Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M41, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 63.11.05

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Euphemia Henderson, 1863-11-05. 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/1860-9/1863/63-11-05-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne bot. Garden,
5. Nov. 1863.
My dear Miss Euphemia.
Allow me to offer you my cordial congratulation to your birthday and the sincere wish that at its long repeated returns you will always in health & happiness look into the past & future and that neither grief nor illness will cloud the joy and tranquillity of your days. In your tender & generous disposition you will, I feel assured, brighten the life of those with whom you are consociated, & it must be always a source of peaceful happiness to you, to be conscious to have contributed to the pleasures and to have raised the feelings of attachment of those around you.
As a trifling remembrance of the festival of this day I beg of you to accept the small piece of furniture herewith offered.
1
A desk, to judge by the description.
It is made for a Ladys use and may have some additional value to you, in as much as it is constructed entirely of Australian and chiefly of Victorian woods. An index of these you will find in one of the drawers. In a small drawer in front inside at the right hand you will find a fixed handle. By drawing this forward it acts on a spring, which lifts a repository. Pressing the latter down it assumes again its position. I have ventured to put into the Davenport a volume of Harveys work on Seaweeds,
2
One of the later volumes of Harvey (1858-63)?
one which I believe you as yet not possess. The fifth volume has as yet not reached me, otherwise I should have felt much gratification in forwarding it also.
Thinking that this piece of furniture could not be readily moved by you to your future residence without a proper protection, I have placed it in a box of suitable dimensions.
Your last letter & mine were on their way simultaneously. As I mentioned I shall be much from home this week, but will endeavour to be free of engagements at any time you may be pleased to appoint for visiting the Gardens.
Should you go to Phillip Island, pray oblige me by securing some roughly dried seaweeds, for which I have a constant demand.
With kindest regards, dear Miss Henderson, yours
Ferd. Mueller.