Ferdinand von Mueller

27/6/95

Am afraid, dear Miss Pasco, that unintentionally I have hurt your and your venerable fathers feeling; but this to do willingly I would be quite incapable even with my natural frankness. If he had read the two letters, which I wrote to Admiral Sir George Richards about Capt Pasco,

1

Letters not found.

he would be convinced of my friendship and admiration. As regards the Algs, I was misunderstood. I merely wished any, that could be got as drifted up at the Jetty, where I collected masses in 1854, 1861 and one later year. It was most attentive of you to walk a long distance for them. I found crudely dried algs very useful for my interchanges, as in that state large quantities can be cheaply sent abroad, irrespective of what I may prepare here. Since years the resources of my little Department have no longer admitted, to keep a collector in the field and lately I have lived almost beyond even my private means. The entire cost of sending would reach nearly half a guinea even each time, if Mr French

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Probably George French, who was M's personal servant. It is unlikely that the first herbarium assistant Charles H. French would have been used as a messenger. There are no algae in MEL collected by Emily Pasco (AVH, accessed 16 November 2023).

did not go All I would ask you, to send me kindly a telegram when large and varied species have drifted up at the jetty. I would then send young Mr French with 2 or 3 cornbags, to fill, and bring them back here by return of railway or rather steamer, as it would be wet goods . If you will kindly pick up some of each of the delicate sorts on occasional walks, I shall be greatly beholden to you.

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The Pasco family were living at Queenscliff, Vic; see C. Pasco to M, 14 September 1893.