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RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, ff. 285, 283. 67.09.28
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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 June 4, 2026
On board of HM. Mailsteamer
"Geelong" on her way to King Georges Sound
1
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.
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.]
the Duke of Edinburgh among us.
2
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).
3
editorial addition — Text obscured by binding.
4
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
are now only granted; but possibly the sum may only be available by next mail
5
Bentham's payment for writing Flora australiensis.
6
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.
Epacrideae
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The bill of loading refers to the consignment of chiefly capsular
made at the time of my departure to West Australia.
Epacrideae
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