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M2964, unit 18, VPRS 1096 inward correspondence, VA 466 Governor, Public Record Office, Victoria. 63.10.12aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Charles Darling, 1863-10-12 [63.10.12a]. 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/63-10-12a>, accessed June 8, 2025
1
Copies of two documents were enclosed with the above letter. See R. Apponyi to M,
4 August 1863 (in this edition as 63-08-04a), and T. Peithner von Lichtenfels to M, 17 July 1863.
2
For a copy of this letter see National Archives, London, CO 309/66, despatches, January
to April, Victoria, 1864, vol. 1, enclosure to no. 14, where it is annotated 'Enclosure
to Despatch No. 14 of 22 February 1864’.
12. Oct. 1863
Sir Charles
I have the honor of informing your Excellency that his Majesty the Emperor of Austria
has been graciously pleased to confer on me the knighthood of the Francis Joseph Order,
the decoration of which was kindly caused to be transmitted to me by her Majestys
Home Government and received by me through your Excellencys kindness this day.
3
A packet, received in the Foreign Office from the Austrian Ambassador, was transmitted
to the Colonial Office on 6 August 1863 (National Archives, London, CO 309/65, f.
137). The packet presumably contained the decoration.
Altho' I learnt from your Excellency, that the Right Honorable the Minister of State
for foreign affairs could not concede for reasons then pointed out the privilege of
my accepting as an officer of her Majesty's Government the knighthood of the Legion
of Honor, bestowed on me some time since by the Grace of the Emperor of the French,
I nevertheless feel, that it would be a want of attention on my part, if I not at
least made known to your Excellency as the Ruler of this part of Her majesty's dominions
and as Head of the Government, whom I have the honor to serve, that this new token of grace from a high Sovereign was intended as an acknowledgement of my
humble services in the cause of science.
I venture to convey this information less reluctantly to your Excellency since as
yet the decision of their Graces the Duke of Newcastle and Earl Russell is not known,
whether the recognition of the knighthood of Dannebrog, to which I was raised by the
King of Denmark, my former Sovereign, could be recommended to the gracious consideration
of her Majesty the Queen.
4
See M to H. Barkly, 14 July 1863. The Duke of Newcastle’s refusal of the request to accept the Danish award was transmitted
to Darling on 24 October 1863 (National Archives, London, CO 411/8, pp. 107-8).
Whilst it is far from me to wish to be intrusive in receiving formally on this occasion
the wish of enjoying the favor of the recognition of the distinctions previously sought
however highly I may prize them and however kindly my solicitation may have been recommended
by your Excellency's predecessor to her Majesty's Home Government, I await your Excellency's
command and beg to leave it entirely to your Excellency's consideration, whether the
honor conferred on me by his Apostolic Majesty, the Emperor Francis Joseph, should
under existing circumstances be formally rendered known to her majestys ministry of
the British Empire.
I have the honor to annex the originals and principle documents connected with my
nomination to the Austrian knighthood.
5
In Despatch no. 14, 22 February 1864, Darling wrote that 'Dr Mueller is strongly under
the impression that a relaxation of the strictness of the Rule has been permitted
in more than one instance, and cites the case of Sir William Hooker as one in which
the acceptance of the distinction of the Legion of Honor has been allowed by Her Majesty.
The only books of reference on the subject at present within my reach, certainly describe
Sir William Hooker as a Knight of the Legion of Honor: but are not definite as to that distinction having been assigned to him under
Her Majesty's sanction. I perceive too, that the honor is said to have been granted
in 1855: and it is possible therefore, that it was accepted before the restrictive
regulations referred to, which bear date upon the 10th May in that year, came into
force.' The Foreign Office note to the Colonial Office advising that the request must
be refused also pointed out that 'Dr Müller is entirely mistaken in supposing that
the Rules in question have been relaxed in favour of Sir William Hooker or any other
person' (National Archives, London, CO 309/70, f. 98).
I have the honor to remain
your Excellencys most humble and devoted
Ferd. Mueller.
His Excellency Sir Charles Darling, K.C.B.,
&c &c &c