Melbourne botanic & zoologic Garden,
24. Aug. 1860
My dear Dr Hooker.
That Mr Bentham has decided on giving preference to the Hong Kong flora1 over that of Universal Australian one is, I do not conceal it, an agreableintelligence to me,2 as it will give me many opportunities meanwhile of bringing my own observations more fully to publication, whilst unquestionably the work of Mr Bentham will afterwards thereby facilitated & accelerated. I have seen in this measure an act of generosity from the side of your celebrated friend and may perhaps interpret it likewise as a token of respect towards myself. In both cases I am under great obligation and it has hightenedmy esteemsfor Mr Bentham, for whom I have always entertained that admiration, which even one personally unacquainted with him must fully feel, when merely regarding his labours in the field of science.
I have written to your venerable father about some new positions in the system for some old plants.3 Perhaps I may enjoy your opinion on the point.
I am working now up the Diosmeae of Australia for the Victoria flora4 & the Fragmenta. I have some pretty new Boronia[e]in the herbarium which will appear in the 14 No of my Fragmenta.5 I shall have a difficult task to finish the Thalamiflora6 before the end of the year, as the will yet fully absorb[e] 80 more pages of quarto letterpress & I can seldom work except on Sundays — & have two journeys to perform to Cape Howe & Mount BawBaw. If Mr Edw Wilson pays you a visit, pray let this noble-hearted man have the best opportunity of becoming acquainted with your magnificent establishment.
Ever your attached
Ferd Mueller
Dr Beckler has taken his departure as Botanist & Surgeon in the Victorian Camel Expedition.7
Boronia
Diosmeae
Thalamiflora
Please cite as “FVM-60-08-24,” 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 19 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/60-08-24