Document information
Physical location:
Natural History Museum, London, Museum Archives, DF404/5, folder 71, Mueller, Sir FJH von. 89.02.15
Plant names
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Boronia Barkeriana
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Boronia Barkeriana
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Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Robert Collie, 1889-02-15. 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/1880-9/1889/89-02-15-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
Identification confirmed by the label on Boronia barkeriana specimens in the Melbourne herbarium collected from the Shoalhaven River, NSW: Collie
collected specimens MEL 2097894 in February 1889 and MEL 2097895 in '1888'.
Had I known, rev. & dear Sir, that you had passed through Melbourne, I would have
made an effort, to find you out, and to enjoy again a conversation with you, wishing
so genial a friend as yourself a prosperous voyage, happy stay in his native lands
and joyous return to his attached congregation and numerous friends here.
Let me thank you for the additional specimen of
, which demonstrates its occurence so far south as the Shoal-haven River.
2
Collie left Sydney on 2 February 1889 on 10 months' leave from his post as Minister
of Newtown Presbyterian Church (
Daily telegraph
(Sydney) 2 February 1889, p. 4).
Boronia Barkeriana
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On account of our medical Congress having only been held so late as last month, the
Council of the Austral. Assoc. for the advancement of science has resolved to postpone
its Melbourne meeting til January 1890.
So we can have also the pleasure of your participation in time.
3
The second session of the Intercolonial Medical Congress of Australasia was held in
Melbourne in January 1889. M was President of the Second Congress of the Australasian
Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Melbourne in January 1890.
Pray remember me kindly to the excellent President of the Linnean Society, who — so
I learn lately — brought in the most generous and disinterested spirit his powerful
interest to bear in the bestowal of H. M.'s Medal at the R.S. for 1888.
I am much touched with this act of unexpected gracefulness from Dr Carruthers in
his doubly high position.
4
M was awarded one of the Royal Society of London’s two Royal Medals for 1888.
5
Carruthers was President of the Linnean Society. It is not clear what other 'high
position' is intended: Carruthers was not a member of the Council of the Royal Society;
nor do his obituaries mention other society offices in this period. It may be a reference
to his official position as Keeper of Botany at the British Museum (Natural History).
In 1888 I have barely been able to work on new plants, as I had to finish the difficult
work for the Key to the system of Vict. plants,
to bring out an enlarged edition of the Select plants,
to issue the 130 plates of the Austr. Acacias and allied genera,
— and [more] — had as a professional head of a Department and as one of the Commissioners
for the Centennial Exhibition
much of additional duties also, quite irrespective of what the Presidency of the
geographic Soc., the Vice Presidency of the Liedertafel and the Presidency of the
therapeutic Section of the Medic. Congress involved for extra-exertions
6
B88.11.02.
7
B88.12.01.
8
B88.13.01. The first 70 of the 130 plates had been issued earlier, B87.13.04.
9
International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888, marking the centenary of the first European
settlement in Australia.
10
The valediction and postscripts are written in the margins of the letter.
your Ferd. von Mueller
Kindly remember me also to Mr Britten;
he will soon have notes and descriptions of Papuan plants
11
James Britten.
Whatever of my works is not sent through the public Library is a private gift
My new publications are just going through the public library here to the British
Museum also