278 FERDINAND VON MUELLER. 



edition of which was published in 1889, serves to show the extent 

 of his labours, not only iu adding to the known flora, but in 

 elucidating the geographical distribution of all Australian species. 

 Right up to the end he was at work; indeed, his last communication 

 — a note on Boronia Jiorihunda — was read at the September meeting 

 of the Linucan Society, N.S.W., only ten days before his death. 



Outside the domains of botany he was perhaps most interested 

 in geographical exploration, and for many years was an enthusiastic 

 member and oflicer of the Victorian Branch of the Geographical 

 Society, in which capacity he was intimately associated with many 

 expeditions, such as, in recent times, those of Giles and the still 

 more recent Elder expeditions, whilst his own explorations were of 

 no mean order. His keen and almost pathetic interest in the fate 

 of Leichardt is Avell known to everyone with whom he came in 

 contact, while duriug the past few years his strongest wish in con- 

 nection with explorations, and in the attempt to realize which he 

 spent much time and energy, has been to see an Antarctic expedition 

 fitted out by the Australasian colonies. 



In 1890 he presided over the first meeting of the Australasian 

 Science Association held in Melbourne, and those who listened to 

 his presidential address, and to whom perhaps he was mostly known 

 as a distiuguished botanist, could not help being struck with the 

 breadth of his knowledge and the catholicity of his interests. 



He was above all things an ardent student and investigator, and 

 an indefatigable worker. For outward appearances, and even for 

 what would be to most men the ordinary comforts of life, he cared 

 absolutely nothing. So long as he could do his work he was con- 

 tent, and though by no means physically robust, the amount of work 

 which he got through Avas something astounding. His corre- 

 spondence alone would have been work enough for any ordinary 

 man. In this respect he was most punctiUous, and his corre- 

 spondents always knew that their efforts would be appreciated and 

 promptly acknowledged. Only ill-health would prevent the answering 

 of a letter or the acknowledgment of a specimen. 



The last meeting which he attended was the September one of 

 our club, and after so many years during which he has been going 

 in and out amongst us it is hard to realize that "the Baron," as he 

 was always called, had really passed away. At times we have 

 smiled at the quaintness of his speech and manner, but behind this 

 there has been the deep respect and admiration for the man who 

 devoted himself with such wholeheartedness to the work which he 

 carried out so well and so faithfully. The whole of his income and 

 all his means were expended either in private generosity or in the 

 furtherance of science w^ork, and he died a poor man. 



In 1888 the Royal Society of London honoured him with the 

 award of one of their gold medals, and the French Institute elected 

 him a corresponding member, but none of the honours justly given 

 to him made the least difference in the simple and friendly way in 

 which he used to come in and out amongst us, and it will be many 

 years before we grow accustomed to the absence of the once familiar 

 figure of the Baron. 



