17/10/95
I have a most valuable collection of Minerals and Algs ready in a good sized box for the great Musée d'histoire naturelle of Paris, dear Chevalier Dejardin, and would like to send it by the Polynesian,1 as I shall have an other case getting ready by the Armand Behic.2 If the gallant Captain of the Polynesien will do me the same favor, as the Commander of the "Ville de la Ciotat",3 I shall be very thankful, as I would not like to trust the case away unless under some superior surveillance, no bill of lading being obtainable. If however you experience difficulty in kindly arranging this for me, with your usual friendliness, then I must send two cases by the Steamer of the Messageries maritimes lines, leaving early in December, trusting to the attentiveness of Lieut. Castellan.
With regardful and grateful remembrance your
Ferd. von Mueller
I should like to send General Dodds4 a lithographed portrait with inscription. Would this distinguished warrior likely accept it as a souvenir from me?
i.e. the French mail steamer Polynesien.
Polynesien cleared out of Melbourne for Marseilles on 31 October 1895 (see Age, 1 November 1895, p. 4); Armand Behic departed for Marseilles on 1 December (see Age, 2 December 1895, p. 4).
Ville de Ciotat cleared out of Melbourne for Marseilles on 30 September 1895 (Age, 2 October 1895, p. 4).
See also M to L. Dejardin, 3 August 1895.
For a printed version of this letter, see Home & Maroske (1997), p. 49. MS annotation by [Dejardin]: 'rép. 19' [replied 19]. Letter not found.
Please cite as “FVM-95-10-17a,” 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