The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Sydney, 6. April 1857. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I do myself the honor to inform you, that one of the most valuable parts of the botanical collections obtained principly in Central Australia and the Upper part of th...

Document information

Physical location:

MS Q426 inward correspondence, Gregory papers, Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 57.04.06

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Augustus Gregory, 1857-04-06. 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/57-04-06>, accessed May 9, 2024

Sydney, 6. April 1857.

Sir

I do myself the honor to inform you, that one of the most valuable parts of the botanical collections obtained principly in Central Australia and the Upper part of the Victoria River, arrived by the Messenger, has been destroyed by water to the amount of nearly 3000 specimens and from 2-300 kinds of seeds.

Having availed myself of the best means at my command for securing the collections against moisture, it is my duty to report, that only a direct contact with water could have caused the destruction of the specimens, and I feel it further my duty to request you to investigate into the reasons, which caused such a severe loss of property belonging to her Majesty's Government, and I am grieved to add that the destruction of this important part of my herbarium will render my labours now fragmentary in the extreme.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your most obedient and humble servant

Ferd. Mueller

Botanist to the North Austr Exped.

A. C. Gregory Esq.

Commander of the North Australian Expedition.