17/1/82.
That was a sad intelligence, dear Sir Joseph, that of poor Dr Sonder's death!1 So he is gone before me, the friend of my youth, the genial and disinterested promotor of my researches through 33 years, over which my regular correspondence from Australia with him has extended. O! How shall I miss such a friend, so dear, so disinterested, so willing to aid and encourage! One of the strongest threads, which tied me to scientific life, is torn asunder!
He died after only 4 days illness from a severe form of influenza; his last letter, on the first day of his ailing, was written to me.2 I telegraphed to the mournful widow my condolence,3 who writes a distressing letter,4 that in the fever-dreams of his last days he was much speaking about the few Algs he had recently from me. How shall I miss his kind letters, which always encouraged me in my troubles and alleviated so much the sadness of my later years.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Please cite as “FVM-82-01-17b,” 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/82-01-17b