Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 88.01.10

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Bayley Balfour to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1888-01-10. 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/1880-9/1888/88-01-10-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

1
MS black-edged. MS annotation by M: 'Answ 6/3/88 FvM'. Letter not found.
Fairacres,
Oxford,
10th January 1888
My dear Baron Mueller,
Your extremely kind letter has reached me here
2
Letter not found.
& found me in the midst of an unexpected excitement. It may seem strange that one should desire to leave the classic glades of Oxford where indeed I have everything that a botanist can wish for — a lovely old garden — a fine Herbarium — a grand old Library — a Laboratory and Museum — and all this with the charming surroundings of hallowed architecture & vigorous intellect. And yet there is one thing wanting and that is complete health. To one born & bred on the bracing shores of the Firth of Forth as I was the relaxing damp climate of this town upon the ouses is very trying & I find myself working commonly at a low level of health. Now by the sudden & sad death of Prof. Dickson
3
Alexander Dickson.
of Edinburgh a vacancy is occasioned in the Chair held for so long by your old friend my father and so notwithstanding all the many delights & attractions of Oxford I am trying to succeed to the Edinburgh Chair & am very hopeful that I may be able to do so.
4
Balfour's application for the Chair at Edinburgh was successful.
I am at the present moment engaged in all the troubles that such a wish entails for you may rest assured that so enviable a position is not to be got without a deal of contest with others who also wish for the post.
But although I have this prospect I must not in the meanwhile be neglectful of the place I am in and therefore your very kind offer of a
Todea

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I most willingly & gladly accept. We shall be indeed glad to have one if you can kindly obtain one for us.
For my own work there are one or two things that I should much like to have if it be possible to obtain them. They are Hydrocharids & Naiads. Could you get me specimens of
Blyxa

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,
Ottelia

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,
Enhalus

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,
Posidonia

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,
Lepilaena

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, Cymodocea &
Amphibolus

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5
Amphibolis?
and also of the Alismaceous Damasonium &
Butomopsis

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. One cannot of course have living ones but I wish to work out completely the anatomy & morphology of these forms & if you could get me specimens preserved in alcohol of them in all conditions — in flower & fruit & in germination if possible — I should esteem it a very great favour & I should be able to complete a long delayed hope of following up my
Halophila

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.
6
I. Balfour (1879).
I fear I am very greedy in my desires. You will I know sympathise with my aspirations. Does
Penicillus

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one of the Siphonioid Algae grow anywhere within your area? I should much like some specimens if they were obtainable. Preserved either in alcohol or in saturated brine.
But in my asking favours from you I have run on without acknowledging your kindness. All the beautiful papers you have so kindly sent me are arrived & will be duly noticed in our Annals.
7
Balfour was one of the founding editors of Annals of botany published by Oxford University Press, with the first issue appearing in August 1887. In its early volumes it included a section 'Current literature', in which M's publications appeared. For example, in the section on 'Periodical Literature' in vol. 1, part 1, p. xii, B87.13.05 and B87.02.09 were listed; vol. 1, issue 3-4, February 1888, included Decade 4 of B87.13.04, B87.11.06 in 'Books and pamphlets', p. xlix, and several items from the periodical literature, pp. lx-lxii.
I am exceedingly obliged to you for your generosity. I am hopeful that we shall ere very long have you as a contributor to the pages of the Annals. My Botany of Socotra
8
I. Balfour (1888).
which has just appeared I am sending to you & I hope you will care to have it — it has taken long to bring out, not by my fault.
The question of Terminology is a very important one & it is difficult now to make use of one which is altogether consistent. As views change so does the terminology & we get a big bill of terms which is a stumbling block to beginners. I think your principle of homologating the terms with those used in connection with the animal world is a very right one & the best if it can be followed.
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M explained his reasons for revising botanical terminology in the preface to B88.11.02, p. vi, and later set out his argument more fully in B89.05.04. In his earlier B77.08.01, he had begun the process and 'reduced the technical terms to the lowest minimum', replacing, for example 'carpels (irrespective of the objectionable etymology)' by 'fruitlets' (p. ix), a move objected to by Joseph Hooker; see J. Hooker to M, 3 May 1877 (in this edition as 77-05-03a).
With kind regards & good wishes for the year we have just entered I am
yours very sincerely
Isaac Bayley Balfour