From Ferdinand von Mueller to Euphemia Henderson   1 Mar 1863

Melbourne botanic Garden,

1/3/63.

My dear Miss Henderson

To redeem my promise I send these few lines to you by this weeks mail. I hope the very boisterous weather of last week did not affect you there in any way, and that you will all enjoy now a lovely autumn with the renewed cooling verdure. Since writing last to you I made an application to Government for a years leave of absense under certain favorable stipulations.¹ With these my chiefs may possibly not be able to comply, and if so I must abandon probably for ever my plan of revisiting Europe, and then there will be no necessity of bidding you good bye. I may hence under so much less direct cause for a renewed visit to Phillip Island deprive myself of the pleasure of seeing you again until you come over here for spending the cool season.

In candor I must confess, that I am reluctant to give Mr M'Haffie the great trouble of fetching me across with his boat, whilst on the other hand I do not know yet, unless I learn from you, how I can make any other line readily accessible to your island without much sacrifice of valuable time and consequent shortening of my visit.

We had yesterday a flower — & fruit — show at the Gardens, and an other will take place next Saturday. I thought how you would have enjoyed the festival, especially as you are so fond of music.

The large fish brought by Mr M'Haffie is determined as Sciaena aquila by Professor M'Coy, who states not only that it is occasionally seen in our bays, but regards it even identical with a mediterranean species. My learned friend was glad however to retain probably on account of its large size the specimen for the Museum, where it is deposited as a donation from your brother in law.²

With my kindest regards to you, to Mrs & Mr M'Haffie, I remain, my dear Miss, yours

very truly

Ferd. Mueller.

I had a pair of Californian Quails caught for liberation in Phillips Island, and hope to add some other creatures to these for the same purpose.