The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 16/2/81 ¶ ¶ With much regret, dear Mr Josephson, I hear that you have to battle with difficulties and must begin anew again. ¶ I should like to do something for you, but since they took my departmen...

Document information

Physical location:

MS 3265, National Library of Australia, Canberra. 81.02.16a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Josephson, 1881-02-16 [81.02.16a]. 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/81-02-16a>, accessed September 11, 2025

File includes an apparently unrelated envelope addressed by M: 'Mr H. Best, &c care of Mr H. Falkner, Nightingale Street, Balaclava '.

16/2/81

Mit rechtem Bedauern, höre ich, lieber Herr Josephson, dass Sie mit Schwierigkeiten zu kämpfen haben, u. wieder von Neuem beginnen müssen. Gern würde ich für Sie wirken; aber seit man mir in einer so grausamen, sinnlosen und unverdienten Weise mein Departement nahm, lebe ich fast als Einsiedler, und sehe fast Niemand, lese nie eine Zeitung, höre nichts Sociales oder Geschäftliches, u. bin im Studium von Pflanzen vertieft, so weit ich überhaupt noch Material für Studien habe.

Nur einen Rath kann ich Ihnen geben. Wenden Sie sich an den Hr General Consul, Dr Kraul; es ist ein artiger und kluger Mann; u da ihm die Interessen der Deutschen in Australien anvertraut sind, wird er es wohl möglich machen, Ihnen durch seinen Einfluss behülflich zu sein.

Mit bestem Grusse

Ferd. von Mueller.

16/2/81

With much regret, dear Mr Josephson, I hear that you have to battle with difficulties and must begin anew again.

Josephson became insolvent: see The week (Brisbane), 2 April 1881, p. 327; Queenslander, 14 May 1881, p. 615; and Brisbane courier, 18 November 1881, p. 1. The file includes an English-language summary of the letter by Josephson and the following explanation of its contents that does not mention the financial problems that must have confronted him at the time:

Baron Von Mueller asked me in a previous letter [letter not found] re starting an expedition to “Princes Charlotte Bay” [Princess Charlotte Bay, North Queensland] in the interest of Botanic matters & offered me 200/./. to do so — this expedition was on behalf of Victoria & as I could not do it under 450/./. & also sacrifice my time — I wrote to him that I could not spare 250/./. as I had quite enough to do to carry on my own business & am only a young beginner hence the letter to me dated 16/2/1881.

I should like to do something for you, but since they took my department from me in such a cruel, senseless and undeserved manner, I live almost as a hermit and hardly see anyone, never read a newspaper, hear nothing socially or relating to business, and I am absorbed in the study of plants as far as I still have material at all for study.

I can only give you advice. Apply to the Consul General, Dr Kraul. He is a courteous and clever man and because the interests of the Germans in Australia are entrusted to him, he will probably make it possible to assist you by his influence.

With best wishes

Ferd. von Mueller