Edmond Marie Marin la Meslee born in France, 1852 arrived in Melbourne in 1876 where he became private secretary to the French Consul-General for Australia, comte de Castelnau, F. Laporte. He travelled the outback and published his L'Australie nouvelle (1883). He was primarily responsible for founding the Geographical Society of Australasia. Active in government and cultural circles he was a propagandist for Australia in France and was interested in the growth of Australian nationality. A regular contributor to various French language journals in France and Australia. On 17 December 1893 he and his Australian wife were accidentally drowned when the Ripple capsized in Sydney Harbour. They were survived by three sons. This concert was much advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald and attended by those who gave their patronage to the concert. Two hundred pounds was raised.