3/5/89.
It is very gratifying to me, dear Prof Henriques, that you offer, to translate the "Select plants"1 into the Portuguese language, an honor which I greatly estimate from so distinguished a savant as yourself. It seems to me, that if the Department of public instruction in Lisbon could take a few hundred impressions, for placing such into the numerous bureaux of the Government, the printing could be rendered remunerative, as there should be a sale for such a work not only in your Kingdom, but also in Brazil and in the portuguese colonies. You will however be aware, that the venerable Prof. C. Naudin founded on the "Select plants" his "Manuel de l'Acclimateur,"2 and thus the question arises, whether this French (somewhat altered) version of the work will answer all purposes also in your country and in Brazil, where much French is spoken. If no difficulty arises on these two points, I will be happy to contribute £20 - towards the expense of translation, and will besides purchase some impressions.
Regardfully always
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Probably many new cultural Industries would be started in Portugal by the wide distribution of this work
M had suggested to Henriques, several years earlier, that a Portuguese translation of the 'Select plants' should be issued; see M to J. Henriques, 31 March 1881 (in this edition as 81-03-31a). See also M to J. Henriques, 29 January 1895. Henriques's translation was not published until 1905 (B05.13.01).
B87.14.06.
Please cite as “FVM-89-05-03b,” 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