Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania for 1875 (1876), p. 163, as an introductory part of B76.13.02. It is probable that it was included with M to J. Agnew, 21 December 1875, and it is dated accordingly.

Among a number of Samoan plants placed for elucidation at my disposal by the Rev. S. T. Whitmee, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., occurs a whortleberry-bush, the first member of the order of Vaccinieae, as yet known from that Group. The Royal Society of Tasmania has favoured me on former occasions by promulgating notes on plants not always Tasmanian, and, perhaps, this privilege will be continued at this and future opportunities to render known remarkable undescribed plants through the pages of its publications, while this advantage will be all the more appreciated, inasmuch as the praiseworthy regularity and punctuality with which the Tasmanian Society issues its papers, affords the most favourable vehicle in Australia for the early record of new observations. Passingly, it may here be observed, that some of the plants of Mr. Whitmee's collections, which latter were formed at great risk, toil, and expense of the reverend gentleman, amidst the arduous duties of his ecclesiastical position, have been alluded to in an appendix to Mr. F. Campbell’s work on the New Hebrides, and in a recent publication on Papuan plants from Sir William MacArthur's sendings.

2

B73.13.01 and B75.11.01.

Melbourne, December, 1875.