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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters 1859-65, letter no. 145. 62.02.20a

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Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1862-02-20 [62.02.20a]. 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//letters/1860-9/1862/62-02-20a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
MS black edged; M's sister Bertha died on 7 September 1861.
Melb. bot. Garden
20/2/62.
My dear Sir William.
The monthly mail from England has not arrived as yet altho 10 days overdue; thus I have little occasion to write, beyond expressing a hope that you are enjoying the best of health. I thought to have been able to send you the bound volume of the Victorian
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,
2
B62.03.03.
but it became not ready, the mail being several days earlier despatched than usual.
I have ventured to dedicate this humble production to you as a faint token of my esteem and attachment to you; wishing only I had something more worthy to bring.
3
The dedication in B62.02.01 was shared: 'As a tribute | of the author's high regard and gratitude, | these pages are dedicated | to | Charles Joseph La Trobe, Esq., C.B., | to whom, as former Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, this work owes its origin; | to | Sir William Jackson Hooker, K.H., | the nestor of botanists, who, for above half a century, has been a leading star in phytological enquiry; | and to | Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., | Governor of Victoria, | Under whose unceasing encouragement these volumes are advancing to completion.'
Perhaps the later volumes will be more worthy of your acceptance, the whole extending over 6 volumes.
4
No more descriptive volumes were published, although the first five sheets, 40 pages, were printed of what would have been Part 2 (see B63.13.06) and a set sent at least to Bentham. See M to G. Bentham, July 1863 (in this edition as 63-07-00a), M to G. Bentham, 22 June 1863, and M to G. Bentham, 25 January 1864 (in this edition as 64-01-25f).
— I enclose a bill a loading for some fascicles of
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, sent pr. "Great Britain" in a case to you for Mr Benthams perusal & your selection of duplicates. It would aford me great satisfaction, if the collection will prove useful.
Ever yours in faithful [o]biedie[nce]
Ferd. Mueller.
12/6/62
By some clerical error in the adress the letter was returned to me with some of the enclosures now sent to you a second time.