The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne 10/4/75. ¶ ¶ Two days ago, rev. & dear Sir, I returned home or rather to Melbourne, for I am homeless since I was deprived of my dwelling in the bot. Garden, and as therewith my whole posit...

Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.3608 Clarke papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 75.04.10

Plant names

Penteune Clarkei
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Phymatocaryon angulare
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Rhytidocaryon Wilkinsonii
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- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Branwhite Clarke, 1875-04-10. 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/1870-9/1875/75-04-10-final.odt>, accessed May 10, 2026

For a published version of this letter, see Moyal (2003), pp. 1064-5.

Melbourne 10/4/75.

Two days ago, rev. & dear Sir, I returned home or rather to Melbourne, for I am homeless since I was deprived of my dwelling in the bot. Garden, and as therewith my whole position became ruined and my last property swept away, I am erring at present homeless about, without hardly anyone here to take an interest in my fate or willing to make the slightest effort for a honorable restoration of my position.

Unsettled as I am thus by the intrusion of a person from Sydney

William Guilfoyle.

and unable to arrange for proper departmental work out of a mere modest and insecure salary, I cannot go closely into the question of your fossils just now. You have however rediscovered the , of which you found 4 specimens, which have given me a better idea of the position of that genus than I had before. I have sent these 4 specimens to Mr Wilkinson with a fuller description, so that he may utilize them for the lithogram, which he intends to issue on this hitherto unpublished plant.

B76.12.01, p. 39.

Among your fossils are also and , both which I send now back. The fossil wood & the leaves I will send to Dr Schimper in Strassburg;

W. Clarke (1876a), p. 56, reported the transmission to Schimper.

while the few other fruits I will retain (if you permit) until more material accumulates & I feel more comforted for the approaching unprovided evening of a labourious and toilsome life.

With grateful & regardful remembrance always your

Ferd. von Mueller.