Melbourne
21/6/76
I was pleasingly surprised, dear Prof Cope, when I received your communication of the 19 Apr.,1 in which you apprise me of my election into the famed Academy of natural Sciences of Philadelphia.2 This great and unexpected honor I value all the more, as hitherto I have done so little to deserve such a high distinction. It will however be an impetus, to draw still nearer to the many luminous and generous men of science in the American Union. May I ask of you to inform me, what works your library possesses from my hands, so as to enable me to render the series of my poor volumes completely accessible to the Academy.
With offerings of grateful reverence to your honored Colleagues & yourself
Ferd. von Mueller.3
Letter not found.
M was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia on 28 March 1876; see Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia to M, 28 March 1876. He had been nominated by Joseph Wharton and Thomas Meehan (information supplied by Robert McCracken Peck, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia).
MS annotation: 'Answered 10, 5/76, EJN [Edward J. Nolan]'. Letter not found.
MS black-edged; M's brother-in-law, Eduard Wehl, had died on 11 February 1876.
Please cite as “FVM-76-06-21,” 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