Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS annotation: 'For Dr v. Haast'.

15/2/82

I write a few lines, dear Dr Hector, to ask, whether it is likely, that your Government would follow the example of N.S.W, in printing for general distribution in N.Z. a new edition of my select plants. The last was pushed in 1880 (during one month ) through the press in the Gov. printing office in Sydney.

2

B81.01.04.

Since then several or even many additions have been made, and as I my health

3

my health sic.

is fluctuating (after 34 years incessant toil in Australia and 7 years studies before), I like to see an other edition out in my life-time . You know, that one appeared in Melbourne, one in San Francisco,

4

E. Cooper (1876a), pp. 189–447, included the text of M's articles published by the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria (B71.06.02, B72.13.02); parts of B72.13.02 had already been re-published in the California horticulturist and floral magazine, for example, B72.09.02. An American edition of the enlarged Select extra-tropical plants appeared in 1884, published in Detroit (B84.12.22).

one in Calcutta,

5

B80.13.07.

one (a german) in Cassel

6

B83.13.06.

and one in Sydney.

7

B81.01.04

The N.Z. Edition would be the largest of all, about 450 octavo-pages. I require no remuneration as author, but like to have some copies for maintaining literary interchanges. I should feel honored, if on the title-page your name appears as N.Z. editor.

8

No NZ edition was published; see notes to M to J. Hector, 24 May 1882.

Of course the whole would depend on the good will of the Chief Secretary of N.Z., whose name I not even know, unless Mr Dick's Ministry is still in power. I met the honorable Mr Dick during the international Exhibition

9

International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1880-1.

in the N.Z Court & he was remarkably friendly to me. I was juror in 3 divisions for the Exhibition, and did what I could for N.Z. also, though each juror had only one vote.