20/11/88.
Let me assure you, dear Mr Macdonald, that I feel quite touched with the generous sentiments evinced towards me at this grand event in my life, and I appreciate most particularly the generous felicitation of so genuine a friend as yourself.
It is one of the medals of the Royal Society of London,1 which so elevatingly to myself was awarded me; and when we remember that Sir Isaac Newton once presided over the R.S., and that during the middle of last Century the award of medals could be to comparatively few mortals, I am elated beyond measure and grateful beyond expression. To me this bestowal has the additional significance, as I look upon it as representively accorded, and thus to general Science in Australia, so that it should be regarded as a tribute and an encouragement to my geographic Colleagues particularly also.
I shall treasure your generous letter very much, written on this grand occasion.
Ever regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller
M had been awarded one of its two Royal Medals for 1888 by the Royal Society of London.
Please cite as “FVM-88-11-20,” 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