From Charles Moore to Ferdinand von Mueller   20 Sep 1879

Sydney 20¹ Sepr

1879

My dear Baron

I have been & am so much engaged, & besides so much depressed in spirits, that my correspondence has been wholly neglected. You of all others I wished to write to, but could not till now. I cannot enter into the subject of my late dear brothers death, but thank you most sincerely for your kind & most sympathising letter.² Since that sad news reached me, I feel as if all object in life had left me, but enough of this.

I have now nearly finished getting in the specimens of woods for our Exhibition,³ and will forward to you in a few days such of the specimens of the leaves and flowers as I cannot determine at first sight. I fancy from the names attached to Fawcetts⁴ specimens he must have been in communication with you; but still more inspection will be necessary & I very much regret that the material which I have to send you for naming is not better. I fear that many of them will be quite undeterminable, but I feel assured that with your usual kindness you will do all you can for me.

Enclosed is a specimen of an Eucalypt, which has just reached me. It is called the red flowering Box from the Bogan.⁵ the bark on the upper or smaller branches is of a very dark colour and does not peal off like most of the species. the leaves have a silvery tinge, and the branches droop even to the ground like the myrtle or willow. It is usually found near swamps or creeks.

Trusting this will find you well & that we shall see you at the Exhibition.

I remain

most faithfully yours

Charles Moore

Baron Von Mueller K.C.MG

&c &c &c &c

Eucalyptus

P.S. Would you like to have any of our wood specimens? if so I will save them for you.