To William Thiselton-Dyer¹    24 December 1877

Emerald Isle Hotel

King George's Sound²

Christmas Eve 1877.

You asked me, dear Mr Dyer, some time ago, to procure once more seeds of Neptunia gracilis, which is now accomplished through the kindness of Mons. Thozet.³

I thank you for the consideration shown to me as Gov. Botanist of Victoria by forwarding to me the seeds of the S. African Sideroxylon. Assuredly my office is the one, through which seeds of new plants of industrial importance should pass, otherwise my whole position becomes a farce! You allude to the Melbourne bot Garden as one of the largest Colonial Establishments, which Kew could not pass. May I ask, who was the founder? If the person, who is head gardener there⁴ (though merely a youth out of Sydney nursery) has the audacity to style himself Director and this is tolerated in Australia, I can only say, that he is merely Gazetted Curator, and Kew ought only to recognize him as such.

I cannot describe to you, Mr Dyer, how sad and unhappy I feel in my blighted career, and all this sadness could have been avoided if the great men of science in Europe had given me in my struggle timely active support, instead of quietly looking on in passive sympathy. No! Hooker was treated differently,⁵ but then I am a foreigner.

Regardfully

Ferd von Mueller

There are [1]000 acres of public parks and pleasureground at Melbourne for common garden[s]

Neptunia gracilis

Sideroxylon