24/4/65
The plants & seeds, which you dear Dr Hooker, so generously despatched will not reach me before the mail departs, in consequence of damage to her machinery obliging the Madras to go under sail to Sydney. Accept however in anticipation of the arrival my best thanks for your contribution. I trust all will safely arrive. The Cacti & Aroid[e]ae will be a great boon to my conservatory & the Papyrus to my lake.1
I prefer not to reply to your letter received by last months mail; for though it would afford me an opportunity to say much it would awaken only pain and this could never have been so intense to you as it for a very long time been to me. I fear my real courage for botanical work is not readily restored, for I am too much disheartened.2
It is gratifying to me in the highest degree to hear of your venerable fathers health & bright spirits. How wonderful a difference between him at the age of 80 & R. Brown at that age. You are of course aware, that at that age occasionally a kind of regeneration a kind of third cyclus of life commences, which brings more than ordinary longevity. I trust that such may be the case with your honored father
With most friendly remembrance your
Ferd. Mueller
Aroideae
Papyrus
Please cite as “FVM-65-04-24a,” 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 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/65-04-24a