Document information
Physical location:
RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, f. 384. 69.05.26aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1869-05-26 [69.05.26a]. 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/1860-9/1869/69-05-26a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
MS annotation: 'And with case of [Bamboos] Sept [2]/69'. No letter from J. Hooker
to M dated 2 September 1869 has been found, but M to J. Hooker, 6 November 1869 (in this edition as 69-11-06a) may be an answer to it.
The Kent, dear Dr Hooker, which brings this letter, brings you also the huge Todea,
desired by you. It is fresh from mount macedon,
and the creature is one of the largest I ever saw. Its removal from the deep gorges
of the range was not accomplished without difficulty. It must be over hundred years
old, perhaps it is much older. It requires to be put with the
base into water
. I believe these huge ferns, which are here also sub-alpine, will stand the frost
of the South of England in mild sheltered glens!
2
Vic.
This day I had a kind letter from Sir Henry Barkly,
from which I learn, that I was quite right in my anticipation, that the honor of
being a member of the newly reorganized St Mich. & St. George's order, was largely
owing to your favorable representations of my services in Australia.
Accept my best thanks for your generous goodness. But how is it, that
your
great merits & Mr Benthams & Prof Owens remained quite unrecognized by any distinguish[ing]
gift from the throne? Have these ranks no charms to you?
I should have thought that were
a
Lady
enhances the value of such possessions that tokens of distinction would be
doubly
prized
3
Letter not found.
4
See notes to M to H. C. Manners-Sutton, 22 February 1879 (in this edition as 69-02-22a), and M to J. Hooker, 27 February 1869 (in this edition as 69-02-27a). Hooker had been lobbying for some time for a knighthood for M (see J. Hooker to
H. Barkly, 27 July 1866 (in this edition as M66-07-27), and J. Hooker to H. Barkly,
24 September 1868 (in this edition as M68-09-24)); M had been placed on the 1864 list
of those to be given the title of Knight Bachelor in the list drawn up to mark the
marriage of the Prince of Wales, but Queen Victoria did not approve of marking the
marriage of her estranged son in this way, and M remained on the 'arrears list' in 1868 (Lucas 2013a).
5
Hooker was ambivalent about accepting honours: see Lucas 2013a.
6
where?
Yours with regardful attachment
Ferd. von Mueller.