Document information
Physical location:
MS Q429 outward letter copy book, pp. 62-4, Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 55.06.12aPreferred Citation:
Augustus Gregory to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1855-06-12 [55.06.12a]. 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/55-06-12a>, accessed July 6, 2025
To F. Mueller Esqre. Melbourne
Sydney 12th June 1855
Sir, —
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo stating
that unforseen difficulties had arisen to prevent your joining the North Australian
Expedition. And also your letter of the 4th instant, stating certain conditions, on
which alone you could accompany the Expedition in the capacity of Botanist.
1
See M to A. Gregory, 26 May 1855 and 4 June 1855.
2. In reply I have to inform you that the conditions above alluded to, and by which
you require that half the Collection made by you during the Expedition should be considered
the property of the Government of Victoria, and that you should reserve the right
of publishing the results of your Botanical researches for your own private advantage,
are so completely at variance with the rules which usually govern the arrangements
of expeditions of the nature now contemplated, that it is improbable that such an
arrangement would receive the sanction of the Imperial Government, nor could I recommend
for adoption a system which would be attended with such great practical difficulties.
3. I have therefore to draw your attention to the following rules for the guidance
of the Officers of the North Australian Expedition.
(I.) All collections of specimens and notes relative to them or any other point of
scientific interest to be considered the property of the Government.
(II.) No journal or notes of any description relating to the proceedings or discoveries
of the Expedition will be permitted to be published without the express sanction of
the Government.
(III.) Although every facility will be afforded to the scientific officers of the
Expedition in their several departments, yet no specific assistance can be guaranteed,
nor can an assistant be exclusively attached to any particular officer except at the
discretion of the Commander.
(IV) No officer will be exempted from the performance of the general duties of the
Expedition on the plea of attending to his particular department except by special
order to that effect.
(V) The nature and amount of conveyance to be devoted to the specimens collected by
the various scientific officers will be regulated by the Commander of the party.
(VI) As the success of the Expedition will greatly depend on the earnest co-operation
on the part of the individuals composing it, the officers will be expected to use
their utmost endeavours to promote this object by a strict conformity with the orders
which may be in force for the regulation of the party.
4. In reply to your enquiry relative to the possibility of your devoting a short period
to botanical research in the Wide Bay district, I do not expect that the Expedition
will remain sufficiently long in N. S. Wales to admit of your so doing should you
join it.
5. I have further to inform you that the Governor General
has decided on recommending that the salary of the Botanist be augmented to £250.0.0
per annum with an allowance of £1.1.0 per diem during detention in Sydney.
2
Sir William Denison.
I have the honor &c
A. C. Gregory