To George Bentham   10 August 1872

Melbourne

bot Garden

10/8/72

 

Every time, when I write to you, dear Mr Bentham, I feel quite ashamed of the paucity of assistance, which I render you. As explained to you before, this arises not from any decreased interest in the elucidation of the australian plants, but in a large measure it owes to the great loss of time sustained since several years and particularly the last 3 years, simply to defend the integrity of my postion as the originator and administrator of a Department. Truth always prevails, but sometimes too late for the victim. But it seems now at last, from the debate in our Legislative Assembly this week, that I am to come like a phoenix out of the Ashes.1 So I hope that with more leisure and more tranquillity of mind and with new courage and hope of life I shall prove more useful to you again. The Orchideae (14 parcels and 1 supl.) will go to you sorted by the Steamer Somersetshire, which is to leave our port on the 23 Aug, ought to be in London at the end of October.

I am gratified, that your health continues firm amidst your arduous labors. May you attain a Humboldtian age with a freshness of mind for research til the last. But may I as a physician warn you not to overtax your strength, but to lessen gradually your work hours, as the glorious von Martius did.

With deep regards

Ferd. von Mueller

 

Best thanks to you, to allow the Coleocoma and Thespidium to be figured.2

 

Coleocoma

Orchideae

Thespidium

 
1
The Legeslative Assembly debate on 8 August resulted in the proposed reduced vote of £1,020 to run the Botanic Gardens being withdrawn by the Minister (Victoria Parliamentary Debates 1872, p. 924). However, on 3 September a proposal to split M's Department into three was agreed to, with a vote of £1,990 for the expenses of the responsibiulities to be retained by M (Victoria Parliamentary Debates 1872, p. 1178-81).
2
See Bentham to M, 12 June 1872. The illustrations appeared in J. Hooker (1867-88), vol. 12. The volume was issued in fascicles: Coleocoma centaurea (p. 33, pl. 1136) was published in August 1872; Thespidium basiflorum (p. 39, pl. 1143) in April 1873.

Please cite as “FVM-72-08-10,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/72-08-10