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RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, ff. 152-4. 64.09.24
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Leguminosae
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Myrtaceae
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Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to George Bentham, 1864-09-24. 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/64-09-24>, accessed April 18, 2025
1
The correspondent is identified as Bentham by references to the 'proofpages' and to
the damage sustained by specimens (see M to G. Bentham, 25 August 1864). It was not Bentham's practice to send proof sheets but to proof-read batches and
to send corrected sheets as they were printed for the edition.
Dear Sir.
Amidst manyfold other duties I have found only time to look hurriedly over the proofpages
you were so good to send by last mail. I have given you some remarks thereon, which
sooner or later may prove of utility.
2
The sheets of the first 400 pages of Bentham (1863-78), vol. 2, were sent in the June,
July and August mails in 1864; see G. Bentham to M, 23 August 1864. For remarks by M, see M to G. Bentham, 25 August 1864, and M to G. Bentham, August 1864 (in this edition as 64-08-00a).
In my last letter I expressed my deep grief of the extensive damage sustained to very
many parcels of the
returned by the Sussex and it is unnecessary to repeat how disheartened I am in continuing
my transmissions.
I am aware, that we cannot absolutely guard against mishaps whilst goods are entrusted
to long seavoyages, but it appears to me that in the instance out of which such serious
loss arose nothing whatever was done by those to whom the packing & shipping of the
plants was entrusted to secure for them more safety than any ordinary good. Had I
not been more painstaking you would have probably received many of my sendings in
an equally spoiled state. The person entrusted with the soldering of the case ought
to have taken a new lid for the box, whereby not more than 2 or 3 shillings extra
expense would have been incurred; and had your shipping agent pointed out (as I
always
do) to the Captain of the Sussex that these cases contained perishable plants
not
restorable Capt Ridgers, who since years is my particular friend, would have taken
the boxes into his
private Cabin
, as he assured me when here.
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3
See M to G. Bentham, 25 August 1864, and C. Wilhelmi and T. Mueller to M, 24 August 1864 (in this edition as 64-08-24a).
In candor I must also express my disappointment, that as your stated in your letter
by the mail before last,
that the increase of one 6d on each letter's postage would be the cause of your discontinuing
your regular communications to my department; and hence I received no letter by last
mail.
With the manly frankness which always shall characterize my actions I cannot withhold
from you that your remarks, however unintentionally worded, have deeply wounded my
pride; for I cannot but feel, when I contrast the sacrifices I have made in my department
and on behalf of this Government and personally both monetary & scientifically for
your work, the humiliation which the discontinuance of your regular correspondence
on such grounds conveyes to my establishment.
4
Letter not found.
5
See Bentham's response to M's complaint in G. Bentham to M, 24 November 1864.
The cases sent pr Lincolnshire have arrived yesterday & I am glad to state they have
arrived without any damage to their contents as far as I can see in the haste of the
moment, and I have no doubt that the plants will be found on closer inspection all
well preserved.
It is however but right to observe that this consignment like the last was despatched
without prepayment of freight. As the Kew resources are so enormous compared with
those of my small department and as the obligation was entered into of defraying the
return freight in London, perhaps you would kindly remind the shipping agent on the
subject. My vote for incidental expenses is only £120 per annum, out of which the
most varied accounts have to be paid for the horticultural as well as scientific branch
of my establishment, any untoward charges to this vote cause embarrasment.
It has been pleasing to me to observe whilst looking over the elaboration of my
, that the collection afforded you in many instances the sole opportunity of rendering
known new species.
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Trusting that for science sake you will continue in unimpaired health & enjoy still
many years of strenght for your researches
I remain yr regardful
Ferd. Mueller
The boxes pr Lincolnshire were
not
marked "to be kept dry"
6
The boxes ... dry" is a marginal annotation.
I have sent this day (24/9/64) a parcel with additional
. I should have sent many interesting
also (recently received) but as you
never
informed me, what you intended to do with
supplements
I did not like to send any material supplementary to what already had gone through
print
. The parcel is forwarded in his Excellencys Despatch bag.
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7
The final paragraph is on a separate sheet, f. 154, and may have been sent separately.