Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS black-edged; M's sister, Bertha Doughty, died on 7 September 1861.

Melbourne, bot & zool Garden,

25. Sept 1861.

My dear Sir William.

It was with great concern that I learned from your son, you had been obliged to seek health in the south of England!

2

J. Hooker to M, 14 July 1861, reports that W. Hooker has not been well and is going to the country, but says nothing about the south of England.

May the bracing rural air have effected all the benefit to you, which we anxiously desire. May I also hope, that you will not overtax yourself with all the labourious undertakings, which your brillant establishment has so long required of you and that you will allow repose and quietude to yourself, commensurate to your venerable age!

I am myself very sad, mourning for the loss of the beloved sister, for whose health I chiefly emigrated in 1847. She could not have lived through the winter of that year, we both having inhered tuberculosis of our parents, who died whilst we were comparatively little children.

My poor sister was nearly in equal age with myself; we bore many difficulties of life together, having hardly any paternal property to depend on. And now after her lost it is as if all the last family enjoyment I ever had in the world had passed away for ever! She was a noble hearted & highly gifted and intelligent lady and leaves a husband and two little children

3

George Doughty and the children George Ferdinand St Helen and Clara Bertha.

to mourn with me over her loss. When sinking she commenced an embroydery, destined as her last earthly work for me! Well might Humboldt say on the deathbed of his brother, O! the highest in this world is the pure love!

But I do wrong to instil sorrow in your heart, my dear Sir William! But you have always acted so unalterably kindful to me, that I could not suppress my grief. —

Pray do not exert yourself in writing to me, but allow me the priviledge of adressing you by the regular monthly mail. Dr Crozier once mentioned to me, that you desired my portrait for your gallery. Altho' I have always felt a strong adversion to see placed my picture before strangers in lifetime, I have felt a pleasure in complying with your request and I have a daguerrotype in readiness to be sent to you with my next consignment.

Accept my most grateful acknowledgement in giving me your support for the election into the R.S.

4

Royal Society.