Document information

Physical location:

Box 244/3 Shillinglaw papers, La Trobe Australian manuscripts collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 77.08.04

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Shillinglaw, 1877-08-04. 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/1870-9/1877/77-08-04-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

4/8/77.
I was touched and delighted, dear Mr Shillinglaw, when yesterday I heard of our friend Giles,
1
Possibly Ernest Giles, who arrived in Melbourne from Adelaide 2 July 1877 (Australasian (Melbourne), 7 July 1877, p. 14.
that you stood up for me in such a manly manner against one of my most powerful adversaries. I have done the man never any harm; contrarily when he went to Philadelphia I wrote kind words about him to the great Asa Gray!
2
See M to A. Gray, 25 December 1875. The man referred to was G. C. Levey, who was Secretary to the Victorian Exhibition Commissioners at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876.
He knows nothing about me and my Department, absolutely nothing, at least no more than any layman. I feel your generous feeling for rectitude all the more, as I have no claims on your consideration.
Regardfully & gratefully your
Ferd. von Mueller.