Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS accompanied by an envelope addressed 'Miss E. Henderson Beach Park House Fitzroy Street St. Kilda | Ferd Mueller', and postmarked 'Melbourne JY 2 66'.

30/6/66

It is a new token of your mild and generous disposition, dear Miss, that you thought of the anniversary day of my birth and sent me such a precious mark of your remembrance and the genial lines which accompanied the donation. I am but poorly worthy of the distinction.

Let me express then my grateful acknowledgement of your goodness. I have had very great troubles during the whole of this sad year. They were not merely departmental, though the annoyances with an individual of my personal here in the establishment were quite enough to furnish more than one nail to my coffin.

2

Possibly Carl Wilhelmi. See M to J. McCulloch, 10 March 1866, in this edition as 66-03-10a

The whole prospects of my future are cheerless. I am almost absolutely poor & not provided for my future even in case of illness & the calls on my means are almost ruinous to maintain my social & official & scientific dignity. Last year I have been knighted by Prince Alberts Brother,

3

Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. M had been appointed a knight of the Order of the Saxe-Ernestine House; see R. von Seebach to M, 5 January 1865.

by the King of Italy

4

Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus; see Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy, to M, 12 August 1865.

& by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg

5

Order of the Wendish Crown; see Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, to M, 9 November 1865.

& I understand other distinctions are awaiting me. Otherwise my fate is sad. No end of prosecution

6

persecution?

& misrepresentations, no end of work, nearly all honorary, & while so much tended to depress my mind, the extraordinar exertions to weather 20000 young pines & rare oaks through a season unexampled and (but little water being available & that only at night) and to seize on the opportunity to excavate the Lake while dry (without special vote) taxed the bodily strenght of a frame never very strong to such an extent, as now to prostrate me periodically every day on the sick bed. However let me pass to brighter subjects. From your appearance you seemed well, though I did not see you at the various times you spoke of. May providence allow you to enjoy that unimpaired health, out of which such happy contentedness arises.

Poor Prince Condé I stayed with during the only two hours, while the mail steamer was at anchor.

7

Louis d'Orléans, Prince de Condé (1845-1866), died in Sydney on 24 May 1866.

Sir Rod Murchison had given to the Prince a letter for me,

8

Letter not found.

written in the presense of Mr Cardwell at the chateau of his father, the Duke D'Aumale. The French princes, expected to arrive per Omar Pascha did not know of the death of his Highness when they embarked. How sad an intelligence is awaiting them at the Australian shores. In a walk through the garden you will see its features greatly changed.

9

Omar Pasha, which reached Melbourne on 8 July 1866, had on board the Prince de Condé's uncle, the Prince de Joinville, accompanied by the Duc de Penthièvre and the Marquis de Beauvoir.

The exhibitions

10

International Exhibition of Australasia, Melbourne, 1866-7 and Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1867.

will absorbe nearly all my spare time during the next months. I trust however to issue the 5 vol. of the Fragmenta

11

The last fascicle of the 5th volume of the Fragmenta was issued in December 1866 (B66.12.04), and the bound volume issued in February 1867 (B67.02.07).

before the end of the year and I am inclined to think that the 3 vol of Benthams work,

12

Bentham (1863-78), vol. 3.

in which I cooperate will be concluded before the year passes, the proof being partly in my hands already.

Pray give Mr & Mrs MacHaffie the expressions of my friendly regards & let me remain your sincere friend

a few elegant seaweeds would be always prized.