Document information

Physical location:

62.01.05

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Wills, 1862-01-05. 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/62-01-05>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see Wills (1863), pp. 362-3 (B63.01.04).
Melbourne Botanical Gardens,
January 5th, 1862.
My Dear Dr. Wills,
It affords me a melancholy satisfaction that the humble tribute which I wish to pay to the memory of your lamented son, in attaching his name to the enclosed plant, elicited such kind recognition from yourself. I need not assure you that I shall continue to maintain, as I have done on all previous occasions, that only by the skilful guidance and scientific talents of your unfortunate son, the great geographic success is achieved, which he sealed with his heroic death.
We can only now deeply deplore the loss of such a man, and award that honour to his memory which his great exploit for ever merits.
With the deepest sympathy for you, ever dear and respected friend,
Yours
Ferd. Mueller.
The plant is thus registered in the 'Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae': —
EREMOPHILA WILLSII
Speciem Eremophilae Goodwinii (F. M. Report on the Plants of Babbage's Expedition, p. 17) propinquam tesqua Australiae centralis ornantem, elegi ut
2
The description in B62.04.01, pp. 21-2, has '… ornantem, elegi, ut …'.
botanicis recorderem gloriam nunquam obliviscendam intrepidi et igeniosi sed infelicissimi Guilielmi Wills,
3
The published description has 'Guiliemi Wills'.
qui primo terram Australiae continentalem a litore ad litus peragravit, sua morte praecocissima in tacitio triumphum aeterum agens.
4
The dedication is translated in a footnote to the published letter: 'I have chosen a species of Eremophila resembling Goodwin's, which adorns the deserts of central Australia, to record by botany the glory never to be forgotten of the intrepid and talented, but most unfortunate, William Wills, who was the first to traverse the continent of Australia from shore to shore, winning for himself, by his too early death in the silent wilderness, an eternal triumph.'