16/8/82.
Only a few hurried lines this time, dear Mr Dyer, just before the close of the mail.
The
best
, the dearest, the noblest of my friends in this part of the world passed suddenly
away; — a loss, which nothing in the world can replace!
There was scarcely an eye without tears in the large congregation, when we sung the
mourning hymn in the church before the coffin was removed from the Altar. I had the
privilege, often as only guest, to spend after church in the evening the remaining
hours of the Sunday with this genial man, and cannot realize that we shall see his
kindly countenance no more, nor here
again his friendly voice. He was one of the very few here, who had a comprehension
for a professional position, like mine, who disinterestedly on principle stood up
for my Department; who had the courage of his opinion even though offended on Sir
James M'Culloch's dinner-table for my sake, who never changed towards me, and gave
me the benefit of his great influence in undeserved adversities —
I had occasion to examine at last specimens of
, and shall follow this enquiry up, as possibly there may be a second Cycas in Fiji.
The specimens are not yet dry; but you shall have — of course — some of them by one
of the next mail. But my daily work in the Department is so difficult on account of
all want of convenience in the little private cottage here, that I often have not
even the time to look for a specimen under tables or chairs even in the bedroom when
the mail-day comes. Some stems of
are procured, and as this is an outlying species of the genus I would certainly advise
to sacrifice one of the stems for anatomic dissections, as you are sure to wish contrasting
the anatomic structure of Cycas,
&c more fully then
hitherto done. The stems are quite fresh, and ought to grow, as they have been lifted
with special care. If you not require them at Kew, they will be useful for interchanges
I will try to get them on board next week.
Pray give my regards to Sir Joseph and let me remain your friend
Ferd. von Mueller
I shall have something to say to morrow night about poor Mr Stobbs as Patron of the
young mens Christian association of the Church.
The slip is from the Melbourne "Age" of this day.
The Rev. Mr Stobbs arrived two years after my Department was smashed, otherwise I
would be in the garden still.
