The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ I ¶ h ¶ ad th ¶ e ¶ honor and happi ¶ ness ¶ to me ¶ e ¶ t th ¶ e illustrious Madame Anna Bis ¶ hop, a ¶ n ¶ d al ¶ so ¶ Mr. ¶ Schultz ¶ , on their arrival here, very recently, and was invited to t...

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75.02.00c

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, 1875-02 [75.02.00c]. 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/1870-9/1875/75-02-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Madam Anna Bishop', California farmer and journal of useful scienc e s, 18 March 1875, p. 28. It is dated to February as the latest likely date that it could have been sent to have been quoted in this issue. It is introduced by

As proof of the true enthusiasm [Anna Bishop's] presence and her concerts gave, we give an extract from a private letter we have just received from Baron von Meuller, ( sic) the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Melbourne. It will be remembered by our readers that Baron von Meuller is our correspondent, a very distinguished Botanist, author of many very valuable works, and as a scholar is qualified to judge of the true merits of song.

We give a part of his letter to us relating to Madame Bishop. The Baron says:

[NB: M had not been Director of the Gardens since 30 June 1873, when this role was removed from him.]

I h ad th e honor and happi ness to me e t th e illustrious Madame Anna Bis hop, a n d al so Mr. Schultz , on their arrival here, very recently, and was invited to th e first grand c on c ert .

After performances in Sydney, Anna Bishop and party (including her second husband, Martin Schultz) arrived in Melbourne on 9 January 1875 where she gave 'three grand concerts' at the Athenaeum, the first on 12 January (advertisement, Argus, 11 January 1875, p. 8). On 18 January she also sang at the Metropolitan Liedertafel social evening, the evening before her departure for Adelaide ('Metropolitan Liedertafel Concert', Argus, 19 January 1875, p. 5). On her return to Melbourne she performed at further 'Grand Concerts', beginning with one sponsored by the Early Closing Association at the Melbourne Town Hall on 20 February (advertisement, Argus, 18 February 1875, p. 4), and at further 'Farewell popular concerts' (advertisement, Argus, 23 February 1875, p. 8). She also performed at the Melbourne German Liedertafel 'anniversary festival' on 1 March (Argus, 2 March 1875, p. 5) .She departed on a provincial tour after a 'Grand extra concert' on 8 March (advertisement, Argus, 8 March 1875, p. 12). It is unlikely that M’s letter was written after the concert of 20 February, as mails from Sydney to San Francisco took around 28 to 35 days; the February mail for San Francisco from Melbourne closed on 10 February ('Post Office Notice', Argus, 10 February 1875, p. 4).

I t is wonderful h ow thi s celebrated si nger ha s pre ser ved her still e xqui site voice; and I trust th e re si dent s and vi si tor s of thi s colony will secure the advantage of such an enjoyment, and suc h a rare and fa scina t i ng treat a s is th is lady's performance.