Document information

Physical location:

Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide. 89.03.17

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1889-03-17. 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/1880-9/1889/89-03-17-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

17/3/89
Let me assure you, dear Professor Tate, that I appreciate most highly the honor of your connecting my name now also with conchology,
1
Semicassis muelleri, in recognition of M’s work on fossil plants; see Tate (1889), p. 167.
and that I also most gratefully recognize the sentiments , which induced this dedication. Quite with admiration I have glanced over your list of the plants from the two rich regions, recently visited by you, and I am further charmed by the splendid manner, in which you at once turn all these observations to account for the geologic history of Australia! Indeed you are the only one , who possesses within himself the united knowledge of three branches of science sufficiently, to generalize effectually on the past history of the Australian Continent in all respects, you also only having with these comprehensive views gone personally over wide tracts of Australia with grand facilities now existing.
The Melb. meeting of the Austr. Assoc.
2
Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.
has been definitely fixed for Jan 1890 . I hope, this will give you the opportunity of seeing the Austral. Alps also This year the railway will be finished to Bright,
3
Vic.
from whence (at a drive of a few hours) elevations of 6000 feet can be reached. I have recommended to the executive Committee, that an effort be made, to induce the Government, to fix at that height some tents, so that the members of the Assoc. and their Ladies can have shelter and refreshments there amidst some of the grandest alpine scenery of the world! This tour would be made in the second week of the meeting The party can then return late in the afternoon to Bright, the whole tour taking up three days from Melbourne Of course under the tent-shelter a camp can be kept up for a few days, so that professional scientists, like yourself, can make excursions to the not very distant elevations of 7000', which first were scaled in 1854 (by myself). According to the rules of the Assoc. only Delegates of the former meetings can be members of the executive council. Thus I have not a seat on it, and have had very little influence on the choice
4
Thus ... choice is bracketed in the margin and marked Private! by M.
of the Presidents Vice-Presidents and Secretaries of the sections, which seems however to be a happy one, altho' I should have liked you to have been in a very prominent position. But you are sure, to be President, when the Assoc. meets in Adelaide,
5
Tate was indeed President when the Association first met in Adelaide, in September 1893.
and then something can be done for you in London also.
6
Tate had been an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Royal Society of London in 1884-6, but was never proposed subsequently.
Ever regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller
I am trying to bring a new edition of the Census out in 1889.
7
B89.12.03.
Ceratophylleae

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will then be placed near Ranunculaceae; —
Thymeleae

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Rosaceae

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,
Viniferae

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Araliaceae

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&c How many distinct creations and migrations of living vegetation of Australia can be discovered according to your views?
8
For discussion of nineteenth-century concepts of multiple creations, see J. Br owne (1983), especially pp. 139-44.