17/6/85
It was with much gratification, dear Mr Pulsford, that I received this evening the photogram, which the gallant Capt. Everill left for me as a souvenir, and which I value all the more, as I never met him personally. I have no photographic card of my own at hand as a return-gift to the Leader of the Expedition;1 but if I knew, whether any sending of mine would reach him still, I would forward it to such place, as you might suggest, perhaps Thursday-Island. I should like to thank him also for his farewell-telegram,2 which reached me late on Saturday night, I being absent from home til then, thus too late to send a return-telegram
This evening I also received the copy of instructions, with the tenor and fullness of which I am much pleased.
If I have not been always so attentive in writing to you, as could be wished, I must remark in extenuation of my shortcomings, that I am most onerously engaged in my Department, in as much as this year enormous extra-work has to be done for the Colonial Exhibition in London,3 and as I have two large new works under the press,4 — the correspondence from my own hands being anyhow already about 3000 letters a year!
We here also are very grateful to you for the zeal, displayed by you, in getting your own large share done for the fitting out of the expedition in the responsible position, which you so honorably occupy.
Regardfully
your
Ferd von Mueller
Please cite as “FVM-85-06-17,” 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 18 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/85-06-17