M initially wrote ‘L. Rodway’ but then extended the initial to a name in a way that left this unclear but looking rather like ‘Luke’ as it was read at the Linnean Society. In fact, Rodway’s name was Leonard.
Line underlined in crayon.
M autograph text and signature; additional supporters' individual signatures.
Annotated bottom front of sheet: Read 19 Novbr 1891 Ballot 17 Decbr 1891;
Top front margin: Not joined 28/8/93. See letter from Mr John Bufton 20/7/93 in Guard Book Does not esteem Fellowship a sufficient distinction;
Back: Luke Rodway elected 17th Decbr 1891.
Bufton's comment that ‘Incidentally I may mention that Mr Leonard Rodway, Hobart, told me in a letter that he was once a Fellow but esteemed it so little of a distinction that he ceased to be such' (Guardbook 1885-93, p. 311) should be compared with Rodway to B. D. Jackson, 8 May 1892: ‘I received your intimation of my election to the fellowship of the Linnean Society some months ago & have delayed answering in the hope of being able to find the wherewithal to pay my fees. I have now with the deepest regret to own my total inability to do so. Between the time of my proposal, & the present we have had a time of financial crisis that has reduced me among others from a state of affluence to one bordering on poverty. The loss I sustain in not being in a position to avail myself of the advantages of your honorable Society is considerable but I trust my present failure will not tell against me should I ever be in a position to be proposed again.’ (Guard Book 1885-93, p. 269).
The date is possibly in the hand of William Woolls.
Please cite as “FVM-91-10-09,” 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