Melbourne botanic Garden
22/10/62
Dear & venerable Sir William.
The last mail brought me again some lines from you, which I always inexpressibly above
all esteem, feeling proud that you always so kindly are thinking of me. The feeling
of pleasure, which I experienced in learning from you directly was mingled with sorrow,
when I observed that you again were ailing. But I sincerely trust that in carrying
out your intention to seek invigoration from the bracing effect of the summer-season
you will have fully regained your usual strength.
I was turning over in my library only yesterday the pages of your learned article
on Nepaul mosses in the volume of the L.S. of 1808,
and when I reflect that even then you had by your researches secured secured
the admiration of your coetans of that time, and that you continued with unabated
vigour your discoveries for nearly 60 years, I cannot but feel how unexampled & unequalled
the brilliant course of your labours continues & has continued and how deeply we are
indebted to your genius & incessant work and the long series of volumes we owe to
you & which for ever will remain an ornament in bot. literature. But though you may
justly desire to bring your great "species filicum" to a close, of which work I have
to thank you most sincerely for the donation of the last fascicle again,
I beg still to hope that you will not overtax your energies in the youthful ardor
for science which you have retained, but that you will not deprive yourself of that
serenity and tranquillity which should surround the evening of so unusually toilsome
a life as yours has been.
That you may long enjoy that quiet satisfaction of looking back on your triumphs of
past year in happiness & health is what will all your admirers I pray of providence
be long destined for you.
I showed Sir Henry Barkly your letter & his Excellency regretted much with me that
you were not well at the time of writing.
I am glad to learn that your grand palais of Australian & Cape plants is so far progressed
& will not fail to contribute largely towards it. We have at least 60 species of
e in this Garden under cultivation & of many of these of several
e &c the seeds will soon have ripened again, so as to enable me to send you a new
supply. A collector will also be sent out, & your establishment shall share in the
yield. Most probably I shall be collecting myself this summer for a few weeks in the
mountains, as I feel a relaxation of my office & literary work is needful, if I do
not wish to see my health getting entirely undermined.
I am bringing the 3. vol. of the Fragmenta rapidly to a close & prepare also the material
for the second volume of the fl. of Victoria
& above all the plants for the Universal Flora of Bentham.
Ever with deep veneration & regards yours
Ferd Mueller.
I hear with
much condolence
of the loss of one your grandchildren.
