Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS envelope front: 'Dr F Müller | Care of Messrs Büttner & Heuzenroeder | Chemists & Druggists | Rundle Street, | Adelaide | South Australia'. Front post-marked Launceston, 30 April 1849, and GPO South Australian, 19 May 1849.

For a published precis of this letter see Daley (1935), pp. 109-10.

Woodhall near Perth

2

Tas.

April 25th/1849.

Sir,

I have forwarded you a box of specimens but as I cannot at present ascertain by what Vessel, I will leave it to my friend in Launceston who will ship them, to write on the outside of this the name of the Vessel, so that as you will most likely receive this letter first you will then know — I hope by this that you have received my last box which went by the "Tamar," but as there has been very rough weather, she has not yet returned to Launceston, — my reason for sending before I heard from you is, that at this time of year the passage is often very long & they may get damage — I trust that no accident may occur to prevent your receiving them, as I am afraid you might think me neglectful of my promise to you — the present box contains many scarce plants, & I assure you without wishing to magnify my exertions, that I have had much difficulty in procuring them, owing to the fact of this being one of the most unpropitious seasons I have ever known — so much so that in the high regions I have found many plants actually killed and others prevented from flowering by the severity of the weather, — I have been tolerably successful in collecting specimens of ferns, you will find the greater part of what are known in this island, — there is one remarkably scarce one (the Alsophila) which I spent much time in finding — & then only met with one plant — it is arborescent but is never found growing in company — I never saw above three plants the tallest about 15ft high in the [...].

3

illegible.

Hooker sent particularly to Gunn for it & stated that there was but one poor specimen in England. The Shizea

4

Schizaea?

is also rare on this side of the Island, — the Epacrideae have suffered severely from the weather on the mountains as they generally flower early — I was unable to procure several plants which I wished to do, particularly the Anopteris

5

Anopterus?

glandulosa which only grows in very remote spots on this side of VDL.

6

Van Diemen's Land.

but hope to do so at some future time — rest assured my dear sir that I will do all in my power for you

I have no doubt before this you have received a letter from a Mr Archer,

7

William Archer of Launceston.

who assisted me much in my last excursion he is a gentleman whom I should wish to recommend to your notice — only a beginner in the science but very enthusiastic in the cause, & also possessed of the means of carrying out his views — I took the liberty of giving him your address & think you will derive mutual satisfaction from a correspondence, he has also a talent for drawing from nature which is most useful in exploration of the minute parts of Orchideae &c which are difficult of examination when in a dry state —

You will please take notice that the names I have attached must not be taken for granted in any case — as I have received them from various quarters and without authorities that I could depend on but such as they are may serve for some little guide to you in your investigations — I shall not be able to do much more this season, as I am so confined & so much work to do, but shall look out through the Winter for cryptogamous plants & if possible endeavour to replace those which were lost in the unfortunate "Henry"

8

See C. Stuart to M, 8 January 1849.

— you will percive I have again commenced the numbers at No. 1 in the last box & which will have no connexion with the first small box I sent. —

I have retained duplicates of all so that should you require any further information respecting any individual, I can furnish you with it, — except Musci &c of which I have but few but better luck next time. —

I mentioned in my last my wishes respecting Giles's business

9

Giles not identified. Some background to the issues alluded to here is given in C. Stuart to M, 22 May 1848, C. Stuart to M, 24 July 1848, and C. Stuart to M, 8 January 1849.

so have no occasion to say more about it, only that even should he conclude to take my offer I suppose that the things in my box are spoilt, I regret the loss of my books as altho not of extensive use to me they w[ere] the best I could afford so that I must now trust to my memory alone as my circumstances will not allow me to purchase more as I have to work hard for a trifle — I hope that you enjoy good health and have been successful in your pursuit there is one favor I would request if in your power to send me 2 or 3 seeds of the Donia formosa , & when convenient, any names you can forward me of specimens sent would much oblige — merely for my own gratification as I have relinquished collecting plants for any one but yourself hoping to hear from you soon

address as usual

Woodhall near Perth

I think the Algae have been washed away by the floods I can find so few.