C.L.O.1
23.2.75
My dear Dr Müller
Mr Casey desires me to thank you for your very kind and prompt attention to his request of yesterday.2 He desires me to return the Verbascum and state that he obtained it from the Kent Group of islands3 where it grows on the high land — It is like a cabbage in size and appearance It is there called the blanket tree The specimen was plucked early in January but does not appear to have shrunk since
Yours sincerely
H Byron Moore4
Baron Von Müller
Verbascum
Crown Lands Office?
If this was a written request, it has not been found.
In Bass Strait, between Tas and Vic.
While the leading initial in the signature bears little resemblance to an 'H', the reference to 'Mr Casey' and the C.L.O. address leave little doubt that the writer was Henry Byron Moore, who was a senior officer in the Crown Lands Office at the time while James Casey was the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey, that is, the Minister in charge.
MS found with a specimen of Verbascum thapsus (MEL 2255758). Printed letterhead showing a falcon(?) surmounting a banner inscribed 'Sapiens qui vigilat' [He is wise who is vigilant].
Please cite as “FVM-75-02-23a,” 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