23/9/82.
Pray, dear Major Purchas, convey to the trustees1 my best thanks for the friendly consideration, which my suggestions received in reference to the desirability of having decorous dresses for the men, who sink coffins into burial places.2 In one respect I may have not clearly expressed myself; I ventured to suggest, that for the few minutes only of the funeral service the men might be provided with a black-Calico short Mantle; if such mourning Over-dress of the simplest and cheapest style was provided, it would serve for many years each man, so engaged in mournful moments, without recurrent expense of early renewal of the dress.
With best respects
dear Major,
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Please cite as “FVM-82-09-23a,” 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