To William Thiselton-Dyer   17 February 1886

[17 February 1886]¹

Learning from your letter of the 20 Dec,² which reached me only this day, dear Mr Dyer, that you are no³ duely installed into the Kew-Directorate, I offer you my earliest felicitation, and add the expression of my hope, that you will in unfailing health and unimpaired by adversity enjoy the highly honorable position for very many years, and thus add laurels to the achievements of the distinguished Hooker-family, to which you also belong. —

It needs not my assurance, that any little support, I can give you from here, will be gladly afforded.

I had also a very kind letter from Sir Joseph,⁴ to which I will also briefly reply this evening.⁵ Pray mention to him, that I did not advise his son⁶ to take up pastoral pursuits at present, but think, it might be kept in view for his future. This would by no means necessitate his giving up his special profession; but all professions are unsafe or unlasting staffs to walk by, as some of our best medical men here have found also out. The best of mines get finally worked out; our splendid copper mines are at a standstill on many places, on account of the price of the metal having sunk so much just now. A subordinate position on any mine is a precarious one, though the young Gentleman gained already the honorable post of Acting Manager.

Be not surprised, that I sent some New Guinea ferns to Prof. Luerssen; but he most generously presented my Department with the completest (collection) series of Mrs Dietrichs⁷ Queensland-plants,⁸ for which I undertook to supply in return ferns from New Guinea and Polynesia in return,⁹ as material for his forthcoming work.¹⁰

Next month my Ministerial Chief, the honorable Graham Berry, proceeds to England as Agent-General of this colony. He has been very friendly to me, and on my solicitation has left a minute in the Chief Secretary's Office, favorable to a new grant of £1000 to our geogr. Society here on the next estimates. This should have some weight with his successor. Please, take Mr Berry to the next meeting of the Royal Geographic-Society and Roy. Col. Institute, and introduce him to some of the leading members, and let them kindly know that he was favorable to the continuation of state-means for geograph. explorations.

The enclosed note¹¹ will put you likely into possession of any vegetable products for Kew from the collections in the Victorian Court.¹² The Albums would be of no use to Kew. Perhaps some of the younger members of the Royal family might like the Albums. It would be well, if you presented the note early, so that you may not be forestalled and promises given in other directions by the commissioners.

In Mr Bailey's supplement of the QL. Flora¹³ 2/3 or 3/4 of the Phanerogams are from me, though it is not stated so. I have many additional Cryptrogams from Q.L.¹⁴ besides those enumerated now by him, but cannot manage to get the 12th vol of the fragmenta completed.

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.

I directed some time ago Mr Morris's attention to the desirablity of examining the Antillan Species of Boxwood. Indeed the suggestion was made already to his predecessor by me.

Best thanks for Saharumpore¹⁵ "ua" seeds.

I am sure you will clearly distinguish in the Australian Courts between the articles, which are of real rural, commercial or technologic value, and those which are mere curiousities or playthings.

Of course the percentage of fibres fit for looms, papermills and rope factories is very small.

Mr Clem Markham should see my halved Koilospheres¹⁶ in the Exhibition (private property)