Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS annotation by Hooker:

Lindsaea lanuginosa, Wall. Edgecombe Bay (sent before [from]

& Acrostichum fraxinifolium, Br.

2 pinnae acute = fraxinif.

2 " obtuse = aureum'.

24/10/63

Dear Sir William

Though your kind instructive & ingenious letters are always sources of pleasure to me, I felt most particularly gratified when by last mail along with your kind handwriting I received the invaluable dear little picture, which now for the first time revealed to me your most venerable features. I shall regard your portrait, thus so kindly given, as one of the most precious gifts I possess for

2

of written over for [or vice versa].

my gallery of pictures of great coetans.

3

No such image of William Hooker has been identified at MEL, but see M to J. Haast, 29 July 1862 (in this edition as 62-07-29b) and notes thereto.

I am glad that you and Dr Hooker will kindly support Sir Henry Barklys election into the Royal Society.

4

M requested Hooker's support in M to W. Hooker, 26 June 1863 . See notes thereto for details of Barkly's election on 2 June 1864.

The Governor is really so zealously devoted to science, though his time for extra-official work must always be limited, that he is well deserving of the distinction. His Excellency's Successor, Sir Charles Darling, has shown me already much kindness and urbanity, but as he has been seriously unwell we have had not yet the full benefit of his presence amongst us.

This reminds me of his friend, Sir Richard M'Donnell. What a pity it is, that this stirring, generous and gifted man, is not again in a gubernatorial position. What an amount of good he would do as the administrator of any of the British Dominions, in which geographical research combined with promotion of natural history enquiries should be carried on. To a great measure the strides made in South Australia for unveiling the interior of this great land must be attributed to the manful action of Sir Richard M'Donnell.

5

MacDonnell became Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and later Governor of Hong Kong.

As you always evinced so kind an interest in my welfare & fates, I cannot withhold from you the fact, that His Maj. the Emperor of Austria conferred on me the Knightscross of the Francis Joseph Order. I accept in it not as a reward for what little I may have done, but an encouragement for future labours.

6

See notes to M to C. Darling, 12 October 1863 (in this edition as 63-10-12a) for the refusal of the Foreign Office to sanction M's wearing the honour.

Ever with the profoundest wishes for your health, long continued life and happiness, I remain