25/3/92
Let me thank you, dear Consul, for your kind letter,2 concerning the books3 sent to the Admiral4 and Capt. Basson. I think these books may prove occasionally useful for reference during voyages. Let me hope, that I was not misunderstood in saying, that it seemed perhaps an encroachment on the time of the illustrious visitors and their officers, when so much is to be seen here during their brief stay! to come on a mere visit of etiquette to my humble place; but if any of the members of the French Navy now here like to honor me anyhow with a call, please, tell them, that I shall be much gratified. Perhaps they like to have some seeds of Australian plants, or I may be able to do something else for them now or hereafter. I feel very poorly, and so I trust, you and your naval compatriots will excuse me for not calling on them. Some of the Officers of the "Messageries maritimes" come to me regularly on every voyage!
Always regardfully your
Ferd. Von Mueller
Please cite as “FVM-92-03-25,” 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 26 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/92-03-25