The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, ¶ 10. April 1855. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I do myself the honor of adressing you, to solicit your information on the intended reestablishment of the botanical department, for which I ha...

Document information

Physical location:

M55/4633, unit 203, VPRS 1189 inward registered correspondence, VA 856 Colonial Secretary's Office, Public Record Office, Victoria. 55.04.10

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Haines, 1855-04-10. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/55-04-10>, accessed November 15, 2024

Botanic Gardens, Melbourne,

10. April 1855.

Sir

I do myself the honor of adressing you, to solicit your information on the intended reestablishment of the botanical department, for which I had the honor to be appointed during the last two years.

Observing that for this purpose the sum of one thousand pounds Sterling has been unanimously voted by the Legislative Council, and that this measure was formally supported in behalf of the Government by the honorable the Auditor General, I beg leave to enquire, whether I am justified in continueing my labours under the auspices of the Government, under which alone I shall be enabled to carry them so amply out, as under the present state of science it must be deemed desirable. Laying humbly these views before his Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor, I pray permission to state, that I am desirous to proceed again with the examination of the botanical materials, collected during the last season in the Snowy Mountains, with the utmost despatch, in order to prepare myself thus in time for a journey through the western desert, which I have not yet explored, and which can be successfully only traversed at the end of the rainy season, when on a little surface water may be relied The main localities afterwards to be visited would be the environs of Cape Ottway,

Otway.

the sources of the rivers Tarwin and Latrobe, Mount Baw Baw and the neighboorhood of Cape Howe.

I hope to accomplish the due investigation of the plants, occurring in these localities by next summer, and this would render it then possible to prepare every year a complete description volumen on the indigenous vegetation for the press.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your most obedient and humble servant

Ferd. Mueller.

The honorable the Colonial Secretary, Melbourne.

The Assistant Colonial Secretary, J. Moore, referred M's letter to the Auditor General, E. Grimes, for his report on 13 April 1855. Grimes reported, 23 April: 'The sum of £1000 has been voted for the continuance of this Department & the retention of this officers services'. The question was asked of Governor Hotham: 'Shall it be notified to Dr Mueller that his services are retained — ?' Hotham replied, 26 April: 'notify that his services are retained'.

On 19 April 1855 Moore wrote to the Auditor General, E. Grimes, requesting him to place on the estimates for the present year: '£1000 for the salary and expenses of the Govt Botanist' (No. 694, unit 3, p. 198, VPRS 3208, PROV). The sum of £1000 was duly placed on the additional estimates for 1854 and 1855. See Victoria, Legislative Council (1855) Additional estimates for 1854 and 1855, Melbourne, p. 16.