Document information
Physical location:
RBG Kew, Director's letters, vol. LXXIV, Australia letters 1851-8, letter no. 141. 54.07.14
Plant names
-
Casuarina
Search for
Casuarina
in -
Eucalyptus
Search for
Eucalyptus
in
Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1854-07-14. 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/54-07-14>, accessed May 18, 2024
Botanical Gardens Melbourne,
14. July 1854.
Sir William.
Your kind communication, dated 9. Apr 1854, reached me yesterday, and it would be
difficult to say, with how much pride and gratification it has been received. In fact,
Sir William, you overvalued in a high degree the results of my humble labors and all
I hope and desire will only be, that for the many errors, which your mastereye soon
will discover, I may be excused by you under the kind consideration, that I was but
scantily supplied with books and quite destitute of any authentic specimens, until
Dr Sonder a few weeks ago sent me about 400 of Preiss specimens.
Some assistance will be hereafter, besides your own de[c]isive remarks, afforded
to me in the comparison of my in Europe compiled collection, containing about 8000
species from various parts of the globe. This collection I can receive every day,
and certainly it will facilitate much the examination of the plants under cultivation
in our establishment.
I am preparing just now for a short trip to the Port Phillip heads to collect more
algae, to add perhaps a little of this interesting tribe of plants to the magnificent
work, that we may expect from so high a authority as Prof. Harvey. I need not say,
that I should feel delighted to meet him here, altho I fear I shall be deprived of
this pleasure, as it appears that Dr Harvey intends to proceed from Adelaide to Hobarttown
and thence to Sydney.
1
See Short & Sinkora (1988), pp. 485-6.
2
See M to W. Hooker, 22 September 1854 (in this edition as 54-09-22a).
3
For Harvey's Australian itinerary, see Ducker (1988).
I have just packed up again about 400 sp., a few of them new, for your brill[i]ant
collection. A smaller set has been kindful by the late Governor forwarded to you,
belonging to the herbarium of this year. His Aid de Camp
received also a packet of seeds and some manuscripts. The larger collection from
last year together with the manuscript of considerable lenght I hope reached you long
ago.
Again I forwarded by the overland mail a set of manuscripts about 6 weeks hence.
4
Robert Carey.
5
The larger collection … long ago is annotated with
Xs
probably by W. Hooker.
It was not in my power to send, the seeds, added this time to the specimens, at a
more early period, as I was obliged to leave part of the Murray and Alpine plants
behind; the latter to be forwarded by a vessel, I received but very recently. This
delay as well as my duties for the Paris Exhibition, have impeded the progress of
my writings this winter considerably, however I send all the manuscripts that I possibly
could get ready, now again. I have much to regret, that not to each description has
been added a corresponding specimen.
After leaving the Grampians I found the Murray vegetation so much advanced, that altho'
on my way to the alps I was enabled to note many species down, known to me previously,
yet it was utterly useless to procure any of the early annual specimens in their parched
state. In a few instances I brok fragments of from the solitary specimens in my normal
collection. Yet in the course of time, I trust, I shall be able to supply you perfectly
with all within my reach. I am for this present want of some specimens very glad,
that Dr J. Hooker contemplates going for a few days to Dr Sonder, who can doubtless
help to fill up many vacuum in your collection. Dr Sonders collection is also so rich
in South African plants, that doubtless your far famed son, not will have to regret
the short loss of time, and two so careful observers as Dr Hooker and Dr Sonder; both
besides Algologist[s], can doubtless learn much from each other, and it will be a
very pleasent thought to me, should I have been the humble means of forming a new
connecting link between the British and continental botanists.
Dr Sonder sent me a few days ago some copies of the notes on the Cryptogamic plants
of the former collections, which will be most instructiv to me. — I am surprised to
see so many algae appear to be new, certainly a great stimulus to collect on a larger
scale of them hereafter. Sometimes however I find it very difficult to collect on
a large scale, when for instance the difficulty of the country in the alps hardly
permitted me to force my way through them, leading only a solitary pack horse. Unforseen
circumstances obliged me again to travel about the Snowy mountains for months alone!
— and it is certainly unjust of Mr Swainson, when he alludes to the ample means of
my last years travelling, when I had for the greater part of the time not the benefit
of a solitary attendant, which he enjoyed during all his stay in this colony.
It is much to be deplored, that a man of such eminence as a Zoologist should devote
his time to other branches of Natural history in Australia, where more insects as
plants are new. And I am sorry, that neither my friendly warnings nor my remonstrations
could bring him from the unfortunate idea, that the laws of distinction in Entomologie,
the laws of distinction of individuals, could be safely applied to classification
of plants, which are a complex of individuals fixed to a soil of not allways equal
composition and situation and climate. Certainly no one should feel more sorry as
myself, if to Mr Swainsons well deserved fame his botanical labours in Australia should
prove detrimental.
6
M had suggested that J. Hooker visit Sonder to look at his Australian collection;
see M to W. Hooker, 18 October 1853. J. Hooker and N. Lindley toured Europe from August to October 1855. No evidence
has been found that Hooker and Sonder met in 1855. See Huxley (1918), vol. 1, p. 435.
7
Swainson thought M was better equipped than himself: '… as the Colonial Botanist has
had the requisite facilities at his disposal for ascertaining this fact [that parts
of Victoria contained valuable timber] during his extensive excursions he will doubtless
have suceeded far better than myself in developing the economical properties of the Victorian timber trees.' See Swainson (1854).
Not even my laying before him Walpers extracts of Miquels splendid monographia of
the
e,
of the existance of which he was unaware, could induce him to mitigate his offensive
statement, that all, that hitherto was written on this genus was utterly useless!
— Of his drawings I saw only a few when paying him a visit at Dandenong; I am unable
to say what became of them, but believe that they are of little practical use on account
of incompleteness. His boxes with specimens and seeds of Eucalypti and
e I received only one day before my departure to the interior, and opening at once
the tin case that contained them I observed, that they had not been perfectly dried
before and were consequently greatly damaged. I send however half of the seeds this
time.
Casuarina
Search for Casuarina
in
8
Miquel (1848).
Casuarina
Search for Casuarina
in
9
M's misgivings about Swainson's botanical report were shared by Lieut. Governor La
Trobe, who wrote in his despatch covering the report and that of M, 'Mr Swainson's
services were secured by me, with the sanction of the Legislative Council, for the
limited period of one year, with the special object of enabling him to examine and
report upon the varieties and qualities of the family Eucalyptidae, or Gum Trees,
in this Colony ... the result … I must leave it for more competent judges to decide.'
(National Archives, London, CO 309/19, ff.191-194: despatch 187, La Trobe to Duke
of Newcastle, 24 November 1853).
After praising M's Report, W. Hooker commented: 'I wish I could say as much in favor
of Mr Swainson's Report, of which the Governor himself speaks doubtfully. It is matter
of congratulation, however, that the term of Mr Swainson's engagement with the Colony
had expired.' (National Archives, London, CO 309/29 ff. 323-4, W. Hooker to Duke of
Newcastle, 6 March 1854). He also commented to F. Peel: 'Mr Swainson's Report is a
very [lame] concern.' (National Archives, London, CO 309/29 f. 331, 6 March 1854).
In introducing Swainson (1854), Hooker commented: 'The late Lieutenant-Governor, Mr.
La Trobe, in his great desire to promote the cause of botany, appointed also another
naturalist, W. Swainson Esq., well known as a distinguished zoologist and most able
draughtsman, to study and report on the timber of the colony, chiefly Eucalypti and
e. By favour of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle the Report is now before us and it
is as brief as it is startling in some of its statements. (p.186). … This singular
document concludes with a catalogue of Latin and English names, numbering 213 species
of
e, "several," as the author tells us "including other species," all new, and all described
by Mr. Swainson "without a single book to refer to"!' (p. 190).
Casuarina
Search for Casuarina
in
Casuarina
Search for Casuarina
in
See also Maroske & Cohn (1992).
I am delighted to learn from you, Sir, how generously the noble Mr Bentham has acted
in placing his splendid collections into those localities, where they best may be
appreciated.
I have to thank you, Sir William, for reprinting my last report
and for the attention paid to me in transmitting to me copies of it as well as of
your valuable account of the Argan tree
The seeds, of which I thankfully acknowledge the receipt, have been distributed all
over the country, but observing that its oil was already rancid, I fear that they
will not grow. The increase of the plants useful for our garden lays much on my heart
May I solicit, Sir William, that you would kindful send us as many seeds as you can
spare of Cap-Australian;
South Europe, China and other plants, that are in some degree useful and will endure
our climate without protection. I should desire for instance to experiment with The[a]
but we possess not a single species.
10
B54.04.01, prefaced by W. Hooker with the following editorial note: 'We cannot too
highly appreciate the services rendered to Botanical Science by Mr. La Trobe, late
Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, in this appointment of so able and indefatigable
a Botanist as Dr. Müller to the office in question; and we can only hope that his
example will be followed by other Colonial Governors, and with equal prospect of usefulness.'
11
W. Hooker (1854).
12
Cap-Australean?
13
editorial addition — obscured by binding strip.
I trust, Sir William, that this hasty lines will reach you enjoying healths and happin[ess]
and that you will continue your favour to your
14
editorial addition — obscured by binding strip.
most obedient servant Ferd. Mueller.