Bot. gard 10/6/70
Among the multitude of papers, dear Mr. Kippist, which always even in reference to inofficial matters accumulate around me, I mislaid the forms, under which you require me to propose any candidates for the Fellowship of the Linnean Society, So I hope you will again with your usual clemency be satisfied, if I merely in a note to you mention
Louis2 Bernays Esq
of Brisbane3
as a new Candidate.
This Gentleman holds the important official position of Clerk to the Queensland Parliament, has some hopeful sons in the Brisbane Grammar School, is Vice President of the Acclimation Society of Q.L., and exerts himself arduously in introducing utilitarian plants into the young colony, in which he established his permanent abode. He is most gentlemanly & obliging.
I have corresponded with him for years and met him personally once. So I can gladly become his sponsor.
As an Amateur he has great leanings to Botany and the art of Horticulture, and for both the rich vegetation and splendid clime of Brisbane give great encouragement to a local resident Mr. Bernays strives now in establishing for the natural sciences a standing at the Brisbane College.4
Will you be so kind to tell me, what my permanent fee would be for the L.S.5
In 1870 the composition fee was £30. Payment of that fee removed the obligation to pay the annual fee of £3 (Bye-Laws of the Linnean Society, Chapter 2). Fellows who had 'compounded' are indicated in the annual 'List of members, foreign members and associates' by an asterisk; M never paid a compostion fee.
The letter ends at the bottom of the sheet without valediction or signature. M's letter is accompanied by a manuscript ‘certificate’ in an unknown hand probably completed at he Society; with autograph signatures of the additional supporter:
Louis A. [A. interlined in pencil] Bernays, Esqr. of Brisbane, Clerk to the Queensland Parliament, and V. P. Acclimat. Soc. of Queensland, a gentleman much attached to the study of Natural History, especially Botany & Horticulture, being desirous of becoming a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London; we the undersigned, hereby recommend him as deserving of that honour, and likely to prove a useful & valuable Member.
Ferd. v. Mueller (by letter)
George Bentham
Fredk. Currey
Proposed, Novr. 3, 1870
Ballot, Janry 19, 1871 Elected, RdK.
Bernays' 1908 obituary by B. D. J. [B Daydon Jackson], (Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, 121: 35, states that he withdrew in 1889, 'intending to retire from biologcal pursuits', but later 'found himslef obliged to come forward for re-election', was nominated a second time and elected on 15 December 1892, supported by J. G. Baker, B Daydon Jackson and C. B. Clarke.
Please cite as “FVM-70-06-10,” 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 19 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/70-06-10