From Luis I, King of Portugal   29 November 1870

Por El Rei de Portugal

Ao Doutor Fernando von Müller, Director

do jardim botanico de Melburne, na Australia1

 

Doutor Fernando von Müller, Director do jardim botanico de Melburne, na Australia. Eu El Rei de Portugal e dos Algarves &c vos Envio muito saudar. Attendendo ao vosso distincto merito scientifico, e ás qualidades que concorrem na vossa pessõa. Hei por bem em testemunho da Minha Consideração e do apréço em que Tenho o valioso donativo de planta e animaes de grande estimação, que haveis feito ao jardim botanico da Universidade de Coimbra, Nomear-vos Commendador do Antiga Nobilissima e Esclarecida Ordem de São Thiago do merito scientifico, litterario e artistico. O que Me pareceu participar-vos para vossa intelligencia e satisfação, e para que possaes desde ja usar das respectivas insignias vos Mando esta Carta. Escripta no Paço da Ajuda em vinte e nove de Novembro de mil oitocentos setenta.

El Rei

Antonio Bispo de Viseu

 

Para o Doutor Fernando von Müller, Director

do jardim botanico de Melburne na Australia.

 
 

From the King of Portugal

To Doctor Ferdinand von Müller, Director

of the botanic garden of Melbourne In Australia

 

Doctor Ferdinand von Müller, Director of the Botanic Garden of Melbourne, in Australia. I the King of Portugal and of the Algarves &c send you many greetings. In view of your distinct scientific merit and the qualities that come together in your person: I deign, in testimony of my consideration and of the esteem I have for the valuable donation of plants and animals of great value that you have made the botanic garden of the University of Coimbra, to nominate you Commander of the Ancient Most Noble and Illustrious Order of St Thiago for scientific, literary and artistic merit.2 This my decision I communicate to you for your knowledge and satisfaction and in order that from now on you may use the respective insignia I send you with this letter. Written in the Palace of Ajuda on the twenty-ninth of November of one thousand eight hundred and seventy.

The King

Antonio Bishop of Viseu

 

To Doctor Ferdinand von Müller, Director

of the botanic garden of Melbourne in Australia

 
1
There is a seal beneath the address.
2
In Jornal de horticultura practica, vol. 5 (1874), p. 211, in 'Synopse chronologica das principaes deliberações e providencias do conselho da faculdade de philosophia sobre o estudo de botanica e agricultura na Universidade de Coimbra, desde 1774 até 1872' [Chronological synopsis of the main deliberations and measures of the council of the faculty of philosophy on the study of botany and agriculture at the University of Coimbra from 1774 to 1872], the entry for 7 December 1870 notes that the Council 'recebeu o conselho do dr. Ferdinand von Mueller, director do Jardim Botanico e de aclimação, de Melbourne, um precioso presente de sementes de plantas da Australia e exemplares de Fetos arboreos de grande belleza e merecimento. Tributaram-se ao generoso offerente unanimes votos de agradecimento, dando-se parte ao governo para os devidos effeitos. Em resultado d'isto o governo agraciou o dr. Mueller com a commenda da ordem de S. Thiago.’ [was advised of a precious gift by Dr Ferdinand von Mueller, director of the Botanic and acclimatization garden of Melbourne, of plant seeds from Australia and specimens of tree ferns of great beauty and merit. The Council passed a unanimous vote of thanks to the generous donor, and the government was informed to take due account. As a result of this the government appointed Dr. Mueller a Commander of the Order of St Thiago.]

Please cite as “FVM-70-11-29,” 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 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/70-11-29