To Euphemia Henderson   4 July 1868

Melbourne bot. Garden

4/7/68.

This day, dear Miss Henderson, I was agreably surprised and quite touched, that you thought so kindly of me at the time, when I passed into a new year of my life.¹ Accept my most friendly acknowledgement of all your kind wishes and of the tender sympathy which dictated them. The last year has been to me one of great care, sufferings and sorrow. I began it with a severe and long illness, from which at one time I did not hope to recover. There followed departmental troubles. The political complications subsequently have given in so large a department as this much anxiety and have fallen very heavily on my slender private means, and in addition to the extra work which the state affairs lately involved I have been worried very much to bring up arrears of literary & other work which during my illness and subsequent short exploration-journey in West Austr. came much into arrear. I trust the new years now entered on will be a more serene one and I have a presentiment that it will be not so sorrowful than most of the years of my life from my very childhood. My health is much firmer of late, considering how little attention I can give to my comfort and to any recreation and thus if providence will spare me a few years longer I can at least see the great work of the plants of Australia completed, of which in London the 4th volume has appeared.² I was glad to notice when I lately met you that you looked vigorous and happy I trust it is so also with your respected sister and Mr M'Haffie

With regardful salutation

Ferd. von Mueller.

The little fern is Trichomanes venosum.

The green Seaweed is Apjohnia laetevirens It is rare hereabouts, but not so in West Austr

Apjohnia laetevirens

Trichomanes venosum