28/7/66
The death of poor Harvey,1 an event though expected, dear Dr Hooker, has left a deeply painful sensation on me as it must have done on all, who knew the sterling value of that inestimable man and who had the benefit especially of coming personally with this great man in contact. I shall never forget the hours so delightfuly spent with him here eleven and twelve years ago.
As a man of science removed from the stage of phytographic research, on which he played so prominent a part, he cannot be replaced. His knowledge of algae was superior to that of any of our best phycologist and in working power (alas! too regardlessly spent on expense of health) he surpassed them all. His artistic talent was also much more fertile than that of any other Botanist. As acquainted by intimate local observation with the south African vegetation he stands unique, and my dear and early friend Dr Sonder will now have to carry on the great work on South African plants singlehanded.2 In amability Harvey stood foremost among the few Botanists of note whom it fell to my share to meet in life, but indeed I never met any Botanist but him for more than a few hours, being scientifically exiled since an early age. Even Sonder I never saw more than 2 or 3 hours in life, and so Kunze, Schleiden, Muenter, Suhr, Roeper, Waitz, Lang — my University friend Professor Carl Jessen being my senior and having been drawn away from phytographic work, and Nolte,3 my Kiel Professor, having sunk into obscurity ever since he acceded (and that before I was born) to his Professorship. God knows how long time may be granted yet to any of us to carry on the work we may have specially chosen for ourselfes. I enclose a bill of loading for a box shipped by the Yorkshire and containing the remainder of the Composite-plants required for Bentham's work. I continue picking up Drosera and Orchid tubers for your garden, now since these little ephemeral things commence to peep again out of the ground, also Anguillaria & Burchardia.
I am about reporting to the Governor of Tasmania on the edition of a physiographic Atlas of Austr & N.Z I think it can be done.4 We might muster 12 maps. A very intelligent youth C. Duppuy called on me to report that out of the wreck of the Netherby still two boxes sent by you to Mr Hill might be saved.5 I have set the matter in train with the Agents & shall send the cases on as soon as I can get hold of them.
Would large fern trees, say 16 feet high (thus many years old) be useful for the Kew conservatories or your interchanges? They travel quite well. If I could only for a Day pick up some of your surplus treasures at Kew what a show should I make. I have planted now about [1]50 ferntrees since water is laid on and now am now6 trying to get large-stemmed Xanthorrhoeae moved. As far as my experience goes the short stemmed (though big) species moves quite well and as it is lately found out that these stems are very saccharine I can try with good hope of success to move some plants 10' high with a flowerstalk quite as long to Kew, when some friendly Captain goes home
Your attached
Ferd Mueller
I am just sending a headstone to Mr Drummonds grave in Perth.7 The untimely death of that valiant explorer M'Intyre8 has thrown me in great sadness & consternation. I shall have again to spend some time on the reorganisation of the party and that with the duties of the approaching intercolonial & french Exhibition9 will withdraw much time from botanical engagements. I shall however work Bellis up [&c] for the 5 vol of my fragmenta, which will appear very soon — I have also some novelties from Rockinghams Bay10
Anguillaria
Bellis
Burchardia.
Drosera
Xanthorrhoeae
Please cite as “FVM-66-07-28,” 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 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/66-07-28