Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from the obituary notice of Francis G. A. Barnard, Victorian naturalist, vol. 49 (1932), p. 72. The quoted text is introduced by 'in a letter to Mr. C. French, senr, the secretary [i.e. Charles French Snr; standard disambiguation note added for ease of retrieval in searches], Baron von Mueller writes:'.

Francis George Allman Barnard was married to Mary Rachel Watts on 20 August 1889 (Argus, 31 August 1889, p. 1), and the letter is dated accordingly.

Pray convey also my best felicitations to him and his future lady, at this happy and auspicious event. To me it is particularly significant, because Mr. Barnard is a scion of the family on which Sir Edwin Smith,

2

i.e. Sir James Edward Smith, referred to directly by the author of the obituary, who wrote that Barnard 'through his mother … was a descendant of Sir James Edwin Smith, founder of the Linnean Society of London'.

who just 100 years ago founded the Linnean Society, shed such lustre. ...

3

Ellipsis in source text.

The bridegroom whom we wish to honour on this great occasion has evidently inherited the Smithian spirit, of which, by his zealous services to the Club,

4

Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria.

he has given such ample proof.