Botanic Garden Melbourne
21. June. 1857
(private)
My dear Sir William.
With the Governments Despatch bag I had the honor of forwarding to you with this (the "European's" mail) two letters, one containing new Goodeniaceae (19) the other miscellaneous botanical information. My friend Mr Becker,1 an excellent artist, has just finished an uncoloured drawing of Josephinia Eugenia[e] and I forward it just in time with the description.2 I am very anxious that it should be forwarded to Decaisne, who already worked on Josephinia before to recieve the sanction of the empress to dedicate this species to her majesty.3
With the next mail I intend to forward through the French Consul General Count Chabrillon4 a coloured duplicate. The drawing has been made under my superintendence and I can vouch for its correctness. Mr Becker is not only an excellent artist, but also a naturalist of merit, who figures now also Octoclinis for our transactions.5 His brother is librarian to Prince Albert.
Prof Harvey seems to be unaware that our stay at Howicks Group [and] the other islands of Torres Strait was only for a few hours and that neither of these places nor of Moreton Bay yields any amount of algae, a few drift fragments coming up with the tide occasionally[.] The only favourable place for seaweeds was Albany Island and also here we stayed but a few hours, which I divided between land and seaplants. Having not lost a single second in procuring what I possibly could get and in as perfect a state as possible, I feel somewhat mortified and disheartened that according to Dr Sonder the Algae have given so little satisfaction to my noble friend. He will be better pleased I daresay with a collection of V. D. L6 seaweeds procured by Stuart at Southport, some of them at least new to me. I will send them with the next sailing vessel and should be glad to get a set back, and after Kew, Dublin and the L. S.7 is supplied to have the set forwarded to Sonder [There] [are] [about]8 1000 specimens
P.S.
Work of varied nature has heaped up to such an extent, that I fear I must revoke my intention of sending a coloured duplicate of Josephinia Eugeniae. Last week I was entertained by my kind and generous countrymen of this city, which had formed since my leaving a now very flourishing union, and thought my humble services worth of creating me their honorary member. The diploma9 was recorded by Mr Becker with drawings of Oneillia and other Algae. Our "Liedertafel" of which we have reason to be proud did me the honor of contributing to the joyful evening — and all I can say is, that this manifestation of regard towards me, was equally grand undeserved and unexpected.
I add a specimen of a Ranunculus10 found at South Port V.D.L., and seemingly unknown as a Tasm. sp.11 (There is no [sign] [...]12)
Believe me, Sir William,
to be your most obliged
servant
Ferd. Mueller
We are now distilling the oil of the various Eucalypti of the neighbourhood and I shall be happy to forward samples. The oil of Euc. rostrata [enumerated] by you in the Paris Catalogue was a gift of my own, and as I had some little trouble to prepare it, I should be glad to see the name of the donor altered.13
A considerable quantity of specimens and seeds is nearly ready to be send by one of the first vessels.
I should feel greatly obliged if you would kindfully forward Daubenys Geograph. of plants at an apt opportunity.14
Mr Gregory writes, that the. N. Austr. collections have been shipped last month by the "Star of Peace"15
Eucalyptus rostrata
Goodeniaceae
Josephinia Eugeniae
Octoclinis
Oneillia
Ranunculus
W. Hooker (1856) p. 104, as Juror for the Paris Exhibition, reported on the Victorian exhibit: 'This (as concerns our class) is of small value, which is the more to be regretted as Dr Mueller, The Government Botanist, has distinguished himself by his varied information, extensive travels, and accurate researches into the interior of the Victoria Colony. To him the collection owes 24 Native Woods, correctly and botanically named (bearing also their colonial appellations): six are communicated by Mr Foot and eight by Mr Gibbons. They are generally speaking, good specimens, and many of them, if they had been accompanied by a note of their qualities, would doubtless have attracted attention. … Dr Mueller also sends Barks, probably useful for tanning, … There are three Gum Resins. … Three books are filled with a well preserved general collection of Australian Plants. … Mr Murray sends a specimen of Murray Pine (Callitris Preissii) which yields Gum Sandarach; Volatile oil, distilled from the foliage of the Red-Gum-tree (Eucalyptus rostrata),similar to cajeput.'
The Official catalogue of the Melbourne Exhibition, 1854, in connexion with the Paris Exhibition, 1855 ([1854]), listed: 'Exhibited by Mr James Warren, Loddon, 1 specimen of Murray Pine, which yields Gum Sandarac, Callitris Preissii. | Volatile oil, distilled from the leaves of the Red Gum tree (Eucalyptus rostrata), similar to the Cajeput oil — exhibited by Dr Mueller.'
Hooker apparently made a simple transcription error in compiling his report, a task made difficult by the French authorities rearranging and renumbering all of the British entries, of which the Victorian specimens were part.
For a list of timber specimens contributed by M, see M to J. Foster, 31 August 1854.
Please cite as “FVM-57-06-21,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/57-06-21