Rotterdam 3 August 1863.
Dr Meuller1
Botanical Gardens,
Melbourne.
Dear Sir,
The Board of the Zoological Society of Rotterdam, named "Rotterdamsche Diergaarde" were much gratified, to learn that you have been so kind as to send them p.2 Capt ter Brugge, of the Dutch Bark3 "Vrede"
2 Cape Baron Geese Cereopsis Novae Hollandiae
2 Native Hens Porphirios …
They are Sorry to inform you that of these important birds only one of the Porphirios has arrived, the other three having died on the passage. — The Captain also was unlucky enough to lose the female of his two black Swans, given him by you, for his trouble in bringing over your valuable present.
The Native Hen is already perfectly at home & enjoys the best of health.
The Board, gratiful for your kindness have Unanimously elected you Honorary Member of the Society, which mark of their approbation, they hope you will be pleased to accept.
They beg to recommend the interests of the Gardens again to your powerful aid and trust the unfavorable issue of your first effort to enrich these collections will not deter you from sending, whenever you find an opportunity, any animals or birds you may deem fit for the Gardens.
| P. H. Martin | A R Dunlop President [loco]4 |
| Manager | N. J. Hoffmann Secretary |
P.S: Diploma enclosed.5
sic.
per.
Barque.
i.e. in place of; the President was J. van der Hoop Jacz, see the diploma that accompanied this letter (in this edition as 63-08-03a). Dunlop was a member of the committee (Kees Rookmaaker, personal communication, 26 November 2019).
See Rotterdamsche Diergaarde to M, 3 August 1863 (in this edition as 63-08-03a).
Impressed stamp: ‘Rotterdamsche Diergaarde 1857’.
Please cite as “FVM-63-08-03,” 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