15/3/80
The fungus, to which you refer, dear Mr Ramsay, has not yet arrived. When I get it, I will ascertain what it is & let you know & Dr Cox.1
Most gladly would I share in the expense for a collector to obtain bot. specimens from New Guinea; but I am so poor, that I cannot even clear off the debt on the small cottage, which I fitted up for my office work. The departmental means are also so ennarrowed, since I had in such a ruinous manner to leave the garden, that I cannot even carry on the ordinary routine work properly. Hence I must forego the chance, which you so considerately wished to afford me, to enrich my collections. It is with deep regret, but I cannot act otherwise, simply because I have no private nor public means for such a purpose. I gave Goldie £50 out of my private purse, and received almost nothing for it.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Surely some plants might be dried by someone of the party, without sending a collector purposely.
Please cite as “FVM-80-03-15a,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/80-03-15a