To Odoardo Beccari   21 June 1884

21/6/84

It is a long time, dear Dr Beccari, since I wrote to you; and you must have deemed it strange, that I did not send you a return consignment of museum-plants for the nice lot of Sunda Island plants, received from you.¹ The fact is, that I long since intended to do so, but the incessant calls on my ill supported Department for the various Exhibitions (“Expositions”) and other extrawork left me no time, especially as I also acquired for the Victorian Government the very extensive Sonderian collections,² to be put in order for Museum-purposes, and some publications had to be carried on in reference to Australian plants irrespective of the enormous correspondence. I am now however somewhat better placed for assistance as regards “Herbarium” work, and several sets of spare-specimens are under preparation, one of which will be despatched to you.

And now, my dear Doctor, I would beg of you, whether you can let me have some of your New Guinea plants for elaboration. Australia is almost exhausted, and I have during two years had but extremely few novelties from all Australia. I am therefore eager to participate in your New Guinean treasures, and should like to write a chapter for your splendid “Malesia”.³ The fact, that this work evidently does not get the literary help from your confreres, which it deserves, gives me courage to ask you for some of your Mt Arfak plants &c, such as you do not care to elaborate yourself, especially as Mr Forbes is proceeding now to New Guinea and may rediscover some of your undescribed species. If I had the second set of any Papuan plants, which you wish to entrust to me, I would not long keep it here and return it to you.

The Marquis Toverena and his Lady continue my kindest friends, and we often speak of you and Signor D’Albertis,⁴ to whom I wish to be remembered with all friendliness.

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.

Any plants sent to my Agents, Mess Watson & Scull, Lower Thames Street,⁵ would be forwarded without expense to you.