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Physical location:
Colonial Secretary's Office - letters received, acc. 36, vol. 589, ff. 356-60, State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth. 67.10.28
Plant names
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Eucalyptus
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Eucalyptus
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Gastrolobium crassifolium
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Gastrolobium crassifolium
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Stypandra
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Stypandra
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Zamia
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Zamia
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Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Frederick Barlee, 1867-10-28. 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/67-10-28>, accessed May 6, 2025
1
For an extract of this letter, see B67.11.01.
This day, dear Mr Barlee, when returning from my excursion to Stirling's Range, I
had the happiness of receiving your most kind letter,
directed to this place. Let me assure Governor Hampton, that I fully appreciate the
generous kindness, which prompted his Excellency to invite me to his hospitable viceregal
residence, and that I feel sorry indeed, to be unable within the short period allotted
to me for my present stay in West Australia to extend my journey to Perth. Thus I
am also deprived of the happiness to become personally acquainted with yourself, a
pleasure to which I look forward at a future time. Sir Alexander Campbell has been
most kind to me, and so were the few settlers, which in my line of travel I could
visit; and I ardently wish so much so that it may fall to my share to see more of
your singularly bloomy country and of its friendly inhabitants. The vegetation is
so rich and varied as to require for its full elucidation far more local field research,
as hitherto has been bestowed on it, and if I can arrange departmental business in
such a way as to free myself from official obligations for a series of months, I certainly
shall wander yet far through the wildest of this wonderful country. We know hitherto
so little also of the range of species, of the lines where the eastern plants commence
and the western cease and of the localities where tropical & extratropical forms meet,
that for the completion of my works such extended journeys, as I indicate, will become
almost imperative.
2
Letter not found.
In reference to the future of West Australia I take as a traveller, who traversed
widely the continent, a much more hopeful view than many others. The Karri-country
is in many places very rich; the basaltic undulations in some localities could by
dissemination of perennial fodder-plants, especially ryegrass, white clover & prairiegrass
be changed into rich lasting pastures, and in all probability much of the bushy country
could be altered into fertile meadows, if first Goats where brought there. In many
places water could evidently be kept permanently by some inexpensive measures of leading
the winter-rains into clay hollows or artificial excavations, readily to be covered
with timber to prevent evaporation. Your scrubs which I thought were extensively impenetrable
seem from what I have seen from the summit of Stirling-Range quite the reverse, while
the climate appears salubrious & not overpowering hot.
In my itinerating here I regained desire for food, bodily strength & cheerfulness
of mind. So I have to be quite grateful to West Australia & perfectly dread to return
to the Melbourne summer dusts.
I have had the opportunity of studying here the vegetation in reference to the geological
features of the country, having examined sandstone, granit, basalt & saline alluvial
or diluvial places & shall probably proceed, before I leave, to some limestone-localities,
with a view of noting the phytological differences. A few of the plants, which I collected,
are absolutely new to science and never collected before, and a good many eastern
species I have now for the first time proved to exist in West Australia.
3
B67.12.01.
It occurs to me, that many of your half saline watercourses might become stocked with
eels & crays, both of which we could send from Victoria; nor do I see the slightest
impediment whatever of locating the large and palatable Murray-Cod in your fresh waters.
As for useful plants, which from Victoria might be transferred here their number is
legion. It needs not my assurance, that I will take my share in the work of introducing
them. My short visit here will be lastingly of advantage to my literary operations.
I have excited in several intelligent observers the desire to contribute plants to
my museum & while thus winning the results of local collectors I shall receive the
plants in all stages at all occasions; whereas, at best, I could only once visit each
locality. Let me trust, that your friendly appeal, to stir-up collectors in the interior,
may meet with a cordial & extensive response. We can really never reduce any utilitarian
observation to a solid basis, unless the species of plants, found out to be useful
or noxious, are carefully studied & described & thus readily recognized.
The new poison plant from the Beaufort-district is a true Gastrolobium, allied to
G. crassifolium, and probably very harmful. The specimens are without perfect fruit
& thus I cannot determine the species until I return to my department, where I must
compare it. On the Gastrolobia I have still to work toxologically, for which purpose
with restored health I hope to get leisure soon.
On the examination of the
, the blue flannel grass lily, known as the Candiup (?)
Poison, I shall also enter, especially as it may be of pathological value in eye
diseases, for from what I have heard the effect on the vitreous body, sclerotis and
lens seems such as to be without any analagous example in the whole empire of plants.
I take a large quantity of plants with me for examination.
Stypandra
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4
The question mark is M's. The place was probably Candinup, WA.
I will ask Sir John Young, should the right hon. Gentleman proceed via Albany home,
to take to this place some Carps imported by him. Mr Carey has just brought the White
Swans safely in the Alexandra also two Angoras, one of which he was lucky to purchase.
The Alexandra brings us the news of Prince Alfreds arrival at Adelaide. This will
disappoint the loyal inhabitants of W.A., but I think HRH has not possibly the time
left to visit all the colonies originally thought of.
I will not fail to tell his Highness, how very creditable efforts were made in West
Australia for paying homage to the Prince.
5
Thomas Carey, who had been visiting the eastern colonies for the sake of his health,
was given charge of one angora goat and a pair of white swans by the Acclimatisation
Society of Victoria, to take to WA (Inquirer [Perth], 20 November 1867, p. 3; Perth gazette, 18 October 1867, p. 3).
6
M understated the depth of feeling in Albany. In reporting that the Prince had bypassed
WA, the Perth gazette and West Australian times, 8 November 1867, commented as follows: 'To say that there was a general feeling
of disappointment when the intelligence became circulated, would but feebly represent
the actual feeling which was expressed. It was not disappointment, for a great majority
of the people had before given up any expectation that His Royal Highness would visit
this province. The feeling was one rather of anger and indignation, not only at the
slight which has been so ostentatiously put upon the colony in passing it by, but
also at the needless expense to which we have been put, by the Secretary of State
leading us to make preparations for his proper reception as a son of our Sovereign,
when it is very evident now it was never intended by the Prince's wet nurses at home
that we should see him. Are we as a community to take such treatment quietly? Surely
not while we have the right of Public Meeting, let us give the Secretary of State
some idea of what we feel upon the subject …'.
Allow me to mention that it has occurred to my mind, how great interests might possibly
be served if your Government applied to Sir Rod. Murchison for the temporary service
of one of the Officers of the Geolog. Survey of Britain to inspect hurriedly your
mineral districts. At a glance it might often be ascertained what the chances would
be for mineral wealth. Such an Officer could do in a few months to you an immensity
of good at hardly any outlay. Without wishing to be immodest I would ask, whether
it would be possible for you to cause 3 or 4
s to be shipped for me as deal good to London. Those here at Albany, of which I shall
through Sir Alex. Campbell's aid be able to take a few to Melbourne are all stemless,
whereas the object would be to render known
tall old
plants in Europe. If, as I anticipate, the W.A.
travels without earth and without leaves (just like a log) safely home, like that
of Natal, a trade might be readily established. By the way of that, I should therefore
like much to get 3 or 4 stems, as long as possible with the roots sent to my Agents
in London, Mess. Betham & Blackith (Cox's Quay, Lower Thames Street, London), who
will pay the ordinary measurement freight, if these stems could be sent in any [of]
the woolvessels. I really think, numerous trade orders would at once be given, if
the safety of the shipment could be proved. These noble plants are in no other part
of the world so easily accessible as in W. Australia, and being
slow
of growth large plants are utterly unknown as yet in Europe. I intend to send a large
number of the quickgrowing & tall Mexican & Californian Cypresses to the Church ground
here, also Lebanon Cedars, Cork-oaks, Teaplants &c.
Zamia
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Zamia
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7
editorial addition — MS damaged.
Pray let me know at any time such of your requirements, as may be within my Departmental
or private reach.
Your very regardful
Ferd. Mueller.
The honorable
F. Barlee &c &c &c
The
e could go into the ordinary hold of the ship. They require no packing, but should
not be placed on a hot place, nor where saltwater could make an ingress or where they
could suffer from rats.
Zamia
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I do not precisely remember, whether in my remarks on your Asphalt
I did state, that it readily dissolves in
oil. May I advise to send a lot of the substance to the Society of Arts,
with a view that its mercantile value may be ascertained by some of the manufacturing
members of the Society I am aware, that a similar substance has occasionally realized
as much as £20 – – pr ton. In certain states it can be used for effacing graphitpencil
marks, like India Rubber.
8
B67.07.04.
Eucalyptus
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9
Society of Arts, instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures
and Commerce.
The Cigars made from
leaves, for which I have secured on behalf of M. Ramel of Paris a patent also in
your colony, will doubtless become a commercial article
Eucalyptus
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10
M as Ramel’s appointed attorney applied on Ramel’s behalf for a Victorian patent (Number
897, 24 March 1866) for ‘A new method of preparing the leaves and bark of plants belonging
to the genus eucalyptus, and of other plants of the family of myrtaceae, for the purpose
of using them as tobacco and snuff’. Ramel also through M applied for the same patent
in NSW (Number 164 in 1867), SA (Number 95 in 1867) and Tas (Number 46 in 1867). In
WA, an ordinance was passed in 1868 granting Ramel exclusive benefit for his invention
(WA Ordinance 32 Victoriae, Number 3, dated 3 August 1868). See George (2012).