Memoir of the Life of William James Müller

Having referred to the subject of Mr. J. S. Muller’s pursuits in natural history, I will now mention that in the autumn of 1821 he published a quarto volume on the natural history of the Crinoidea, or lily-shaped animals. This work was beautifully illustrated with fifty plates, drawn on stone by the author. He says, in his preface, with becoming modesty, "I have applied the slender talent of drawing I possessed to executing the necessary illustrations in a series of lithographic plates, as the only mode in which a private individual could bring forward such an undertaking." He also contributed, through his friend Mr. Conybeare, to the Royal Society several papers on scientific subjects, which were published in the Philosophical Transactions. He had likewise completed the manuscript of a work on Corals and Coralines ; it was entrusted by him to a young man who assisted in the Museum, or Philosophical Institution, to make a fair copy ; but, unfortunately, the youth was seized with cholera, and died suddenly. After his death search was made for Mr. Muller’s manuscript; but it had disappeared, and was never afterwards found, and Mr. Muller did not himself live to replace it. His publications, it should be stated, appeared in the name of J. S. Miller, by which name he was generally known in Bristol ; but his sons resumed the German family name of Muller when they grew to man’s estate, in fact, before William went to Germany, although still pronounced in Bristol as Miller. As William Muller, although also christened James (not John, as has been erroneously supposed), very rarely used it in signing, I shall omit it in speaking of him in future. His early life was passed at the house of his father in Hill’s Bridge Parade, looking on the quiet cut, where only a boat or barge occasionally passed up or down. He never went to school, but was educated entirely by his mother, for whom he ever entertained warm affection and esteem. She was a small, delicate lady of good acquirements ; she could read and translate French and German accurately, and these languages she taught to her sons. William, however, also took some lessons from a German professor before going abroad the first time, which made him tolerably proficient in reading that language ; but he was quite unable to speak either German or French fluently. His father was too much engrossed with his scientific pursuits to assist in the education of his boys, otherwise than in directing their attention to natural objects, and setting such objects before them, as far as possible, as subjects to be drawn, and insisting on accuracy of outline. Mr. Muller also lost no opportunity of familiarizing the minds of his sons with the elementary study of natural history in its various branches. Although William Muller was only nine years of age when his father’s work on the Crinoidea was published, I am informed on good authority that many of the drawings for the illustrations were made by him. As a child he is reported to have been remarkably intelligent and quick, and from the age of four years to have been never happier than when entrusted with a pencil and paper or a slate. He indulged his infantine fancy by an attempt to draw every imaginable thing. His mother used to treasure some of these early efforts which showed his precocious talent. His father, seeing the bent of the boy’s mind, directed his attention to the models in the Museum. When about ten years old, Mr. Muller on one occasion desired William to draw a particular shell for him very carefully, and he accordingly drew it in three different positions; but not one of them represented exactly what his father wished. The lad went home late, thinking over his day’s work, and in the night he said he dreamt that if he were to place the shell in a certain new position he should succeed in drawing the part his father desired. The next morning he started early for the Museum, and when his father arrived two hours later the drawing was completed to his entire satisfaction.

A few more lines, brief and sad, and this memoir will be finished. On Monday morning, the 8th of September [1845], Edmund Muller had commenced to set his brother’s palette after breakfast, as was his wont; and William Muller (age 33), who was propped up, seemed about as well as he had been of late, when suddenly a change came over him. He appears to have broken an internal blood-vessel. He had just strength to call to his brother for help, and then said, "Remember Gooden and — and — that other." He could not pronounce the name, but it was supposed to be Charles Bentley, to whom he was much attached. Soon after this, exhausted nature gave way, his head fell, and he never spoke again. He had entered "the Silent Land," and all his work and sufferings were over.

On Friday, the 12th, he was quietly laid to rest in the old Lewin’s Mead burial-ground, situated in a retired part of Bristol, leading out of Brunswick Square. Several of his mother’s relatives, the Jameses, had long been buried there. It is a small and secluded cemetery, with a few trees, shrubs, and flowers ; and the grave of Muller, marked only with a flat stone and a simple inscription, is situated at its furthest end, and is placed underneath an overhanging elder-bush. As Tennyson sang in memory of another young Englishman, we may say of Muller —

"'Tis well; 'tis something ; we may stand

Where he in English earth is laid.

And from his ashes may be made

The violets of his native land.

'Tis little; but it looks in truth

As if the quiet bones were blest

Among familiar names to rest.

And in the places of his youth."

Edmund Muller, who had nursed with unremitting care his only brother night and day for several months, suffered in health for some time after this event. He wrote to some of his brother’s old friends immediately, to tell them that the end had come, two of which letters I will now give : —

To T. Morson, Esq.

No. 1, Park Row, Bristol, September 10th, 1845.

Sir, — I take the liberty of addressing you a line to communicate the melancholy information of a termination to my poor brother’s sufferings, which took place on Monday morning at ten o’clock.

I trust you will excuse my writing in this manner, but I do so from the high respect my brother held you in, as also to request that you would have the kindness to communicate the event to his friend Mr. Solly, who will I know feel his loss greatly.

With respect I remain,

Your obedient servant,

E. G. Muller.”