Melbourne bot. & zoologic
Garden 16. May 1859
My dear Professor Balfour.
It gave me much pleasure to learn from your kind note, dated 24 February,1 that the small collection of botanical specimens, which I forwarded was so acceptable for your herbarium, and having just a small parcel of duplicates, chiefly of rarer inland species, ready, I entrust it as a continuation of my former collection to my friend Dr Crozier, the Surgeon Superintendent of the Avon, who has been so friendly to promise forwarding it to you.
I have to congratulate you on your election to the medical council.2 Do you regard the measure of adopting the english language for prescriptions a wise one?
The two new volumes of our phil Institute transactions are now soon in print & I will see them forwarded to the R. S. E.3 The volumes were almost printed & burnt again in a fire we had. I am publishing now the Flora of this Colony with illustrations.4 I have very extensive material for doing so & I may say an unrivalled series of varieties of each species, which prompts me to such immense reductions of species (& genera) that I am afraid to incur the displeasure of many a botanist. However we strive all merely at truth, & sooner or later truth will break its way.
Should you see my friend Balfour Stewar[t] pray give him my kindest regards. I regret that we could not retain so enlightened a gentleman in this colony.
I have added to the parcel under of care of Dr Crozier my report on Mr Babbage's plant & No 5 of my fragmenta.5 Should there be any No wanting to complete your set, pray let me know, and if the R.S. or any other scientific Institution or lover of science requires them, they will be gladly sent.
With sincere regard, dear Professor,
your humble
& attached Ferd Mueller
Please cite as “FVM-59-05-16,” 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