Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot. Garden

16. May 64.

My dear Miss Henderson

It is now some time since I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you, and as I am not absolutely sure (though I believe so) that I have written last, I will send you a few lines to enquire after your health. I hope that in the pure air of your lovely isle you enjoy both health & happiness & as your brother stays with you, you must have less loneliness than before.

My last letters you must have thought & indeed most of mine very poor productions of the pen of a literary man. But whilst I assure you that I notwithstanding the want of fullness of expression in my letters cherish the most friendly feelings for you, I feel often so prostrated both in body & mind after toilsome work, that I find it difficult to render my thoughts elastic & expressive. I may instance that I had last week one day (at the mail day) 50 letters foreign & colonial, & indeed I see no prospects amidst the turmoils of departmental work to bring up literary arrears unless I abandon to a very great extent my attendance at the various meetings & hence it is likely that I shall little share in the executive labours of the Acclimation Council for the remainder of the year. I declined the Presidency of the R.S.

1

Royal Society (of Victoria).

offered to me by several members also on the ground, that I should not have the needful time to devote to its interest. If I do not write even much to you during the year, you must kindly excuse it, as I shall make some efforts to prepare for taking my leave of absense next year. I am inclined to devote the furloug to a journey into the interior if the Gov. & Parliament will take at valuation my library for the Department.

2

The Government did indeed agree to purchase M's library; see M to J. McCulloch, 30 September 1865.

But I do not wish this generally to be known, as on obtaining this vote my whole arrangements must depend.

Were you in Melbourne you would enjoy some splendid music at the opera.

3

Melbourne enjoyed regular opera seasons during the 1860s thanks to the impresario W. S. Lyster. During May 1864 the offerings included 'Lucia di Lammermoor', 'La Fille du Régiment', 'Faust', Il Trovatore' and 'Lucrezia Borgia'.

I have not been as yet there but think to go at least once. I was however several times in the Theater to profit of Keans masterly performances,

4

The noted English actors Ellen and Charles Kean appeared at the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne, for a season in 1863-4; see Argus, 8 October 1863, p. 5, and 'Mr. and Mrs. Kean's farewell', Argus, 2 May 1864, p. 5.

and as I do not like to go alone I went either with Dr & Mrs Rudall or with Mr & Mrs Wadsworth.

My health is better than it was some months ago, yet I am far from strong; and I do not believe that I shall ever regain my freshness of mind & physical frame until I have been out for a long time in the open wilderness.

With cordial wishes for your welfare, I remain, dear Miss, your