Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Three of the Archer brothers, Charles, William and Colin, explored and then took up land for the family in the valley of the Fitzroy river, Qld in 1855. Any one of these brothers could be the Mr Archer to whom M wrote in 1859. L. McDonald (1981), p. 404 gives Colin Archer as the recipient but without explanation.

Filed with the letter is a copy of 'The Gouty-stem tree, near the "Dome," on the River Victoria, N.W. Australia', Polyglot Newsletter: A summary for transmission to Europe, English Edition, printed and published for the proprietors at the Punch Office, Melbourne, December 1858. Newsletter inscription probably by Archer: '1859 | Ferd Muller | 3d Febr'; and by M: 'Archer Esq. | Fitzroy River'. M to J. Lindley 5 February 1859 (in this edition as 59-02-05a) used the same issue of the Polyglot newsletter, the cover of which is reproduced here:

Melbourne botan. & zoolog. Garden,

3. Febr. 1859.

My dear Sir

You had the great kindness to offer to a collector of plants, who might be sent to your neighboorhood, your aid as far as lay in your power, of which generosity I am most anxious to avail my self. Pardon me therefore for recommending to your notice Mr Thozet, a modest intelligent and active man, now staying in your neighboorhood. Perhaps it could be arranged, that you could favor him with some suitable employment about the station, and he might add something to his earnings by forming collections of plants & seeds during spare hours.

Archer Esq

Fitzroy River.

P.S. Should you see Mr Aug. or Mr Henry Gregory or their younger brother

2

Francis Gregory.

pray give them my sincere respect.