27/6/95
Am afraid, dear Miss Pasco, that unintentionally I have hurt your and your venerable fathers feeling; but this to do willingly I would be quite incapable even with my natural frankness. If he had read the two letters, which I wrote to Admiral Sir George Richards about Capt Pasco,1 he would be convinced of my friendship and admiration. As regards the Algs, I was misunderstood. I merely wished any, that could be got as drifted up at the Jetty, where I collected masses in 1854, 1861 and one later year. It was most attentive of you to walk a long distance for them. I found crudely dried algs very useful for my interchanges, as in that state large quantities can be cheaply sent abroad, irrespective of what I may prepare here. Since years the resources of my little Department have no longer admitted, to keep a collector in the field and lately I have lived almost beyond even my private means. The entire cost of sending would reach nearly half a guinea even each time, if Mr French2 did not go All I would ask you, to send me kindly a telegram when large and varied species have drifted up at the jetty. I would then send young Mr French with 2 or 3 cornbags, to fill, and bring them back here by return of railway or rather steamer, as it would be wet goods. If you will kindly pick up some of each of the delicate sorts on occasional walks, I shall be greatly beholden to you.3
With best greeting
Ferd. von Mueller
Letters not found.
Probably George French, who was M's personal servant. It is unlikely that the first herbarium assistant Charles H. French would have been used as a messenger. There are no algae in MEL collected by Emily Pasco (AVH, accessed 16 November 2023).
The Pasco family were living at Queenscliff, Vic; see C. Pasco to M, 14 September 1893.
Please cite as “FVM-95-06-27,” 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