Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. For the text given here, see 'Another pioneer gone', Queensland Figaro and Punch, 21 April 1888, Lady supplement, p. 17 (B88.04.01). The text is introduced as follows:

[Barton] took a great interest in botany, and was one of the principal helpers of Baron von Mueller, of Melbourne, for whom he collected hundreds of plants in those then far-back regions [of Queensland]. For these services Baron von Mueller has had the courtesy to mention Barton's name in various parts of his celebrated work on the flora of Australia.

I have before me an interesting letter from the Baron to Barton, which incidentally mentions the name of another Queensland pioneer, whose death down South is still quite fresh in mind. The letter is dated from Melbourne, 3rd August, 1873, and reads:-

The seeds kindly sent by you, dear Mr. Barton, are those of a sesbania, which kinds of plants yield a good fibre. Please tell Mr. M'Whannell that I got the flask, supposed to be lost by Leichhardt at the time, and did acknowledge the kind gift in a letter of mine, regretting this must have been lost.

2

The find is reported in Süd Australische Zeitung, 5 October 1870, p. 6, col. a. See also M to R. Murchison, 6 November 1870 (in this edition as 77-11-06b).

As a token of evidence of Leichhardt's movements it is of no great importance in the absence of other testimony. As you are pushing to a new locality, likely full of new plants, I would ask you very particularly to continue your drying of specimens for me and to induce your neighbors and others, through personal persuasion in a short newspaper appeal to do the same. It is only by the co-operation of many amateurs in all inland districts (and many even yet of the coast districts) that the material for my works on Australian plants will become gradually more complete. The sixth volume of the Flora australiensis

3

Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6.

is now in England passing the press. In each volume, and particularly in the latter ones, your honored name occurs frequently, as the finder of many rare plants. You might, through a book-seller, send for the six volumes. They cost only £1 each, and are published entirely in the English language. I get only one single copy myself. In the seventh volume will be contained all grasses, rushes, sedges, and such like plants. If you can send, from time to time, by parcels post, or sample post, specimens of them also, particularly these soon, and of any water plants, I shall be particularly obliged.

Many ladies and children would dry flowers for me if asked.