From Ferdinand von Mueller to Euphemia Henderson   30 June 1866

30/6/66

It is a new token of your mild and generous disposition, dear Miss, that you thought of the anniversary day of my birth and sent me such a precious mark of your remembrance and the genial lines which accompanied the donation. I am but poorly worthy of the distinction.

Let me express then my grateful acknowledgement of your goodness. I have had very great troubles during the whole of this sad year. They were not merely departmental, though the annoyances with an individual of my personal here in the establishment were quite enough to furnish more than one nail to my coffin.¹

The whole prospects of my future are cheerless. I am almost absolutely poor & not provided for my future even in case of illness & the calls on my means are almost ruinous to maintain my social & official & scientific dignity. Last year I have been knighted by Prince Alberts Brother,² by the King of Italy³ & by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg⁴ & I understand other distinctions are awaiting me. Otherwise my fate is sad. No end of prosecution⁵ & misrepresentations, no end of work, nearly all honorary, & while so much tended to depress my mind, the extraordinar exertions to weather 20000 young pines & rare oaks through a season unexampled and (but little water being available & that only at night) and to seize on the opportunity to excavate the Lake while dry (without special vote) taxed the bodily strenght of a frame never very strong to such an extent, as now to prostrate me periodically every day on the sick bed. However let me pass to brighter subjects. From your appearance you seemed well, though I did not see you at the various times you spoke of. May providence allow you to enjoy that unimpaired health, out of which such happy contentedness arises.

Poor Prince Condé I stayed with during the only two hours, while the mail steamer was at anchor.⁶ Sir Rod Murchison had given to the Prince a letter for me,⁷ written in the presense of Mr Cardwell at the chateau of his father, the Duke D'Aumale. The French princes, expected to arrive per Omar Pascha did not know of the death of his Highness when they embarked. How sad an intelligence is awaiting them at the Australian shores. In a walk through the garden you will see its features greatly changed.⁸ The exhibitions⁹ will absorbe nearly all my spare time during the next months. I trust however to issue the 5 vol. of the Fragmenta¹⁰ before the end of the year and I am inclined to think that the 3 vol of Benthams work,¹¹ in which I cooperate will be concluded before the year passes, the proof being partly in my hands already.

Pray give Mr & Mrs MacHaffie the expressions of my friendly regards & let me remain your sincere friend

Ferd. Mueller

a few elegant seaweeds would be always prized.