Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botanic Garden

18/3/71

It will afford me much pleasure, dear Mr Higinbotham, to examine any wood specimens for you, as far as it can be done; but you are probably not aware of the great difficulties, which surround such examinations. Of Eucalypts we have alone about 140 species in Australia, and each of these again show considerable difference in the wood according to geologic and climatic influences, under which these trees have grown. Even the closest microscopic investigation can not always determine the species with accuracy. You will therefore see, that a mere superficial glance at your specimens in your office would be of very little avail; hence it would be preferable, if one of your subordinates would pack up the specimens and attach to each all the information, which you possess on them and to attach queries of what you specially wish to know. I could then in leisure moments at my own place, with a superior microscope at hand, look at the specimens. The crushing reductions in my Department of last year leave me unfortunately no resources for any experiments, even the expenditure of a few shillings being now an object in my laboratory, whereas after I sunk about £8000 of my private means in my scientific researches, I am so utterly destitute, that I can no longer afford to carry on any scientific work on my private expense.

Please convey to your brother my regardful salutation.

1

For reply see T. Higinbotham to M, 20 March 1871 (in this edition as 71-03-20b). Higinbotham lived for many years with his younger brother George, radical politician and later Supreme Court justice.