Melbourne botanic Garden
22/5/69
It is my pleasing duty, honored and dear Professor Parlatore, to acknowledge the receipt of a consignment of seeds, which arrived this month, and which was brought together from various Italian establishments through your friendly and kind exertions.1 It contained besides many other valuable seeds also those of Pistacia vera. Should these germinate, it will introduce a new and valuable tree into the Australian vegetation. To you and your honored colleagues I feel much indebted for this act of kindness, and far more still to you, dear Professor, for the frien[dly]2 consideration, which you entertained towards me in deeming my humble exertions for the Italian scientific establishments worthy of commendation again to the grace of your Royal generous monarch. Altho' I have been encouraged with marks of honor by many sovereigns I have in no instance enjoyed a second token of distinction from the same throne. Let me assure you, that nothing shall be left undone, to deserve the favors thus bestowed on me.3
I have secured three more Todea Africana (rivularis) in a large state from the ranges, and the zealous Chevalier Biagi has kindly undertaken to effect their shipment by the "Kent" next week to London, from whence the Consul General for Italy is solicited to send them to Genoa. Chev. Biagi will consult with you regarding the botanic Gardens, which most require them. I will endeavour to send a case with some prints and dry plants also with the "Kent", but I am not certain whether I can manage it in time.
The photogram, which you spared me for the series of celebrated men with whom in life I come in contact, I shall value much indeed!4 It bears a singular resemblance of expression to that of my illustrious friend Baron von Liebig.
Let me remain with very regardful salutation & expression of gratitude your
Ferd von Mueller
If any thing of plants, seeds, books &c is needed from here I will gladly forward it, when ever I learn your wishes.
Pistacia vera
Todea Africana
Todea rivularis
The archive catalogue of the Museo Galileo, Florence, for item 'Arrivo al Museo, tramite il Ministero degli esteri, di semi inviati dal console generale italiano a Melbourne …' (Carteggio della Direzione, ottobre 1864 - luglio 1869 aff. 100; c. 238 m) [Arrival at the Museum, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of seeds sent by the Italian Consul General in Melbourne …] (date range 27 October – 11 November 1868), includes in the scope note the comment, 'Ricerca presso i corrispondenti del Museo di semi chiesti dal direttore del Giardino botanico di Melbourne, al quale, appena disponibili, verranno inviati, anche per contraccambiare i numerosi doni con cui ha arricchito le collezioni del Museo. [A search was conducted among the Museum's correspondents for seeds requested by the director of the Melbourne Botanical Garden, to whom they would be sent as soon as they became available]. This consignment is probably a result of that search.
MS torn.
M had been created a Knight of the Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus in 1865 (see Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy to M, 12 August 1865) and a Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy in 1868 (Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy to M, 25 September 1868 (in this edition as 68-09-25a).
Receipt of a photograph was acknowledged in M to F. Parlatore, 24 April 1869 (in this edition as 69-04-24b). No photograph of Parlatore has been identified at MEL, but see M to J. Haast, 29 July 1862 (in this edition as 62-07-29b) and notes thereto.
Please cite as “FVM-69-05-22,” 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