Copy
Melbourne, 28th February 1883
Messrs Watson & Scull
London
Gentlemen
By the P. & O. steamship Siam you will receive the large case with the Todea-fern, concerning which I wrote to you by last mail,1 as intended for the Horticultural Exhibition of St Petersburg. As this international floral fete commences early in May, it is necessary, that the Todea should speedily be despatched to the final destination; but as in April still severe frosts may occur in St. Petersburg and even in England, care should be taken, to prevent exposure to low degrees of temperature. It is also undesirable to open the case in London, as it could not be properly closed again and as thereby the growth of young fronds would be disturbed. An assistant of mine has seen the huge case on board and safely lodged in the hold of the ship, so that under ordinary circumstances no damage through seawater, rats or frost can occur. The chief officer has taken a particular interest in this sending, and I would advise you, to see that gentleman personally on board, so that proper arrangements for safe reshipment are made. I deemed it best that the freight be paid in London2 and have therefore sent a draft for £20 out of which the freight and the commission can be paid; and it seems best to defray also on my account the freight to St. Petersburg so that this exhibit may arrive there quite free, after the heavy expenses of dragging it here out of the ranges. Please telegraph at once after the receipt of this letter to His Excellency Dr. Von Regel, and see personally to the safe transit on board of the St Petersburg steamer, explaining to the officer in charge, that frost and seawater would be detrimental to this precious sending, and that a case weighing over 4000 lbs needs special arrangements for handling and for location in the hold of his ship.
Please be also very careful that you get the right case, as on the Siam among the Exhibition goods for Amsterdam is another case with a Todea, quite as large but not so heavy. It so happened that a second Fern-giant was discovered and so I sent it through the Victorian commissioners to Amsterdam. The case to Petersburg is distinctly addressed to Dr. Regel.
I require at once a special account, properly receipted, to be made out by you for freight and commission, so that it can be passed to the Treasury here.
Respectfully yours
(Signed) Ferd. von Mueller3
Todea
Please cite as “FVM-83-02-28,” 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 10 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/83-02-28