To William Mitten   12 January 1887

12/1/87.

It was with perfect delight, dear Mr Mitten, that I learnt by last mail, you would be willing to resume your important researches on Australian Mosses from Material, which I might be able to send. Indeed I have to thank you for a list of some names already.

Mr Sayer will still be for some weeks at elevations of several thousand feet in North-Queensland, and this new region is sure to furnish also additions to Bryology. It needs not my assurance, that I should be very glad, to fulfil your wish, of getting illustrations of Jungermanniaceae issued here; but none of the scientific societies here have means for it; and my Department is also unable to bear the expenditure; indeed I am always sinking my own private means into the office-work, to expedite research and extend it.

Herewith seeds of Euc. Gunnii and a few other easily grown plants, enduring slight frost.

I have what seems a Dawsonia from New Guinea, it may be superba; but the specimens are without fruit.

Accept my best thanks for your felicitation at the anniversary of our Christian era; and let me hope, that also to you the new year will be replete with happiness!

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller¹

A few weeks ago, I was invited as President of the geographic Society here to a Banquet on the occasion of the first Australian Conference of Pharmacists,² delegates having come from all these Colonies. In my response to a toast I alluded most particularly to yourself as a real ornament of the pharm. profession, having also occasion to refer to Oersted and Forchhammer as originally pharmacists, whom I met personally at the meeting of 1846, of the German Association of Physicians and Naturalists, which gathering I attended (40 years ago!) as an active member.

Pray, publish any new species at once in some journal or periodical in Britain. I should have some difficulty of seeing msc here through the press.

Dawsonia superba

Eucalyptus Gunnii

Jungermanniaceae