Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter marked by Tepper: ' Reply 2.6.79' [letter not found]; and 'First Letter from Baron Ferd. v. Mueller to J.G.O. Tepper. Last Letter to same dated 18.9.1896'.

20/5/1879

I feel honored, dear Mr Tepper, by your communication and by the confidence of a Gentleman of so much erudition as Professor Tate in my palaeontographic knowledge. Thus it is with all the more regret, that I cannot afford you any really reliable information on the fossil remnants, which the Professor and yourself so considerately submitted to my inspection. What I have done in the elucidation of fossils consisted in the examination of a series of fairly preserved fruits from pleiocene layers; on such material it is possible to work with some satisfaction, for establishing generic & specific forms. But palaeontology is already so overburdened with synonymy, arisen from descriptions of mere leaves & wood, that I feel reluctant to add to the host of perplexing names & definitions, by which chaotic confusion has arisen in the history fossils

2

of omitted?

already. If at any time the Professor or yourself should obtain fruits of any kind in a fossil state or rather from prehistoric formations, I will be happy to examine and describe them. It will be best to return the specimens to you, as you may attach value to them.

As your consideration has brought me happily in correspondence with you, and as you are imbued with scientific taste, and gifted with the faculty of observation, I would like to ask, that you should turn your attention also to the gathering of living plants. From Yorks peninsula

3

Yorke Peninsula, SA.

I have no plants whatever, except a small collection, secured some years ago by Miss Salmon on the request of Sir Thomas Elder. Though not likely any novelties will be discovered there, still rarities would surely be found by methodic search, and these would be worthy of record, as we have still much to learn on the geographic distribution of the Australian plants, particularly in a tract of country, such as you live in. Crudely dried Seaweeds (Algae) would even by welcome. Allow me to send you a few circulars, setting forth my wishes for additional material; these prints you might perhaps send to any friends on the telegraph line, such as likely would respond to a call of this kind.

In conclusion I like to mention, that I never yet received either a flowering or fruiting specimen of the Beda-thorn from the Beda-Country,

4

At the south-west end of Lake Torrens, SA.

and that I equally made efforts in vain, to obtain the flowers & fruits of the tall Fan-palm of the Macdonell-Range,

5

NT.

where now missionary & other settlements exist, facilitating at last through the aid of the natives the securing of a few palm-flowers & fruits.

The 90th number of the fragmenta

6

B79.01.01.

constitutes a portion of the eleventh vol. of that work. Your excellent essays interest me greatly & I offer you my best thanks for the prints.

7

Not identified, but Tepper (1878), Tepper (1878a), and Tepper (1878b), at least, had been published by the time M wrote.