Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS annotation by M: 'Jesse Young Esqr. Osborne House, Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire or Rawlings Hotel Jermyn Street, London'.

Diamond Furnace.

Ferro-Manganese.

Willard P. Ward, Proprietor.

Cartersville, Ga. August 14 187 7

My dear Baron,

I have not heard from you for some time and you are in my debt. I have had a great misfortune, I have as you know been travelling in the Rocky Mountains and had made a large collection of plants which were already done up for your examination, immagine my horror when I came down to the town where they were sent to learn that nearly all my things had been burned, plants, geological and Natural History specimens, books, gems, rifles, clothes & papers a whole block containing many valuable houses, has gone in smoke, so I shall have to begin again, I saw Mr Tietkens in London some weeks ago, he is looking well — I had a letter a short time ago from the Secretary of the Bibliotheque de Victor Emanuel, Rome saying they would give me a diploma, this I have never received. What had I better do about it — I have not published my travels, but have put your work at the disposal of the various societies and libraries and have not forgotten in any quarter to mention your kindness & cleverness. I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Joseph Hooker in the Rocky Mountains last week

2

J. Hooker visited the USA, including the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, in the summer of 1877.

— I am now a great sufferer from Rheumatism, wet & snow I can now no longer stand. Is it possible my dear Baron to get any thanks from Professor Petermans Government, I worked hard for their science & deserve some recognition do I not? I mean in the shape of a diploma or a letter.

3

For M's support of this request, see M to A. Petermann, July 1878 (in this edition as 78-07-00).

My address is, 65 Broadway New York U S America. With very kind regards believe me my dear Baron

Baron Von Mueller PhMd FRS FLS MD &c &c