Melbourne bot. Garden
25/3/65
It was, dear Professor Parlatore, my intention to write to you very fully on many subjects by this mail; but an unusual pressure of work & manyfold detentions forbid my doing so at the close of the post-hour. Allow me therefore but briefly to mention, that a large case with algae has been sent pr "Great Britain" for you to the Italian Consul at Liverpool. They are but crudely dried, but after remaceration they will give thousands of specimens. I added some medicinal resins and barks. By this mail I forwarded to the Italian Consul at Alexandria between 4-500 seedlings of Araucaria Cunninghami1 & the 4th vol. of my Fragmenta & the 2. vol. of plants of Victoria (illustrations only)2 also some seeds, fresh collected of Eucalyptus Globulus. I have sent several lots of black Swans by various opportunities3 & will continue until your Government has about 100, so that this fine bird may be fully naturalized. Freight as far as London & Alexandria is always free. Emus are difficult to get, but I have recently sent two, also some Kangaroos. If you desire it, I can send for your Museum some prepared quadrupeds & birds & insects from here. When the distribution of dried plants takes place this winter I shall not forget your establishment at Florence. A small work on the plants of the Chatham Islands I sent a little while ago.4
I am engaged in aiding for a search after poor Dr. Leichhardt. I hope it will be successful and render besides the great western half of Australia known.5
Allow me, dear Professor, to remain, with cordiality
Yr
Ferd. Mueller
Araucaria Cunninghami
Eucalyptus Globulus
No covering letter found. It is possible that any covering letter may not have been written by M but by Giuseppe Biagi, the Italian Consul in Melbourne who assisted M in transmissions to Italy, see M to F. Parlatore, 25 November 1865.
B65.02.09; B63.02.06.
A consignment of black swans announced in M to F. Parlatore, 24 August 1864, arrived safely (see F. Parlatore to M, August 1868 (in this edition as 64-08-00b)). Other consignments have not been identified.
B64.10.02.
M initiated a new search for Leichhardt with a speech at a public meeting in Melbourne on 9 February 1865 (see B65.02.01), and subsequently encouraged the forming of a committee of ladies to raise funds and organize what became known as 'The Ladies' Leichhardt Search expedition'.
Please cite as “FVM-65-03-25c,” 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