The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne ¶ Newyears day 1874 ¶ ¶ Though late in arriving let my new years salutation, dear Mr Bentham, be offered to you with all sincerity. May the year be to you one of health & happiness. The Hae...

Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1871-81, ff. 133-4. 74.01.01

Plant names

Eucalyptus
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Gentiana Saxosa
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Gramineae
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Haemodoraceae
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Hymenanthera
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Irideae
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Macgregoria
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Myriophyllum amphibium
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Nertera reptans
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Notelaea
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Panicum
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Sequoia
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to George Bentham, 1874-01-01. 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/74-01-01>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne

Newyears day 1874

Though late in arriving let my new years salutation, dear Mr Bentham, be offered to you with all sincerity. May the year be to you one of health & happiness. The , &c came safely back, since last I adressed you.

See M to G. Bentham, 1 December 1873 (in this edition as 73-12-01a).

I have finished most of the now, but must put and a few other genera into a third number of the fragmenta.

B74.07.01, pp. 189-202, contained notes on , Neurachne, Pappophorum and Ectrosia. Earlier notes on grasses were published in B73.11.03, pp. 103-24 and B73.12.01, pp. 125-40.

I had hardly left my rooms in the small hotel here since six month, my officeroom even being there; and thus I had lost strength, apetite and spirit. So I went to the Upper Yarra for a few days and took clinometric measurements of some gigantic Eucalypts, getting many angles showing a greater hight than that properly recorded of any . Then the good & venerable Dr Curdie took me to his estate in the W. district, where after more than 20 years I spent for once a joyful Christmas. I was there only two days, but found (inclusive a variety with 3 partite leaves), that plant, as you are aware, being only as yet known from Recherche Bay, where La Billardière discovered it 80 years ago. I got also on the basaltic ridges , which I had not seen since I found it on the Snowy River 20 years ago. In the lime stone formation at low elevation exists. Besides I obtained more western localities for , & a number of other plants. It is my intention to visit the locality again, as I never was in Dr Curdies district and had not time to go right down to the coast. I came in 1848 from Adelaide near to the Glenelg (300 miles) overland, in 1853 I came not south of the Grampians, in 1857 I went only from Mt Gambier to Belfast,

Now Port Fairy, Vic.

and in 1858 I did not get west of Cape Otway. So the district is phytographically unknown, beyond the Algae brought by the excellent Dr Curdie to our late friend Harvey. Before I make an other excursion I will endeavour to push the through the press,

The last major part of M's treatment of the was published in B74.07.01, pp. 189-202.

and go to the northern slopes of the Munyang mountains, where I examined the glaciers only on the south side in 1854, a new railway line bringing me now easily within 80 miles.

Be so kind to show this letter to Dr Hooker, as my movements may interest him, and as I have no time to write at length to him by this mail.

I learn from him just now that you will favor me with your opinion on the supposed new Genus .

Letter not found, but see G. Bentham to M, 10 February 1874. M erected the genus (M. racemigera in B74.04.01, p. 161. It was illustrated, with a short text by Bentham, in Hooker (1867-89), vol. 13, pp. 23-4, plate 1230.

As the hon. John MacGregor is one of the few University Gentlemen in our Parliament, and my best champion there, I trust that I may have the opportunity by your confirmation of the Genus (and if correctly placed) also publication of it, to show him some homage & gratitude.

See M to J. Hooker, 11 August 1873.

Always your

Ferd von Mueller

Not even an Officeroom is allowed me and the only Museum room is overcrowded with collections.

The £100 for the 7th volume went to the Honorable Archibald Michie (Sir George Verdon's successor) by last mail. Please ask Dr Hooker to send me an estimate of the Kew establishment's working expenses, exclusive of the horticultural branch. I get only £300 for the whole working of my Gov Botanist Department and £100 for the work published by you in England, and altho I sacrifice year after year even in advancing age my own income in the departmental service, it stands to reason, that out of that I cannot maintain a Department.