Document information

Physical location:

No. 1088, unit 637, VPRS 3181/P Town Clerk's file series 1, VA 511 Melbourne, Public Record Office, Victoria. 96.03.20

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Clayton, 1896-03-20. 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/1890-6/1896/96-03-20-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

South-Yarra, 26/3/96
J. Claydon
1
i.e. Clayton.
Esqre &c
Town-Clerk of Melbourne.
Sir,
It affords me much pleasure to send to the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Melbourne herewith seeds of 22 kinds of Eucalypts, fresh collected, for the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Port Louis, Mauritius,
2
The seeds were sent in response to a request to the Mayor of Melbourne from the Mayor of Port Louis, Mauritius, for seeds of Eucalyptus, especially E. robusta and E. citriodora, for planting in Port Louis 'on the largest possible extent, with the view to remedy the effect of malarial fever' (C. Thomy Pitot to W. Strong, 6 February 1896, No. 950, unit 637, VPRS 3181/P Town Clerk's file series 1, VA 511 Melbourne City Council, Public Record Office, Victoria). The letter was referred to M, William Guilfoyle at the Botanic Gardens and George Perrin, Conservator of Forests in the Department of Lands and Survey.
as desired, also a copy of the ninth Edition of my work on "Select Plants for industrial culture and naturalisation,
3
There are no closing inverted commas.
in which publication the particular qualities of the various Eucalypts are also indicated.
It seems to me best, that many species of Eucalyptus should be tested at various places in the vicinity of Port Louis for ascertaining in first instance, which of these will best thrive in the soil and climate there, before any large expenditure, perhaps then unattended with success, is incurred in procuring very extensive quantities of seeds for as yet there untested species. Each of the sorts, now already sent, will however be sufficient to raise numerous seedlings, so that in the aggregate from this seed-sending, which is a gift of my own, a great many thousands of trees can already be reared. One season will suffice to show, which species will be for Mauritius the most adapted, so that then of these the seeds can be procured on a large scale. It needs not my assurance, that I will be happy, to aid further the important sanitory experiments now initiated so far as Eucalyptus-culture is concerned in the beautiful island of Mauritius.
Regardfully your
Baron Ferd. von Mueller,
M.D. FRS.
Herewith two parcels of Eucalyptus seeds containing also the two sorts specially desired, also herewith a book.
4
MS file annotation by Clayton: 'Mr Stewart, Letter of thanks & appreciation of courtesy & that applicant will be infd th[ere]of & […] forwdg parcel to Mayor of St Louis'.
On 14 August 1896, [J.] Henri, Town Clerk, Port Louis, Mauritius, wrote to Clayton: 'With reference to your letter of 27th June last, I have the honour, by direction of His Worship the Mayor, to acknowledge the receipt of copy of the ninth edition of "Baron Ferd: von Mueller's work on select extra tropical Plants" [B95.08.04], also of his letter to you on the subject with memorandum of directions for sowing, and lists of desiderata from the Director of the Botanical Gardens. I regret to have to inform you that the Eucalyptus seeds, so kindly procured by Baron von Mueller and Mr Guilfoyle, and which you advertize under separate registered covers have not been received. His Worship expects however they will reach him by next mail, and desires me, in the meantime, to request that you will be good enough to tender his best thanks to his Colleague of Melbourne, to Baron von Mueller and to Mr Guilfoyle, for their very precious gifts, and that you will also be pleased to forward the enclosed letters to their respective addresses.' (No. 3371, unit 637, VPRS 3181, Public Record Office, Victoria). The letter was acknowledged and letters sent accordingly to M and Guilfoyle on 19 September; letter to M not found, but it is acknowledged in M to J. Clayton, 21 September 1896.
The file also includes a letter that Henri wrote to Clayton on 29 October 1896, thanking him for passing on the thanks of the Mayor of Port Louis to M and to Guilfoyle, and also advising that a further consignment obtained from the Secretary of Lands had not arrived. Henri had been active in seeking Eucalyptus seed at least by 1884; he thanked the Mayor of Sydney in a letter dated 10 January 1885 for seeds transmitted in November 1885 to improve sanitation (see City of Sydney, Archives and History resources, https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1545042#idx17 6 2448 (accessed 11 October 2024), where his name is indexed as 'Henrie'.
Eucalyptus had been growing in Mauritius, with little success, since at least 1801 (Zacharin (1978), pp. 106-9; Jackson (1874)).
Eucalyptus