To Richard Owen   1 January 1888

Newyears morn,

1887.1

 

Since a series of years, dear Sir Richard, my first letter at the commencement of the new annual space of our christian era, was written to you; and as divine providence has graciously allowed me, to live into another year, I once more have the pleasure, to offer my festive felicitation to you.

May then the newyear prove to you replete with joy and blessings, to be followed by many others in which, while you experience every happiness of life, you will add to the vast discoveries, which must render your name illustrious in all ages It is additionally gratifying to me on this occasion, that I have to acknowledge a generous letter of yours,2 and thus witness the delight, you derived by a happy coincidence on your very birthday! from the new material of the Orinthorrhynchus3 for following up researches, commenced more than half a century ago on the Monotremata.4 If you had heard, what I said at the Vict. branch of the British Medical Association some time ago,5 and how I was cheered you would have realized that your great labors are also fully appreciated in this part of the world. Only lately I read again your admirable article, written for the Athenaeum in 1861, when you with fervent eloquence advocated the principles of a natural history's museum.6

Let me remain, my honored and venerable friend,

regardfully your

Ferd.von Mueller.

Somehow the specimen of the mother of the new born Ornithorrh. remained here; it can be sent at any time.7

1
This date is an error for 1888, since M mentions having received R. Owen to M, 27 September 1887, which indicates that Owen received the specimen of the young platypus on his eightieth birthday, 20 July.
2
R. Owen to M, 27 September 1887.
3
See M to R. Owen, 5 October 1886, 15 October 1886; F. Hagenauer to M, 4 October 1886. See also Owen (1887).
4
For example, Owen (1832), (1834).
5
M's comments appear not to have been published.
6
Owen (1861). This article was based on the Royal Institution discourse ‘On the scope and appliances of a National Museum of Natural History’ that Owen delivered on 26 April 1861. See also Owen (1862).
7
Somehow … remained here is a marginal note.

Please cite as “FVM-88-01-01b,” 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 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/88-01-01b