To Eugenia Parlatore   18 January 1878

Melbourne,

jardin botanique,1

18. Janvier 1878

Madame.

 

C’est avec la plus profonde tristesse, que j’ai reçu l’affligeante nouvelle de la mort subite du célèbre Professeur et Commandeur Parlatore, qui a été si soudainement enlevé de sa carrière terrestre au milieu de des glorieux travaux scientifiques.2 Cette grande perte, Madame, ne sera pas ressentie seulement par vous-même et votre famille, mais aussi par les nombreux admirateurs du grand savant; et je sens, que j’ai pardu3 un de mes plus bienveillants collègues, de qui j’ai reçu et apprécie pendant bien des années de fréquentes marques de sa consideration.

Dans Ouest-Australie, ou j’etais alors, je venais de commencer une lettre pour Monsieur votre mari, sur le Pin Actinostrobus, décrit et nommé par lui, ayant fait des observations et additions sur cet arbre rare, lorsque la triste nouvelle est arrivée.

Ce doit être une grande consolation pour vous, Madame, et pour votre fille distinguée, que le nom de Parlatore restera fameux dans la science aussi longtemps que durera la monde.

Veuillez agreer, Madame, l’assurance de ma haute consideration et de ma profonde sympathie.

le Baron Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.

Madame Parlatore, &c.

 
 
 

Madam.

It is with the deepest sadness that I received the distressing news of the sudden death of the famous Professor and Commander Parlatore, who was so suddenly taken from his earthly career in the midst of glorious scientific work. This great loss, Madam, will be felt not only by you and your family, but also by the many admirers of the great scientist, and I feel that I have lost one of my more caring colleagues from whom I received and appreciated for many years frequent marks of his consideration.

In West Australia, where I was then, I had just started a letter to your husband on the Pine Actinostrobus, described and named by him,4 having made observations and additions on this rare tree, when the sad news arrived.

It must be a great comfort to you, Madam, and for your distinguished daughter,5 that the name of Parlatore will remain famous in science as long as the world lasts.

Please accept, Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration and my deepest sympathy.

Baron Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.

 

Actinostrobus

1
M was no longer Director of the Melbourne Botanic Garden but he held high hopes at this time that he would be restored to the position.
2
Filippo Parlatore died on 9 September 1877.
3
perdu?
4
Actinostrobus acuminatus.
5
Maria Antonietta Parlatore, only child of Philippo and Eugenia Parlatore, born 1861 (Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, vol. 81); death date not found but she attended the commemoration ceremony on 11December 1927 in the Great Hall of the University of Florence to honour her father fifty years after his death ('La commemorazione di Filippo Parlatore nel cinquantenario della sua morte', Nuovo giornale botanico italiano, new series. Vol. 34, 1927, p. 967.

Please cite as “FVM-78-01-18,” 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 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/78-01-18