To Joseph Hooker   31 August 1895

31/8/95¹

For some time, dear Sir Joseph, I owe you an answer to a most kind letter of yours, and now I am reminded specially of this by the arrival of an other friendly communication of yours. The work in the rural interests of the colony during the dire depression has been overwhelming and endless in the interests of the breadwinning portion of the community and therewith for aiding also the revenue, that for the last 3 years I could give but little attention to anything beyond the local immediate requirements of the Department. The aid of Assistan[ts]² in the establishmen[t] is very limited indeed, the whole annual grant for staff, working material of any kind, freight postage stationary museum material being only about £600 annuall[y.]

The Office-rooms (7) I find in my private dwelling and I keep 3 Juniors on my private expense for the service. I mention this to you only in confidence and not with any discontentedness, contrarely I cheerfully make all these sacrifices to keep up the dignity and efficiency of the branch of service, established by myself, but - of course - were I not alone in life or had to provide for relatives I could not act as I do. In mention this privately to you, my only object is to make it clear to you, how difficult under these recuded³ means it is for me, to keep up all communications in relation to our favorite science abroad, how difficult to maintain the interchanges and other obligations, which I have endeavoured still to do, and I may say heroically. If however short comings unintentionally arose on my side, it will be understood, how little I can diver[t] my attention from the requirements of my Office. In November and December, the annual examinations take place which I conduct as an hon. examiner for several Gov. Institutions here, which necessar[ily] takes up also much time.

I managed during the last 3 months, to see the 9th edit of the “Select Plants” through the press, brought up to recent date, as the 8th issue had been nearly exhausted by sale at the Gov. Printing Office.⁴ In a winterless Colony the scope of culture is necessarily vast, and such a book is very much more in demand here than in colder countries and must be much under extension.

Knowing how very busy you are with the elucidation of the Indian Gramineae⁵ and the finishing of the Nomina Plantarum,⁶ not to speak of the editing of the bot. Magazine, - all these large tasks simultaneously - I was reluctant to encroach with antarctic subjects on you, however significant the⁷ would be above all to you, and no doubt you see Sir Henry Barkly, Mr Markham, Mr Keltie and others, who were kept informed of what we were doing here. The next two weekly mail-steamers ought to give us full information of what you all decided on during the international Congress,⁸ we having had here but very slight journalistic telegram[s] on that memorable gathering.

Two days ago in the geographic Council here I mentioned, that you, the leader of antarctic thoughts, held also the view that it should be the British navy which ought to resume explorations in the south-polar regions on a scale adequate to the importance of the subject. The land-party need not be large for traversing any accessible ice-plateau and could be formed out of the British Marines there being also all or nearly all scientific staff available from Gov. Institutions to the Admiralty without extra-expenses[.] Some of the older Steamers of the R.N. now out of place for the modern requirements of war-fare (though God forbid we should have wars again), would still serve admirably for an expedition such as we all wish to send out and as the Australian Colonies are commencing to advance anew to prosparity⁹ through rising wheat-and-wool-prices the patriotism in these dominions and through their Legislatures might be called forth, so that a share of the extra-expenses to send supernumerary ships on such a glorious and useful errand, would surely be born by the Austra[l] colonies, none of the 7 refusing to contribute.¹⁰

While I am writing this, the British Association will be assembled and will doubtless in its geographic section further discuss the best means for resuming antarctic-work early and commensurately. I regard an international expedition unpractical, a Committee for such unworkable not only from jealousies sure to arise but also from the impossibility of often meeting. Belgium fits out already an antarctic expedition of its own, Norway is engaged in North-polar exploration so Austria already.

Ever regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.

I lately wrote to your stately and accomplished daughter in law now at K G Sound.¹¹

If in your agrostologic researches you find that any [West]-Australia Grasses should change names in [...] [Census] [would] [you] kindly let me [know].

Gramineae