Ferdinand von Mueller

Smithsonian Institution,

Washington, April 20. 1870

Dear Sir;

Your letter of Jan'y 31st

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Letter not found.

was duly received and I hasten to thank you on behalf of this Institution, for your kindness in favoring our suggestion in regard to agencies in Australia.

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See J. Henry to M, 25 October 1869.

The boxes mentioned by us as bound for Australia, were forwarded, not long since, to the care of the University of Melbourne, an offer having reached us from the President of that establishment to take charge of them and distribute their contents. As these will, probably, reach their destination you will confer a great favor by aiding in the distribution of what they contain and, perhaps, you will kindly confer with the officers of the University in regard to the future whether it will be better for us to send to the Botanic Garden or to the University. In any event, we gladly avail ourselves of your proffered assistance in the way of return parcels and would say that any such for the Smithsonian Institution or other [Science] bodies in America, will, if sent to the care of Dr. Wesley, 10. Fleet St London, reach us in due time, as he forwards a box to the Institution semi-monthly by the Cunard Steamers.

We shall be happy to receive, with these parcels, anything that you may desire to forward to your correspondents, whether books or plants.

We believe that all the books so kindly sent by you to this Institution have arrived safely. If however, on the examination we propose having made, any are found wanting we shall take the liberty of informing you which they are.

Dr Fred

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i.e. Ferd.

Von Mueller.

Botanic Garden,

Melbourne.