To Joseph Hooker   17 March 1860

Melbourne bot & zool. Garden,

17 March 60

Dear Dr Hooker

My principle reason for writing by this mail is to inform you, that I forwarded pr "Great Britain" a box with specimens, printings &c to Kew.¹ The box being put by the owners on the freelist, I have not received a bill of loading. You will perhaps kindly arrange with some friend in Liverpool to obtain it for you.

We are yet busy in sorting duplicates, so that the main part of the specimens destined for Kew will only be ready in a few months. Indeed the box pr Great Britain will contain not many plants new to your herbarium, but I thought you should have at least a full set of specimens of every years harvest, which will be no doubt acceptable for further interchanges. The 12 No of Fragmenta,² chiefly containing Myrtaceae, is now under the press. The flora of Vict³ is also resumed, the supply of printing paper having lately arrived. I send you a few new plates.

Is not the postponement of the Universal Flora of Australia for a few years desirable? I think there is much chance of obtaining more material now where there are so many exploring parties out. Meanwhile I shall busy myself in contributing towards it as much as I can. I have much material ready for the second volume of the Fragmenta which will be finished, if I retain health, in 1860, also the Thalamiflorae of Victoria.

I was much pleased to learn that the learned & worthy & generous Bentham has been decorated by the R.S.⁴ You are quite expressing my own opinion, when speaking about the frequent likelihood of my redescribing plants of old authors.⁵ But one serious question arises. Is the Botanist to blame, who is after the most careful consideration not able to recognize a very imperfectly diagnostified plant, or the botanist who gave by his superficial or perhaps worthless work rise to the error. If it is necessary to compare always authenticated specimens, for what purpose have we diagnoses at all? — I can under such circumstances claim at least, that I have striven to give in my Fragmenta always sufficiently detailed phrases of description, so as to establish the species in a clear manner, altho' no doubt the names have occasionally to undergo a change.

I would be but too happy to be the promulgator of Cunninghams labours, as I have as a traveller in the Australian wilderness a full conception of his arduous work, had I his herbarium here, and I would be scrupulous to adopt all his names.

I truly believe, that in our vast Australian herbarium not very many species are entirely wanting! Two rooms are entirely filled with the main sets only and these treasures increase daily either through our collectors or the many friends who send me plants from various parts of Australia. I have now my large building for the Herbarium [ready] 60' x 30' — and am delighted that your generosity has added to the treasures to be deposited there such an excellent gift as the Indian plants, announced to be forwarded by your kindness.⁶ They have not yet arrived. When the whole herbarium is properly placed, I will engage a Gentleman purposely for separating for you a specimen of each sp. & variety of our normal collection, so that this may serve as a key to my writings, and where no full specimen is available I may still send a fragment. Such must be the case with many of the West Austr rarities, from such places as were not visited by the venerable Drummond.⁷ Our Vict. Expedition for Central Austr. is also to start this winter & will be two years out & may be expected to bring a good many novelties or rarities in.⁸ My library is gradually increasing. I receive monthly the botanical Magazine,⁹ & Mr Pamplin & Dr Sonder are watching for me for any good works to be got only second hand. I have thus now also your celebrated Flora Indica.¹⁰ But Rheede,¹¹ Rumphius¹² & all Blumes Works are not yet in my possession. How there can be a doubt, as to the desirability of transferring the Botanical collections of the British Museum to Kew, I cannot comprehend! Prof Lindley speaks well on the point in the Gardeners chronicle.¹³

Excuse, dear Doctor, my hasty rambling letter. I am overwhelmed with work. The animals give me more labour & anxiety in this now great establishment, than the plants.

I have the great honor of being succeeded as President of the Royal Society by Sir Henry Barkly. Your remarks as to the names of your Indian plants shall be scrupulously attended to.

¹⁴

Your splendid collection of Garden seed pr Great Britain arrived well, also many of the life plants, for all of which generosity I owe you & your very venerable father my deep grateful acknowledgement.¹⁵

Some fatality seems to attend the introduction of the Papyrus. The plant, you were kind enough to pack, perished. I cannot enough wish it to ornament our lake.¹⁶

May the blessings of good health be granted to you & to the noble Sir William.

Faithfully yours,

Ferd. Mueller

Did I send my opening adress, delivered the other day at the hall of the R.S.?¹⁷