From Frederick Bailey   13 May 1883

Queensland Museum.

Brisbane May 13th 1883¹

Dear Baron Mueller

Thanks for your kind letter of the 5th² I am past the Macrozamias and indeed nearly through the Orchids and I hope to have the whole through the press by the end of June.³ I have done the best I could for the Macrozam. out of the Flora and Fragmenta.⁴ I will enclose in this a flower of the L. Archeriana⁵ and an unripe fruit and leaf which I have since received, perhaps I was wrong in being so hastely with it only I wanted it in the body of the book and at the time of receiving the specimen I was at its place in the classification so had to put it in or leave it for the end of the work with any others that I may have overlooked or that may be found since.

Thanks for your notes on the shortcomings of the work but you should remember I only wished to compile a field book. Your Systematic Census⁶ gives referrences far beyond any other work published and all lovers of botany will have it by them — mine will fulfil its place as a companion to the travelling botanist in this part of australia and those who cannot afford a botanical library.

I am sorry that I did not know under what circumstances L. indica was found for I should have been glad to have added it as a note, In fact (dont be vexed with me) I thought that both that and L. flos-reginae⁷ had been gathered in some old garden and sent to you not willfully but for the want of knowing better as doubtless some other plants have for instance Ulmus parviflora,⁸ Ficus pumila, & Vinca rosea —

Our friend the Rev Scortechini and Mr Tryon will start for Mount Lindsay⁹ shortly and I hope for several plants if not new still new to this colony from their trip

I should have sent you the parts of the synopsis¹⁰ as they were printed but thought they were not of sufficient interest so will send the book when it is out not that it will be of use to you but that you may point out my errors —

I had no chance of paying a visit to New Guinea as no steamer was sent from Brisbane. I should like you to finish the flora of that fine country and if any come into my hands I shall be glad to send them to you who have already begun the work

Believe me dear friend

your always

F. M. Bailey¹¹

Ficus pumila

Lagerstroemia Archeriana

Lagerstroemia flos-reginae

Lagerstroemia indica

Macrozamia

Ulmus parviflora

Vinca rosea