From George Bentham   16 May 1861

Kew May 16 1861

My dear Sir

You will see by the annexed copy of a letter¹ I addressed some days since to Sir William Hooker that the question as to whether I am to be entrusted with the preparation of an Australian Flora now depends entirely upon the immediate decision of the Colonial Governments themselves. Our Colonial Office here took up the project very eagerly, and the work would I have no doubt been commenced two years since with or even without the aid of the Colonies themselves had it not been for the desire some of them shewed that these should be splendidly illustrated Floras conducted on the scale you have begun for that of Victoria, which independent of the diminished use they would be of to European botanists travellers and temporary visitors, would require far too much time and cost in their preparation for me to think of undertaking. Even now the Duke of Newcastle seemed anxious that the Australian flora should be the next of the 8vo ones to be carried out on the general plan, but the Treasury have definitely declined to sanction it under the above circumstances. The question is now whether the Colonies are really desirous of having the work done and I will still keep my engagements open till the end of this year. If by that time I do not receive the necessary authority I shall be obliged although with much regret to give up the idea altogether, and enter into further arrangements with Martius for his Brazilian Flora of which I have already done the Papilionaea² and for which he pays liberally.

Should I receive the commission I must depend a great deal on a continuation of the assistance you have always most liberally furnished in the way of specimens or notes, and which I should always take care most fully to acknowledge. I always make it a rule to adopt MS names where not debarred by the rules of priority or by mistaken determinations — as you will observe in the Hong Kong Flora³ and other works where the MS names of Champion — of Spruce - of Martius etc are always given without adding my own name — for "Champ. et Benth." would have lengthened uselessly the quotations — and I do not in the least care to have my abbreviated name tacked on to the greatest possible number of species as has not unfrequently been the case with botanists who have no claim to it as discoverers.

Immediately on receiving the authority, should it be so decided, I shall commence with the Thalamiflorae — and much is already done as far as regards genera for the Genera Plantarum⁴ which Dr Hooker and myself are preparing and of which we hope soon to send the first part to Press. I should be very glad therefore if I am to go on if you would communicate as early as possible any specimens, notes or private accounts you may have relating to Thalamiflorae and Leguminosae which I presume will fill the first volume.

I send you by this post a copy of my Flora Hongkongensis which I beg you to accept both as a token of my great regard for you, and as a specimen of the manner in which I should propose drawing up the Flora.⁵

I am happy to hear that your name is on the list selected for the Royal Society this year. I believe there were more than 40 candidates out of which only 15 could be elected. It was however I hear unanimously admitted that none had better claims than yourself⁶

Believe me

My dear Sir

Ever yours sincerely

George Bentham

Dr Ferd. Müller

Leguminosae

Papilionaea

Thalamiflorae