The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: On board of HM. Mailsteamer ¶ "Geelong" on her way to King Georges Sound ¶ 28/9/67 ¶ Dear Dr Hooker ¶ ¶ For the final restoration of my health I have taken a seavoyage to King Georges Sound, where I ...

Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, ff. 285, 283. 67.09.28

Plant names

Epacrideae
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1867-09-28. 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/1860-9/1867/67-09-28-final.odt>, accessed July 21, 2026

On board of HM. Mailsteamer

"Geelong" on her way to King Georges Sound

King George Sound, WA.

28/9/67

Dear Dr Hooker

For the final restoration of my health I have taken a seavoyage to King Georges Sound, where I may stay for a month, never yet having seen the South West Australian plants in their native state.

Thwaites was told of M's condition: 'Mueller seems to be very far from well — a Coll Newdigate ['Newdgate' in published passenger list, Argus, 30 September 1867, p. 4] who spent a few hours here two days ago had been on the steamer with Mueller from Melbourne to K. George's Sound & thought he looked very ill and emaciated; but he was busy writing during the whole voyage. I had a short note from him [letter not found].' (G. Thwaites to J. Hooker, 28 October 1867, RBG Kew, Directors' correspondence, vol. 162, ff. 307-8).

I dare say I shall be able, as far as my present strength permits, to examine some of the curious forms of the Vegetation to advantage, at all events, I shall take with me an outline impression of the flora, which must be very glorious. Should I decide on any distant excursion, which must depend on the recovery of my strength, I may not be able to write to you or Mr Bentham by next months mail. But unless I meet with an accident or get a relapse to severer illness I hope to write to you from Melbourne again by the November mail. By that time I hope we shall be able to rejoyce at the stay of H.R. [H.]

editorial addition — Text obscured by binding.

the Duke of Edinburgh among us.

The Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Melbourne 23 November 1867 (The Times [London], 30 December 1867, p. 7, col. b) and sailed for Tasmania on 4 January 1868 (The Times, 21 January 1868, p. 9, col. c).

With my best salutation

Ferd. Mueller

Should I be too late for paying my homage to the Duke at Melbourne, I will wait on his R. H. either in Tasmania or in Sydney. Through the political complications the £100 - - for vol IV

Bentham's payment for writing Flora australiensis.

are now only granted; but possibly the sum may only be available by next mail

The remaining text is bound as f. 283 but has been placed here on the basis that M refers in it to the consigning of the box following that referred to in M to J. Hooker, 20 September 1867, which is at f. 282. The bill of lading for the later shipment, Box 34 containing the capsular , which was consigned for shipment aboard the Lincolnshire that departed on 5 October 1867 (RB MSS M44, notebook recording despatch of plants for Bentham for Flora australiensis, library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne) has not been found, but it would seem that M obtained a duplicate of it to send to Hooker, before he sailed for WA on 28 September.

Many of the southern everlastings I have lately received from the interior of Queensland

The bill of loading refers to the consignment of chiefly capsular made at the time of my departure to West Australia.