Melbourne botanic Garden
21/8/63.
(Friday noon).
My very dear Miss Henderson.
If by anything the profound esteem I ever for you entertained could be raised, it would be by the noble pious and unselfish sentiments expressed in your letter,1 which reached me this moment and to which I reply under tears and great emotion. Your forgiving me and you promising me a future sisterly sympathy evince a rare magnanimity, which I the higher appreciate as I am so unworthy of seeing it extended to me, and for which token of genuine and disinterested feelings for my welfare I must eternally remain grateful to you.
At a calmer moment I will write more; but at this instance I must at once solicit of you not to return my humble portrait2 and the poor volumes, to which you attach so much value, whilst I should feel also very very sorry to part with the little medaillion3 of yours, which I wish to keep with my most precious possessions.
I trust to God, that you will regain the quiet happiness of former days and that your health has not become impaired in the depth of troubles I have caused you and for which I must ever feel a bitter repentance. When you return from Mr Russell's home you must allow me the privilege of seeing you, and meanwhile I hope to hear frequently from you.
I had the titles of my small scattered property in readiness for transmission to you; but you have shown again a greatness of mind of declining the humble offer, which I hope you have regarded in the spirit in which it was tendered.
I must repeat my earnest wishes to be pardoned by Mr & Mrs M'Haffie and remain ever your sincerest and deeply attached friend
Ferd. Mueller.
Please cite as “FVM-63-08-21,” 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 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/63-08-21