Stategarden 14/3/67.
Yesterday, dear Mr Ramsay, I received the fine series of ferns from the New Hebrides, collected by my old travelling companion Richards.1 I will gladly name them, but as it will in some instances require critical comparison, you must kindly allow a little time, for at this moment I am preparing a portion of the material for the fourth volume of the plants of Australia,2 & the intercolonial Exhibition duties3 have brought much other work in arrear.
I would not advise Richards to go to the Chatham Islands, because on my suggestion Judge Travers sent his son there (at an expense of nearly £300 - -) & thus I published 2 years ago a full account of the vegetation,4 which beyond Myositidium nobile contains nothing very ornamental.
With kindest regards
Ferd. Mueller M.D.
Could Richards not manage to go to New Guinea,5 to the German missionary station? Pray give him my best regards. What will be the price of a full set of Richards' plants.
Myositidium nobile
H. Richards, who was a stockman on the North Australian Exploring Expedition, 1855-6? An 'H. Richards' is reported (Sydney mail, 14 June 1873, p. 745) as having been a botanical collector in the South Sea Islands.
i.e. Bentham (1863-78), vol. 4, published in 1868.
Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia, Melbourne, 1866-7.
B64.10.02.
Guinea above Caledonia deleted.
MS envelope front: 'On her Maj. Service | Edward P. Ramsay Esq. | Dobroyde | near | Sydney | Ferd Mueller, FRS.' Front stamped Chief Secretary's Office, Victoria, and Melbourne, 14 March 1867.
Please cite as “FVM-67-03-14,” 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