Document information

Physical location:

MS papers 37, folder 203, no. 518, Haast family papers, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. 61.05.12a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Julius Haast, 1861-05-12 [61.05.12a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/61-05-12a>, accessed April 29, 2025

1
Letter marked by Haast: 'Beant 17 Juny 1861' [Answered 17 June 1861]. Letter not found.
Melbourne bot. u. zool. Garten,
12. Mai 1861.
Theurer Freund.
Die Nachricht vom Tode des ehrwürdigen u gelehrten Dr Sinclair erschüttert mich. Ich hatte freudig die Hoffnung gehegt, diesen herrlichen Mann persönlich kennen zu lernen und nun so plötzlich hat das Geschick diese Freude vereitelt. Mag uns ein so trüber Vorfall an die Vergänglichkeit irdischen Glückes u irdischer Thätigkeit mahnen. Ich werde die Beiträge, welche Ihr guter dahingeschiedener Freund unserer Sammlung liefern wollte, heilig halten.
Inzwischen glaube ich, dass es am Besten sei, Dr Hooker in keiner Arbeit über diese Pflanzen —, welche ja seinem botanischen Reviere angehören, vorzugreifen, zumal da der gute alte Dr Sinclair selbige seinem engl. Freunde zugedacht. Es hindert mich indessen nicht, meine Ansichten über diese Pflanzen brieflich an Dr Hooker auszusprechen.
Hier u in V. D. Land
2
Van Diemen's Land.
stockt der Druck wissenschaftlich. Abhandlung. so sehr, dass ich vor einigen Monaten der Edinb. bot Society die Beschreibung Ihres Gingidium, des Senecio von Travers &c &c gesandt.
Dass ich eine schöne Alpenhöhe am MacAllister River mit Ihrem Namen zu bezeichnen die Freude hatte, sagte Ihnen vermutlich mein letzter Brief.
Nehme die Vorsehung Sie in gnädigen Schutz.
Mit inniger Zuneigung
der Ihre
Ferd. Mueller
Demnächst werde ich Ihnen eine Karte mit meinen neuen Alpenpositionen senden.
Melbourne Botanic and Zoological Garden,
12 May 1861.
Dear friend,
The news of the death of the venerable and learned Dr Sinclair
3
Andrew Sinclair drowned at Rangitata, NZ, on 25 March 1861 [Desmond].
shocks me. I had happily cherished the hope to meet this splendid man in person,
4
See M to J. Haast, 23 February 1861.
and now fate has so suddenly thwarted this joy. May this sad event remind us of the transience of all earthly happiness and earthly activity. I shall retain, in sacred memory, the contributions that your good departed friend was going to furnish to our collection.
In the meantime I believe it will be best not to anticipate Dr Hooker in any publication about these plants, which belong to his botanical domain — especially as the good old Dr Sinclair had intended them for his English friend.
5
In his reply to M’s request to work on Chatham Island plants (M to J. Hooker, 15 October 1858), Hooker acerbically noted that M was working on the flora of locations upon which he himself was publishing; see J Hooker to M, 20 December 1858.
It does, however, not prevent me expressing my views on these plants to Dr Hooker by letter.
Here and in Tasmania the printing of scientific papers has come so much to a halt, that I sent the description of your Gingidium and of Dr Travers' Senecio etc., etc.
6
Gingidium haastii and Senecio traversii were described in B61.04.19 and subsequently in the Edinburgh Botanical Society's journal (B63.13.02). See also M to J. Haast, 5 October 1860 and 23 February 1861.
to the Edinburgh Botanical Society a few months ago.
My last letter probably informed you that I had the pleasure to decorate a beautiful alpine elevation at the MacAllister River with your name.
7
Macalister River, Vic. M’s most recent surviving letter before this one was wriiten before M went to the Alps, M to J. Haast, 23 February 1861. The name bestowed by M appears not to have survived.
May Providence graciously protect you.
With sincere affection
your
Ferd. Mueller.
Shortly I shall send you a map with my latest alpine locations.
8
Map not identified. See also M to J. Haast, 13 August 1861.
Gingidium
Senecio