25/9/95
Allow me to ask, dear Chevalier Dejardin, whether it could be arranged, that I can send to the jardin des plantes or to the Musée d’histoire naturelle by the Ville de la Ciotat and also by the Polynesien in each instance a case (not very large) to Paris. I have no one on board of these two ships, with whom I am so closely befriended, that I merely have to send my box on board, but by the Armand Behic subsequently I can send a case under Lieut. Castellan and later on by the Australien through the doctor. So far as I can see beforehand I shall have a sending by all 4 ships to Paris in their next voyages, unless in one instance the case will be for Marseille only. I would watch each month for the arrival of the French Mail steamer here on her return voyage and send the respective cases direct on board, if one of the Officers, perhaps the Doctor will see in Marseille, that these valuable sendings are landed and brought to the Railway, and a letter or telegram simultaneously be sent to Paris, so that the authorities in the great French Metropolis can at once send for the goods.
As no bills of lading would be forthcoming, it would be necessary that special arrangements be made for the safe arrival of any of these boxes at their final destination.
If, with your usual kindness, you can aid the arrangements and can obtain permission for these sendings I shall be greatly beholden to you.2
With regardful remembrance your
Ferd. von Mueller
Please cite as “FVM-95-09-25,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/95-09-25