Ferdinand von Mueller

6/8/69.

Let me express to you, dear Mr Bunce, my deep sympathy with you and your Lady in the sad and distressing losses, which you sustained in the death of your poor children.

1

Four of Bunce's children had died within three days in a diphtheria epidemic (ADB).

It is mournful enough to parents to loose a single child, but when the life of several in rapid succession is extinguished, such dreadful fate must be sorrowful beyond all description.

We elder people, whose earthy career is expected early to cease, must not expect too much from life, but if the poor youthful beings, before whom the life with all its hopes seems yet to expand, are called so suddenly away, one day playful and the other day passed into eternity, we have nothing left but to think with christian resignation, that the ruler above us ordains all to the best.