Melb. bot Garden
26/11/67.
The presense of the Prince here,1 dear Mr Bentham, and the extrawork thereby arising in my department render it absolutely impossible for me to send off any more plants until about the middle of December, so that they will arrive at the end of febr. 1868. You will then receive not only the supplementary Monopetaleae from W.A., but also an extensive collection from the North coast.2 I must repeat my regret, that you intend to publish the Flora of Australia3 in advance of the genera plantarum.4 The latter work is to the world the far more important of the two; — besides you must kindly consider, that if you not allow me the necessary time of cooperation, my own labors become greatly injured and all the loss will be on my side, while after all no one in the world has by local researches and enormous pecuniary and other sacrifices a higher claim on the Australian Flora than myself. At Kew, where the material is so large, you might well for a time work on other material, when exceptional circumstances do not admit periodically of my keeping pace with you. I am certain, if you reflect on this, you will consider all what I say but fair.
I do not think that after Prince Alfreds visit there will be much to abstract my attention from working for the 4th volume,5 except a few weeks journey to the alps of Tasmania, which in the summerheat I absolutely ought still to make for the benefit of and consolidation of my health.6
I will send you some more notes on Epacrideae, Stylideae &c by next mail; they are partly printed, but I did get no proof in time.7
Trusting you are well
I remain your very
regardful
Ferd. Mueller
Epacrideae
Monopetaleae
Stylideae
Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh was in Victoria from 23 November 1867 to 4 January 1868 (J. G. Knight (1868)). See also notes to M to J Hooker, 15 November 1867.
Box 35 was sent on 21 December 1867 (RB MSS M44, M notebook recording despatch of plants for Bentham for Flora australiensis. RBG Melbourne), and arrived on 16 April 1868; see G. Bentham to M, 16 April 1868.
Bentham (1863-78).
Bentham & Hooker (1862-83).
Of Bentham (1863-78).
M did not visit Tasmania until January 1869.
See B67.12.01, pp. 77-80.
Please cite as “FVM-67-11-26,” 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