The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne ¶ bot Garden ¶ 10/8/72 ¶ ¶ Every time, when I write to you, dear Mr Bentham, I feel quite ashamed of the paucity of assistance, which I render you. As explained to you before, this arises n...

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RBG Kew, Kew Correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1871-81, f. 52. 72.08.10

Plant names

Coleocoma
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Orchideae
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Thespidium
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to George Bentham, 1872-08-10. 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/1870-9/1872/72-08-10-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

Melbourne

bot Garden

10/8/72

Every time, when I write to you, dear Mr Bentham, I feel quite ashamed of the paucity of assistance, which I render you. As explained to you before, this arises not from any decreased interest in the elucidation of the australian plants, but in a large measure it owes to the great loss of time sustained since several years and particularly the last 3 years, simply to defend the integrity of my postion as the originator and administrator of a Department. Truth always prevails, but sometimes too late for the victim. But it seems now at last, from the debate in our Legislative Assembly this week, that I am to come like a phoenix out of the Ashes.

The Legislative Assembly debate on 8 August resulted in the proposed reduced vote of £1,020 to run the Botanic Gardens being withdrawn by the Minister (Victoria Parliamentary Debates 1872, p. 924). However, on 3 September a proposal to split M's Department into three was agreed to, with a vote of £1,990 for the expenses of the responsibiulities to be retained by M (Victoria Parliamentary Debates 1872, p. 1178-81).

So I hope that with more leisure and more tranquillity of mind and with new courage and hope of life I shall prove more useful to you again. The (14 parcels and 1 supl.) will go to you sorted by the Steamer Somersetshire, which is to leave our port on the 23 Aug, ought to be in London at the end of October.

I am gratified, that your health continues firm amidst your arduous labors. May you attain a Humboldtian age with a freshness of mind for research til the last. But may I as a physician warn you not to overtax your strength, but to lessen gradually your work hours, as the glorious von Martius did.

With deep regards

Ferd. von Mueller

Best thanks to you, to allow the and to be figured.

See Bentham to M, 12 June 1872. The illustrations appeared in J. Hooker (1867-89), vol. 12. The volume was issued in fascicles: centaurea (p. 33, pl. 1136) was published in August 1872; basiflorum (p. 39, pl. 1143) in April 1873.