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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters 1859-65, letter no. 172. 63.07.23a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1863-07-23 [63.07.23a]. 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/1860-9/1863/63-07-23a-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

1
MS annotation by Hooker: 'Note. Danish knighthood & Pteris from Rockhampton is Pt Litobr.) pedata'. See M to W. Hooker, 14 May 1863.
23/7/63
Dear Sir William
Mons. Bosieu
2
Durieu de Maisonneuve?
de Maisonneuve, the Director of the bot. Garden of Bordeaux has asked me to send him for his monograph, specimens of my
Isoetes

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of Tasmania. As I confided my collection of ferns & allied orders to your temporary care I am unable to respond to the request, but would beg of you to send a specimen of all my
Rhizocarpeae

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to be forwarded to that Gentleman, who has with so much care studied the order and intends to give analytical drawings of all the species of
Isoetes

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hitherto known.
3
Durieu de Maisonneuve (1864) acknowledged (p. 104) M's views and assistance, describing him as 'L'infatigable explorateur de l'Australie, le pourvoyer généreux des grandes établissements et de naturalistes d'Europe' [The indefatigable explorer of Australia, the generous supplier of the great institutions and naturalists of Europe]. This article does not contain analytic drawings, although when Durieu de Maisonneuve read his paper, it was recorded (p. 100) that he 'présente à la Société des échantillons desséchés et des dessins coloriés de diverses espèces d'
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' [presents to the Society dried specimens and coloured drawings of various species of
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].
As you have always evinced so much interest in my welfare I would not like this opportunity to pass without informing you, that my former Sovereign, the King of Denmark, has raised me to the Knighthood of the Dan[n]ebrog Order, a honor which as an Officer of her Majestys Government I esteem the more high under the present auspicious relation of the Danish to the British Court.
4
Edward, Prince of Wales, had married Princess Alexandra of Denmark on 10 March 1863 (DNB). M was not permitted to wear the insignia of the order: see notes to M to H. Barkly, 14 July 1863, and Lucas (2013a).
From 1840-1845 I explored botanically the S.W. part of the Dukedom of Schleswig.
5
B53.08.01 and B53.08.02.
I trust the plants pr Great Britain, Anglesey, & Roxburgh Castle, arrived safe. I am just preparing a consignment pr Yorkshire and others shall rapidly follow.
Trusting that you are in enjoyment of perfect health and happiness
I remain,
dear Sir William,
your ever gratefully attached
Ferd. Mueller