This month’s letter is the only one in this collection that is from William Archer to Fr Julian Tenison Woods. In it Archer welcomes Fr Woods back to Australia after his sojourn in the Far East.
It was written from his home in Melbourne on the feast of Corpus Christi, 1886, and his words are warm and inviting—in anticipation of seeing his good friend once again. He makes it clear that he is eager to hear all about Fr Julian’s research and to encourage him to speak and write about his experiences.
This letter gives us a glimpse into how highly Fr Julian’s peers regarded him. Archer assures him that “all” would welcome him back. Word that he was laden with many specimens of natural history held the promise, no doubt, of many interesting debates.
Fr Julian’s heart must have been warmed when he received such an enthusiastic welcome home.
This month we present a twenty-first letter, written from Melbourne in 1886: