To Louis Smith   8 July 1891

8/7/91.

 

Within the last days I learnt, dear Dr Smith, that the great Royal geogr. Soc. of England has enrolled you as F.R.G.S.,1 a position which you have so well earned by the enlightened interest, evinced by you in the forthcoming south-polar Expedition.2 let me offer my best felicitation at your having thus been accorded this distinguished position among Geographers! I am much touched with the particular greatness, shown me by your kind Lady and yourself at the new anniversary of my bit of worldly career.3 —

Alway with grateful remembrance

your

Ferd. von Mueller

1
M had been one of those who nominated Smith in a certificate dated 28 January 1891 that resulted in his election. However, the certificate is annotated 'never qualified’, i.e. the fees were not paid. Yet Smith had previously been elected FRGS in 1889, and appears to have remained a Fellow in good standing until his death! See notes to M to Royal Geographical Society, 28 January 1891.
2
For context, see Home et al. (1992) where, however, Smith is not mentioned as a supporter of the proposed Antarctic exploring expedition.
3
M had celebrated his 66th birthday on 30 June 1891.

Please cite as “FVM-91-07-08,” 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 24 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/91-07-08