From David Lindsay   29 December 1886

Adelaide

29th Decr 1886.

Baron Von Mueller KCMG &c &c

Melbourne

 

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 21st inst1 duly received for which many thanks. I do not hold any one responsible for the unfortunate choice of a botanical collector for my late expedition. That arrangement was purely private between him and me, his voluntary offer to accompany me was called forth by seeing the press notice of my intended trip.2 That he (Lt Dittrich) is now without funds is no fault [or bus]iness3 of mine — he volunteered to go for no payment and he has himself to thank for the [position he n]ow is in. I fail to see his right to b[…]with any claim for the […] or any […] sum — That sum was promised […] should succeed in obtaining a […] new pl[…] […]ned to the Govt here and to the G[…] that you had graciously promised £20.4 […] £45 out of pocket (besides […] [)] I beg of you to put [Lt] Dittr[ich] […]ion and, as you have […]ly considered the collection worth something and further seeing that two new plants were discovered, pay me the balance now in your hand of the amount you have decided to pay for the collection.

I consider Lieut. Dittrich quite unjustified in applying to you for the money which was promised to me.

Pardon me for writing so plainly but I feel that your extreme kindness of heart has led you to consider this matter from a wrong point of view.5

I shall indeed be proud of the honor of having a plant named after me.6

The box of plants will not be opened by the Minister of Education until after the holidays.

With the compliments of the season

I am

Yours very sincerely

David Lindsay FRGSA

Explorer & Surveyor

1
See M to D. Lindsay, 21 December 1886.
2
See D. Lindsay to M, 21 October 1885 (in this edition as 85.10.21c).
3
MS is water damaged. All following […] have the same meaning.
4
See D. Lindsay to M, 21 October 1885 (in this edition as 85-10-21c), where he says he used M's gift to spur the government of SA into granting him some funds.
5
See M to D. Lindsay, 14 December 1886 (in this edition as 86-12-14a), and 11 February 1887 (in this edition as 87-02-11a).
6
See M to D. Lindsay, 21 December 1886.

Please cite as “FVM-86-12-29a,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/86-12-29a