To Euphemia Henderson   14 October 1863

Melbourne botan Garden

14/10/63

My dear Miss Euphemia

I ought to have responded to your kind letter of 7. Oct¹ before this; but delayed until the arrival of the mail from England, anticipating that I might then refer to whatever news concerning me might share your interest.

It shall afford me much pleasure in meeting you once more in the garden, when I will point out to you all the recent improvements and whatever may be of interest to you at the time of your visit.

I regret, that you are undecided, whether you should return to Phillip Island; for altho' you long since informed me, that you did not desire to return, I could not but think that you must enjoy great happiness in the [rulal²] tranquillity of the locality, in its invigorating clime and in the companionship of your sister, whilst a man so wealthy as Mr M'Haffie can so easily compensate you for your loss of income elsewhere.

It is consoling to me to hear of your full restauration to health, a blessing which I hope will in future be enjoyed by you uninterruptedly. It was very kind of you to send me the quotation from Guizot. I can well understand how a statesman after the harrassing duties of the Office enjoys the quiet retreat periodically into the family circle in rural solitude. Count de Castelnau tells me, that Guizot has quite resigned political life & enjoyes happiness with his family in a small private country estate just large enough to free him from [whorlly³] sorrows, altho socially in but a humble position considering his former grandeur.⁴ The last mail brought me very many highly interesting letters from great coetans Prof Fenzl of Vienne, Prof Planchon of Montpellier, Prof Brogniart⁵ of Paris, M. Lenormand of Vire, Calvados, Sir Roderick Murchison, Sir Will. Denison, Count Bille, the Danish Ambassador in London &c.⁶ Old Sir Will. Hooker writes buoyantly as ever and sends his photographed carte;⁷ nothing can be imagined more venerable than the picture of this aged maecen. He looks like the oldest most venerable Clergyman. His internal peace in being conscious of having a heir to his labour & fame has no doubt upheld him bodily & mentally so well and with the prospect of his long still enjoying vigor for literary life.

Prof Rafn sent me a photograph of the Princess Alexandra, which I value much as coming from a close friend of the Danish King. I had also a most handsome letter from the Prince of Wales priv Secretary as an acknowledgement for my small contribution to his Highness Library.⁸ Sir Charles Darling has proved very kind & accessible to me, which I found particularly when intimating that The Emperor of Austria had transmitted through the Duke of Newcastle the Knight cross of the Francis Joseph Order, a most beautiful decoration which his Imperial Majesty condescended to award to me "in acknowledgment of scientific merits"

Dr Martin has returned from N.W. Australia & I may hope for valuable access to my collections through him.

With sincere friendship dear Miss Henderson,

your

Ferd Mueller