 25 March 1845 (File)
Plants for Brown collected at Macquarie Harbour; exploration of Flinders Island.
T. L. Mitchell (Sydney) to Brown, 28 November 1832 (File f.181)
Despatch of plants; account of expedition into interior of N.S.W.; woods; list of plants. (8 pp.)...
T. L. Mitchell (London) to Brown, 5 December 1837 (File f.182)
Despatch of grasses from interior of N.S.W.; bulbs.
Sir Thomas Mitchell to Brown, 11 May (File f.184)
Preparations for departure; offers to take articles for W. Macleay.
L. Preiss (Herzberg) to Brown, 9 November 1845 (File f.197)
Offers for sale collection of Western Australian plants; encloses printed description.
J. Sims to Brown, 26 November 1806 (File f.219)
Publication of New Holland plants in Botanical Magazine.
Series. Numbered Manuscripts, 1801 - 1804
Filmed selectively.
Diary of travels in Australia, 14 June 1801 - 28 October 1804 (File MSS. 1)
Original diary, very rough in places, although including fair copy of some sections. Detail varies, with very brief entries for 1801 and no entries for period May 1803-Jan. 1804. Contains many lists of plants and also aboriginal word lists...
Herbaruim Novae Hollandiae, 1801 - 1804 (File MSS. 2)
Loose sheets containing botanical notes arranged by family...
Descriptionum plantarum Novae Hollandiae (File MSS. 3)
16 notebooks, partly in pencil and sometimes very faint. Many of the entries are dated. Includes an index...
Flora vicinitatis Port Jackson, N.C. Australis incluso Hunter River (File MSS. 4)
Loose sheets containing botanical notes arranged by family...
Series Box 1. Miscellaneous Manuscripts, 6 September 1804 - 1 May 1830
Filmed selectively.
New and doubtful species in collection of plants formed by Charles Fraser during second expedition into interior of N.S.W. to trace Macquarie River. (8 pp.) (File)
List of Capt. Sturt's collection of plants formed in his recent expedition into north-west interior of New Holland. (7 pp.) (File)
W. Baxter to Brown, 6 February 1826 (File)
Plans to spend 12 months at King George's Sound; discovery of new plants.
W. Baxter. List of plants collected on south-west coast of New Holland chiefly near King George's Sound. Received (38 pp.), 23 April 1830 (File)
Series. Unnumbered Manuscripts, January 1800 - June 1848
Filmed selectively.
Journal kept in Ireland, January 1800 - January 1801 (File a)
And at commencement of voyage to Australia, 14 June-3 Oct. 1801
Journal (pages 125-159) (Item ff.125-59)
Account of arrival at Portsmouth with W. Westall and F. Bauer; collecting of plants near Portsmouth and on Isle of Wight; examination of Australian plants collected by Sir Joseph Banks; readings in mineralogy, chemistry and mathematics; departure from Portsmouth (18 July 1801); readings of works by J. Cook, M. Flinders, G. Forster, G. Cuvier, J. Labillardiere; landing at island of Bujia; visit to Funchal; observations of birds.
List of sketches of plants and animals make during voyage of H.M.S Investigator and at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island by F. Bauer, with annotations by Brown. (64 pp.) (File d)
C. Sturt to Brown, February 1848 - June 1848 (File i)
Plants collected on journey into interior of Australia; progress with book; nomenclature of plants. (3 letters).
Series. Mineralogical Library, 1802 - 1803
R. Brown. Manuscript catalogues of Australian fossils, [ MS. I (94) BRO ]
Catalogue of fossils collected on the east coast of New Holland, Gulf of Carpentaria and Prince of Wales Island, (42 pp.), 1802 (File Envelope 1/1)
Collections from Herveys Bay, Keppel Bay, Shoal Bay, Broad Sound, Northumberland Islands, Cumberland Islands, Prince of Wales Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Groot Eylandt, Melville Bay, Timor.