Document information

Physical location:

Bibliothèque des Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques, Geneva. 88.05.04a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Alphonse de Candolle, 1888-05-04 [88.05.04a]. 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/1880-9/1888/88-05-04a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

4/5/88
It was quite touching to me, honored and venerable Sir, when I observed from your letter of the 26 March,
1
Letter not found.
what generous sentiments you evinced with such delicacy and spontaneous impulse towards me. This is the greatest possible encouragement, which my researches could enjoy, — because you, a still labourious octogenarian, are not only the Nestor but also one of the main-leaders and one who commands the widest field of research in our Science! Your letter to Dr Bride,
2
Letter not found.
when it comes before the honorable Duncan Gillies, the Victorian Premier-Minister, will doubtless deeply impress this statesman, to whom your and your illustrious parents names — as celebrated all over the world — are well known.
From your kind letter I am not quite certain, whether the Decades I-IV of the
Acacia

Search for Acacia in

s did reach you;
3
A list, which has not been found, of proposed recipients of the early Decades was submitted with M to C. Pearson, 29 March 1887; a further list, which included de Candolle's name, was submitted with M to G. Berry, August 1887 (in this edition as 87-08-00). For details of publication dates of the Decades, as far as is known, see comments under B87.13.04.
they were sent somewhat earlier than V-VIII, but by some unexplicable mishap somewhere they reached their destination — as we now here learn — somewhat later. If I-IV are lost on their way to you, they shall be replaced. IX-XII are ready also except stitching, so they can soon be sent also.
4
B88.13.01, all ready for distribution by August; see notes to M to E. Thomas, 4 July 1888. They may, however, have been sent as each was ready; see notes to M to E Thomas, 26 June 1888.
XIII contains
Albizzia

Search for Albizzia in

,
Adenanthera

Search for Adenanthera in

,
Erythrophlaeum

Search for Erythrophlaeum in

&
Neptunia

Search for Neptunia in

, and is also nearly done. Of the 80 remaining as yet unillustrated species either the flowers or the fruits have not yet been obtained, so they can only appear supplementary in the course of later years. I will send a set of Duplicates of
Acacia

Search for Acacia in

s, so far as they can be spared, to you; but we are just now here so very much taxed with extra-duties, for the centennial Exhibition
5
Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-9.
With my regardful salutation to M. Casimir DC and yourself
Ferd. von Mueller.