To Miles Berkeley   1 January 1882

Newyearsday

1882.

In first instance, reverend and venerable friend, let me offer my felicitation to the new year; may it be to you and your florishing family one of health, happiness and again also to you one of scientific triumphs!

I am sad to learn of the demise of your sister, which loss after providence granted the Lady life through so many years and after she having been your companion through nearly a century you must feel much indeed!¹ – But you have in this sadness the consolation of the support of younger members of your family, and can divert to other thoughts through the science on which you have shed so much lustre! I was glad to receive the extra-prints of your valuable 2. article on my fungs, especially in reference to Inoderma.² My own mycologic collection here is very limited, representing only a small share of the species procured by me. Hence I was totally in the dark about some of the genera & species til now. I had just time to add to the last proofsheets of a systematic Index of genera of Australian plants Inoderma, Phillipsea (there is already a genus Phillipsia) and Mycothozetia.³

Poor Dr Cooke seems in very precarious health. perhaps Sir Joseph Hooker would send him on a mycologic errand to Central America.

I shall occasionally venture, til Dr Cooke is quite in the position again to work, to send you fungs, of which I do not want in all cases the names, but merely information on such, which are in a good state for examination and easily recognized.⁴

With regardful remembrance

your

Ferd. von Mueller.

Let me hope that your excellent Lady will be fully restored to health.⁵

Inoderma

Mycothozetia

Phillipsea

Phillipsia