To Julian Tenison Woods   16 October 1857

Melbourne bot. Garden

16. Oct. 1857

Dear Sir

At the evening of a very busy day (this being the first show day of the season¹) I beg briefly to respond to your kind letter of Oct. 8th² —. I was unable to do it at the moment of its receipt, having been requested to submit the annual estimates for this department to the Government,³ and being likewise busy for the European mail. I hasten now however to thank you, for favoring the Victorian Institute with the promise of a paper, which I shall be happy to read; if entrusted to me, and which the Institute will be but too happy to print with the weight of your scientific reputation. As however from Dec til Febr. no meetings can be held according to the new rules, I would desire you to send your paper early in November, in order to enable us to incorporate it into the transactions of this year. After reading your paper I shall feel happy to propose you a corresponding member for it seems to me unjust, that a gentleman, who cannot profit directly from the meetings of the society, should contribute towards its funds.⁴

I am most anxious to see flower and fruit specimens of the Banksia, which you think to be the B. serrata. The true Linnéan plant of that name is however restricted to East Australia. They may enable me to furnish to the appendix of De Candolles monograph of Proteaceae⁵ an additional note.

The by you enclosed Seaweed is Conferva Darwynii

Any information I or my friend Professor M'Coy may be able to give of the fern-impressions on Sand-stone from Geelong will be gladly given, but your friend ought to send the original specimen and deposit it at the Museum. If the fossil is new, we can publish it in our transactions.

With sincere respect and very best wishes for your welfare, I remain, dear Sir,

yours obediently

Ferd. Mueller.

P.S. Fossil fern, Banksia & Geological notes might be brought simultaneously before the Institute.⁶

Banksia serrata

Conferva Darwynii

Proteaceae