The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot Garden ¶ 30/6/64. ¶ My dear Mis Euphemia, ¶ ¶ I feel much gratitude indeed for the mark of your kind attention bestowed on me by sending me the magnificent volume of poems as a remembra...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M41, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. 64.06.30

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Euphemia Henderson, 1864-06-30. 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/1860-9/1864/64-06-30-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne bot Garden

30/6/64.

My dear Mis Euphemia,

I feel much gratitude indeed for the mark of your kind attention bestowed on me by sending me the magnificent volume of poems as a remembrance of this day.

M's birthday. Volume of poems not identified.

Rest assured, that whenever I shall read these verses, which seem full of lofty thoughts & easy grace I shall be conscious that the gift came from your hands, though I deserved it so little. Since childhood I have had little leisure to enjoy what acts so prominently ennobling on the mind, magnificent poetry. But I have been reading lately now & then some of the most sublime passages of Schiller in original with Dr Rudall.

My life passes on so monotonously, that I have little to record that can possibly interest you. I may however mention, that I shall probably obtain the first proof-sheets of the second volume on all Australian plants from President Bentham by next mail.

Bentham (1863-78), vol. 2; see M to G. Bentham, 25 August 1864.

I am myself engaged at present on an essay on the plants of the Chatham Islands,

B64.10.02.

and have just before brought the fourth volume of my Fragmenta far towards its close.

A new part of M's Fragmenta, B64.06.01, was issued in June 1864. It was not, however, the final part of vol. 4, two further numbered parts, B64.11.01 and 64.11.02, being published in November and a final part (B64.13.03) containing the index &c. being published toward the end of the year.

When that is done I shall resume my elaboration of the second vol. of the plants of Victoria which has been interrupted since some time.

I hope you are enjoying the blessing of perfect health & cheerful mind. I have been myself suffering all this winter from a cough, which will not leave me whilst I am so much exposed to cold weather. The poem-volume was most attentively brought by Mr Bruces little beautiful & clever daughter to my house.

There is more than one 'Mr Bruce' resident in Melbourne mentioned in the correspondence, and this one has not been unambiguously identified.

Accept, dear Miss, the assurance of the profoundest regard for you of your obedient friend

Ferd. Mueller