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T61/6743, unit 749, VPRS 1189/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 61.08.19aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Richard Heales, 1861-08-19 [61.08.19a]. 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/61-08-19a>, accessed September 11, 2025
Melbourne, botanic & zoologic Garden,
19. Aug 1861
Sir
In submitting to your favorable consideration a schedule of estimate of expenditure
for the botanic Garden during the year 1862, I have the honor to point out, that the
estimate of the zoological Gardens expenses will be early under the consideration
of the Committee of the acclimatisation Society, but that the absence of Edward Wilson
Esq., who is at present in New South Wales, is likely to cause a delay of a few days
in the preparation of the estimate for the zoological Department.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient and humble servant
Ferd. Mueller.
The honorable the Chief Secretary
&c &c &c
Estimate of Expenditure in the Melbourne botanic Garden during the year 1862
1
Estimates presented on a page with printed ruled lines, but with the entire text handwritten.
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£
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s
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d
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£
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s
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d
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Salary to the Gov. Botanist and Director of the botanic Garden
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600
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—
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—
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|
|
|
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" to the Assistant
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300
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—
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—
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|
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" to the Curator
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300
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—
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—
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1200
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—
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—
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Wages to Gardeners, Labourers, Artisans, Carters, botanical Collectors, Messenger
&c
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|
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4000
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—
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—
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The wages-fund cannot well be diminished, if out of it all the smaller repairs in
the establishment have to be defrayed as formerly and if it is desired, that public institutions should be supplied as extensively as before from this garden with plants and seeds. In the northern ground
moreover will after the removal of part of the animals still considerable labour be
required, for keeping the ground in order and for continueing improvements, such as the formation
of walks, drains, avenues; similar new arrangements are also yet necessary in the
southern ground.
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Contingencies
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Purchase of plants and seeds
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150
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—
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—
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This sum is intended for the purchase of seeds for lawns; also for the acquirement
of plants and seeds from collectors or nurseries at home and abroad, whenever such
are not obtainable by interchange.
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Expenses for publishing works on Australian plants
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|
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320
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—
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—
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This sum would furnish illustrations in continuance of the publication of Dr Muellers
work on Victorian plants, but it is also submitted to the consideration of the Government
that a contribution of £100 might be made out of this vote to Mr G. Bentham, F.L.S.,
London, for whose universal flora of Australia, probably to be brought out under Dr Muellers aid, subsidies have been solicited by Sir Will. Hooker
of Kew from all the Australian Governments.
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Stores, timber, tools, herbarium-material, fencing materials, flower pots, labels
&c &c
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420
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—
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—
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Forage for two draft horses and such quadrupedes, singing birds, water birds, fishes
and other animals, as may be retained at the botanic Garden
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|
|
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220
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—
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—
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It would not be possible to reduce this sum still further, since many of the animals
and structures for their keeping cannot readily be removed and as it would also be
a source of regreat
2
regret?
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Transit expenses for plants, seeds &c and incidental expenses
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|
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120
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—
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—
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Travelling expenses
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40
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—
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—
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Towards the enlargement of the collections in the botanical museum
3
Marginal annotation by unknown, 'not to be included', and by Heales, 18 October 1861: 'altered and approved'.
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£
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1600
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—
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—
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By a judicious purchase of prepared extra-Australian plants, for the acquisition of
which this sum is solicited, our botanical museum would be rendered one of the most important of the globe and would
furnish material for independent labours in any branch of descriptive Botany for which
our botanical Office has already since several years past (as far as means permitted)
been of service not only to this but also to the surrounding colonies.
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£
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8070
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Ferd. Mueller
19/8/61