To B. Daydon Jackson   25 December 1881

Christmas/1881/

I am somewhat surprised, dear Mr Jackson, that Mr Forrest¹ has not at once paid his dues; – but he is a high-minded and wealthy man; hence he is sure to send his remittance at once after the receipt of your note. As for the others, recommended by me, generally on their own desire, you must simply strike them off from the list again, if after one single letter of yours they are not up to the mark. I shall be more cautious in any future sponsorships of mine.

As I published the index to L’s first sp. pl.² on my private expense, I will be happy to give it to any Botanist who can turn it to use, (through you).

I have finished a census of the plant genera of all Australia for the vol. of the R.S. of New South Wales for 1881.³ You will not concur with my views, in quoting authorities, but let us “not loose⁴ the substance for the shadow!”— If you can give any corrections to the priorities of authority I shall be beholden to you.

Here, through Professor Caruel of Florence, the notice arrived, that Mr Bentham was dead, Caruel having—so he⁵ wrote to me—the intelligence from Planchon.⁶ The letter was so full of well deserved praise and deep condolence at so great a loss, that indirectly I was the means of this—happily unfounded—intelligence finding its way in to the Australian newspaper.⁷ I always expressed a belief, that Mr Bentham with his independent comfort, strong constitution, regular life, and freedom of official obligations would become a centenarian. Let us all hope that this wish will be realized for the sake of our favorite science, though I shall not enjoy the fruits of his later labors, my life evidently drawing to a close.

Was it Mrs Bentham, who died?⁸

Your excellent note on the worthy Mr Currey, I have read in the journal.⁹

With my best felicitation to the new year (though when this note arrives long post festum)

I remain

regardfully your

Ferd von Mueller.

Did Ray use already in the first edition the distinctions Di- & Mono-cotyledoneae?¹⁰

Is there any work which has critically recorded priorities of pre-Linnean authors? Pfeiffers most valuable work¹¹ cannot be relied on, and he neglects pre-Tournefortian authors, as B & H¹² set aside even Tournefort.¹³

Dicotyledoneae

Monocotyledoneae