To Edward Ramsay   14 February 1896

14/2/96

 

Some weeks ago, dear Dr Ramsay, I learnt to my great joy, from Mr Frogatt,1 that your health had greatly improved, so that you could feel renewed delight in science work as in days gone bye.

The conversation turned also to the rare Claudea Bennettiana at the entrance of the Paramatta River,2 and the tantalizing desire since more than 40 years to learn what is the structure of the fruit. As you have probably time, have young helpmates, know the precise locality, could get the loan of the dredging apparatus from the museum, and I would pay for the boat hire, will you have kindly an other chase for it? Other wise I may not live to see the fruit, as my earthly career must necessarily soon draw to a close, considering that I commenced my researches in 1839!

Very glad, to hear of you any how, I remain regardfully your

Ferd von Mueller

 

if you find fruiting specimens I shall of course mention publicly that you obtained them3

 

Claudea Bennettiana

 
1
It is not known when, nor for how long, Walter Froggatt was in Melbourne.
2
Parramatta River, at the head of Sydney Harbour.
3
M had been pressing Ramsay to collect specimens of this seaweed that included fruiting bodies since 1882; see M to E. Ramsay, 22 September 1882 (in this edition as 82-09-22c).

Please cite as “FVM-96-02-14,” 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 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/96-02-14