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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh J. H. Balfour Correspondence, volume X, no 274. 68.02.18Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to John Balfour, 1868-02-18. 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/1860-9/1868/68-02-18-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
18/2/68
I feel much gratified with your friendly attention, dear Prof. Balfour, of sending
me successively so many of your valued communications. Your necrolog of Prof Goodsir
I read with deep affection.
I held always a very high opinion of this truly great man, but this feeling of appreciation
is still more hightened when I reflect on his forcibly expressed views against the
Doctrines, which lower so much the psychical position of man and his rank in the living
creation. To me it is a comfort that men like Owen, Goodsir and yourself defend the
truths, on which our faith and our hopes depend and that thus also Goodsirs telling
words are on record.
1
Balfour (1867). Balfour reports visiting Goodsir during his final illness, and that
Goodsir ‘entered on one occasion with great earnestness on the developmental views
of man, and condemned strongly the doctrines of Huxley and others. He considered that
no true anatomist could adopt those views. He looked at the mental and moral aspects
of man’s nature as well as the physical. His lectures on man, in which he maintained
that his moral and religious constitution ought not to be separated from his anatomical
and physiological, will long be remembered by those who heard him. We believe that
there are materials extant from which they can be published. Their publication would
be an important contribution to science in these sceptical times.’ (p. 125).
In the introduction to the "Chatham Island Vegetation" I expressed my own views on
this great question.
2
B64.10.02. See Lucas (2010).
Pray let me know whether you still need for the Edinburgh Garden seeds of Australian
Shrubs. I fear your glassroom is not sufficiently spacious for many additions.
Trusting you are well
I remain
your very regardful
Ferd. von Mueller.