4/8/77.
I was touched and delighted, dear Mr Shillinglaw, when yesterday I heard of our friend Giles,1 that you stood up for me in such a manly manner against one of my most powerful adversaries. I have done the man never any harm; contrarily when he went to Philadelphia I wrote kind words about him to the great Asa Gray!2
He knows nothing about me and my Department, absolutely nothing, at least no more than any layman. I feel your generous feeling for rectitude all the more, as I have no claims on your consideration.
Regardfully & gratefully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Possibly Ernest Giles, who arrived in Melbourne from Adelaide 2 July 1877 (Australasian (Melbourne), 7 July 1877, p. 14.
See M to A. Gray, 25 December 1875. The man referred to was G. C. Levey, who was Secretary to the Victorian Exhibition Commissioners at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876.
Please cite as “FVM-77-08-04,” 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