Document information

Physical location:

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin. 92.09.24

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Oscar Drude, 1892-09-24. 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/92-09-24>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
M identifies Drude as the person to whom he addressed this letter in M to A. Engler, 9 September 1893.
24/9/92
Obwohl, edler Freund, ich eben ausserordentlich in Anspruch genommen bin nicht nur im Departement, sondern auch als Präsident der Kgl geogr. Gesellschaft hier für das Columbus Jubiläum an 12 Oct, so will ich doch gleich Ihren und unseres Freundes Engler eben angelangten Brief wenigstens anerkennen. Möchte auch gleich bemerken, dass für eine ganze Reihe Monate meine Zeit sehr besetzt ist, so dass ich auch nicht zum Congress der austral Ärzte nach Sydney kommen kann, auch liegen Neben Arbeiten für den Elder-Band u den M'Leay's Band vor.
Es würde die Erfüllung Ihres u Prof. Engler's Wunsch fördern , wenn Sie eine Reihe Fragen ausarbeiteten, deren Beantwortung das Material für die Bearbeitung des Pflanzen-Geographie für Australien liefern würde. Es wäre dann der Stoff gerade in Seinem u Ihrem Sinne herbeigeschafft.
Wenn die Fragen scharf begränzt wären, könnten auch die Antworten auf das Bestimmsteste geliefert werden. Gedruckt könnte die Reihe der Fragen über die ganze civilisirte Erde versandt werden.
Sie ehrend und Ihnen und den Ihren das Beste wünschend
Ferd, von Mueller.
24/9/92
Although, noble Friend, I am just extraordinarily taken up, not only in the department, but also as president of the Royal Geographical Society here for the Columbus Jubilee on 12 October,
2
The 500th anniversary on 12 October 1892 of Christopher Columbus's first landfall in the Americas was celebrated by the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia at its third triennial meeting, held in a packed Melbourne Town Hall. At the conclusion of the ordinary business of the meeting, M as President delivered an oration on Columbus (B93.03.02), 'concluding his remarks by crowning a portrait of the great navigator with a wreath of laurel' (Argus, 13 October 1982, p. 3). After several other, briefer addresses, the proceedings concluded with a rendition of a cantata, 'Columbus', by members of the Melbourne Liedertafel.
I will nevertheless at least acknowledge immediately your and our friend Engler's letter just received.
3
Letter not found.
Would like also to remark that for a whole series of months my time is very occupied, so that I cannot also go to the Congress of Australian physicians at Sydney, also there is incidental work for the Elder volume
4
That is, the report on the Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition of 1891, intended to be in a special volume of the Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia for 1892. However, the publication of the second part, including a report by M and Ralph Tate on the botany of the expedition (B96.14.02) was delayed for want of funds. In the meantime, M described some new species elsewhere (B93.02.03) and some with Tate (B93.14.07).
and the McLeay volume.
5
M had a paper, B93.09.06, and another jointly with J. H. Maiden (B93.14.03), in Fletcher (1893), a volume produced by the Linnean Society of NSW in memory of William Macleay.
It would promote the fulfilment of your and Professor Engler's desire, if you prepared a series of questions , the reply to which would produce material for the working up of plant geography for Australia. It would then produce the raw material just in his and your sense .
If the questions were sharply defined, the answers also could be produced most precisely. If printed the series of questions could be sent over the whole civilized world.
6
It would appear that Engler and Drude had contacted M about what would become Engler & Drude (1896-1923).
Respectfully and wishing you the best
Ferd. von Mueller.