The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Belgian Consulate-General ¶ Melbourne, 10 June 1878. ¶ Minister, ¶ ¶ I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch dated 13 March last, [Division] C, no. 8246 ¶ 6 ¶ , by which you request...

Document information

Physical location:

Archives of the Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise, SP, Correspondences, “Von Mueller”. M78.06.10

Preferred Citation:

Gustave Beckx to Count d’Aspremont Lynden, 1878-06-10 [M78.06.10]. 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/mentions/selected/M78-06-10-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

MS marked ‘Copie’.

Consulat Général de Belgique.

Melbourne, le 10 Juin 1878.

Monsieur le Ministre,

J’ai l’honneur de vous accuser la réception de votre dépêche en date du 13 mars dernier, Don. C no. 82466, par laquelle vous m’invitez à remercier M. le Baron von Mueller de l’envoi de plantes australiennes dont il a gratifié la Belgique.

J’ai cru bien faire en transmettant copie de l’extrait de votre dépêche précitée relatif à ce sujet, à ce savant botaniste qui m’a exprimé tout le plaisir qu’il éprouvait à apprendre que son modeste hommage avait été si hautement apprécié.

J’ai aujourd’hui la satisfaction, Monsieur le Ministre, de vous annoncer un nouvel envoi du Baron von Mueller dont il a bien voulu me remettre les connaissements et dont un duplicata est ci-annexé, l’original ayant été envoyé à la Légation Belge à Londres pour y assurer la réexpédition du colis.

A en juger par la spécification ci-jointe, en copie, fournie par le Baron, et la description qu’il m’a faite de la nature de cet envoi, j’ai lieu de le croire plus important que celui qui la précédé. Il comprend entre autres objets: cent spécimens de bois australiens donc un grand nombre travaillés pour montrer leur valeur industrielle et commerciale;

de 120 espèces de Cyperacées de la nouvelle Guinée;

de 200 espèces d’herbacés (Grasses) de l’Australie: collection presque complète et qui sera unique en Europe;

de différentes autres raretés botaniques en écorces, gommes, etc: chaque objet dans cet envoi est dument dénommé et classé.

Veuillez agréer etc … etc …

Le Consul Général

(signé) Gustave Beckx.

Monsieur le Comte d’Aspremont Lynden,

Ministre des Affaires Etrangères

&c &c &c

Bruxelles.

Belgian Consulate-General

Melbourne, 10 June 1878.

Minister,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch dated 13 March last, [Division] C, no. 82466, by which you request me to thank Baron von Mueller for the consignment of Australian plants with which he has enriched Belgium.

I believed it would be well to transmit a copy of the portion of the aforesaid despatch relating to the subject to this learned botanist,

Extract from despatch not found.

who expressed to me all the pleasure he experienced in learning that his modest contribution had been so highly appreciated.

I today have the satisfaction, Minister, of announcing to you a new consignment from Baron von Mueller for which he was keen to pass on to me the bills of lading of which a duplicate is attached, the original having been sent to the Belgian Legation in London in order to assure the forwarding of the package.

To judge by the attached copy of the specification provided by the Baron,

Specificaion not found.

and the description he gave me of the nature of this consignment, I have reason to believe it to be more important than the one that preceded it. It includes among other things: a hundred specimens of Australian timbers, of which a large number have been worked to show their industrial and commercial value;

120 species of Cyperaceae from New Guinea;

200 species of herbaceous plants (Grasses) from Australia: aa almost complete collection that will be unique in Europe;

other different botanical rarities such as barks, gums, etc: each object in this consignment duly denominated and claasified.

Yours etc.

The Consul General

(signed) Gustave Beckx.

The file also includes (1) a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels to the Minister of the Interior, 31 October 1878, informing the Minister of the arrival of a box of natural history objects sent by Beckx, including M’s new consignment; (2) a letter from the Minister of the Interior, 18 November 1878, to the Director of the Royal Museum of Natural History, informing him of the arrival of the box and noting that this included a small box of essences and extracts sent by Joseph Bosisto.

Count d’Aspremont Lynden

Minister of External Affairs

&c &c &c

Brussels