Ferdinand von Mueller

Montesea

Homebush

Nov. 10th [97

My dear Sir Frederick McCoy

Mr French and Mr Maiden have both written to me not to subscribe to the late Baron von Mueller's "Grave Monument Fund"

1

See W. Potter to the general public, 1897 (in this edition as M97-00-00).

till it is better known what other societys will do — my idea is that he would be better pleased in the event of the Government not providing for his relations, for a sum of money to be subscribed for a scholarship in Botany and for his relations to receive the interest during some of their lives — then at their deaths to be used for the benefit of science as I have said above.

A simpler monument would be as suitable but please keep this to yourself for the present for Mr Potter has written to me on the subject, but I would like a little advice from you, so please write soon.

I sent a most valuable box of Algae from Coogee

2

Sydney.

to the late Baron and it must have reached [him]

3

Word omitted.

the day before he passed away, but Mr Potter tells me how his papers, etc., were ransacked. I got some beautiful new specimens, for being on the spot I get fishermen to go half dressed, when the tide was low over all the rocks that were almost always covered with sea water and so got new specimens. The Baron had some one not very honest about him and I will tell you more about it some time, but now write in haste.

Mr Potter told me he went to you about the parcel he sent you etc., so I hope you have got the vegetable fossils . I am promised some from America, which I shall send to you as soon as they arrive. A cousin is collecting […] fossils for me there.