To Joseph Hooker   27 February 1869

27/2/69

 

Let me thank you for your kind note, dear Dr Hooker, from 18 Dec.1

I shall probably give a second contribution to the phytography of Tasmania, mainly the result of my travels of last month, though so brief.2

For the Zizania seeds I feel much indebted.3 I have to work for utilitarian purposes here mainly. So such like contributions are in the highest degree important.

I have no doubt you have been one of the generous friends, who secured for me from the Duke of Buckingham the Companionship of the Order of St Michael & St George, a distinction, which I value highly & will endeavour to merit. It seems to be the first gift of the kind to this colony.4 But how is it that not long ago already a Knighthood has been conferred on yourself and Mr Bentham? there are no 2 more deserving of this honor in the United Kingdom5.

Dr Sonder points to the omission of Strelitzia in poor Harvey's genera,6 a very pardonable omission.

Always your

Ferd von Mueller.

 

Strelitzia

Zizania

 
1
J. Hooker to M, 18 December 1868.
2
M arrived in Launceston on Tasmania on 3 January (Launceston Examiner, 30 January 1869, p. 4) and returned to Melbourne on 15 January 1869 on board Southern Cross, which left Hobart on 13 January (Argus, 16 January 1869, p. 4).
3
See J. Hooker to M, 18 December 1868.
4
See Henry C. Manners-Sutton to M, 20 February 1869. M had been listed internally in the Colonial Office for a knighthood in a list, not proceeded with, intended to mark the marriage of the Prince of Wales in 1863, and was included in an ‘Arrear list of claimants to honours &c. brought up to the 1st May 1868’ (TNA, CO 448/1A). See Lucas (2013a) for lobbying efforts towards his appointment as a Knight Bachelor. No evidence of a specific recommendation from outside the Colonial Office for this appointment has been found.
5
But how is it ... United Kingdom is written at the foot of the page with its intended position marked by two asterisks.
6
Harvey (1838). Sonder’s comment has not been found.

Please cite as “FVM-69-02-27a,” 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 26 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/69-02-27a