Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot & zool Garden,

24. July 1860

My dear Mr Bentham.

In reply to your very kind note, dated 8. May,

1

Letter not found.

I regret to say, that I have at the present moment no vote left available in this department (for 1860) from which I could effect the purchase of the valuable collection, which so considerately you are offering to our herbarium. I would readily purchase it myself, had I not recently incurred many expenses privately to increase our Australian Collection. My income is but small & whatever I was able to safe out of it after the expenses of the simplest domestic life, I have always devoted to the increase of my library & collection.

If our estalishment enjoys sufficient support from Government to render the increase of our herbarium by purchase possible in 1861, I will endeavour to attach to it also the Sprucean collections,

2

Richard Spruce had been collecting plants in South America from 1849 and Bentham prepared them for sale and distribution (D. Porter (1996)).

which have so much higher value since you bestowed so much care on their elaboration, altho' to an Australian Botanist, as you know best, plants from the eastern hemisphere are of infinintely higher value than those from the western. It was a source of delight to me, that the highest scientific association has so deservedly acknowledged your arduous long and untiring labours.

3

George Bentham was awarded a Royal Medal of the Royal Society in 1859 ( Proceedings of the Royal Society of London , vol 10 (1859–60), pp. 176-8) .

Pray let me know when you commence your Australia[n] flora

4

Bentham (1863-78).

(if you not prefer to publish one of an other british possession first.) as I am anxious to send you some material for it. This is so busy a season that I cannot gain time for packing specimens, but I have many to offer to the Kew herbarium, recently obtained, when the summer leaves me time for sorting.