Document information

Physical location:

VPRS 5486/PO/3, official inward correspondence, VA 928 Melbourne Public Library, Public Record Office, Victoria. 66.10.05a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Redmond Barry, 1866-10-05 [66.10.05a]. 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/66-10-05a>, accessed September 11, 2025

5/10/66.
Dear Sir Redmond.
I feel grateful for your assurance, that you will kindly bring my proposition for adding a few books to the the
1
the repeated.
valuable set in the bot. section of the public Library before your honored colleagues on the board of the trustees.
Allow me then to suggest the following
De Candolle Histoire des plantes grasses (1799-1829)
Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck monographia generis Aloes et Mesembryanthemi 1836-1849
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Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck (1836-63); 1849 was the publication date of fascicle 5, but two further fascicles were published, in 1854 and 1863 (TL2).
Antoine, die Coniferen frei bearbeitet Wien 1840-1846.
3
i.e. Antoine (1840) [i.e. 1840-6, see TL2, title no. 19.299]. The comment 'frei bearbeitet' [freely edited] applies to the works of the authors listed in the subtitle 'Nach Lambert, Loudon und Andern' [after Lambert, Loudon and others].
Van Houtte, flore de serres et jardins de l'Europe. 1845-1866.
4
Publication continued until 1880.
Hooker & Greville icones filicum 1829-1831.
5
i.e. W. Hooker & Greville (1831).
Jacquin eclogae plantarum 1811-1844.
6
The four Jacquin works listed are J. Jacquin (1811-44), N. Jacquin (1781-93), N. Jacqiun (1794 and N. Jacquin (1806-19).
Jacquin icones plantarum 1781-1793.
Jacquin, Oxalis 1794.
Jacquin, Stapeliae 1806.
Knowles & Westcott floral Cabinet 1837-1840
Pfeiffer & Otto, Abbildung und Beschreibung bluehender Cacteen 1843-1848.
7
i.e. Pfeiffer & Otto (1843-50), a work issued in parts from 1838; Otto was a joint author of vol. 1 only; M was evidently unaware that an additional part of vol. 2 was issued in 1850 (TL2).
Bedford & Forbes's Pinetum Woburnense 1839.
8
J. Forbes (1839) is the author; the Duke of Bedford owned the Pinetum being catalogued and wrote the Introduction. Forbes wrote the Preface and the descriptions.
Presl reliquiae Haenkeanae 1825-1836.
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i.e. Presl (1830-35).
Smith exotic Botany 1804-1805.
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J. E. Smith (1804-5).
Wendland Ericarum icones et descriptiones 1798-1822
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i.e. J. Wendland (1798-1823).
These are all works of lasting value for reference, but a portion of them can only be accidentally bought. Allow me also to remark, that if Mr Archers
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William Henry Archer.
statistic works & my phytographic works were sent to the Chilean Government they undoubtedly would return the 8 vol. on statistics and the eight on plants published by that Government.
13
Gay (1845-52). The botanical series is a component of a larger work; see also botanical illustrations in Atlas, vol. 1.
I remain, dear Sir Redmond, your regardful
Ferd. Mueller
Just this afternoon at 2 , I receive the circular inviting me to wait on you as a member of the Deputation
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Circular not found.
a honor which I certainly should have myself availed of had I been called in time. I trust you will have kindly yielded to the Commissioners solicitations, in which I most gladly join.
15
On 5 October the Commissioners of the Intercolonial and Paris Exhibitions met with Sir Redmond Barry to ask him to reconsider his decision to resign as President of the Commission as a consequence of a majority of the Commissioners deciding to postpone the opening of the Exhibition from 11 to 23 October 1866 because they believed the building would not be ready to receive exhibits. In a statement to the Commissioners who asked him to withdraw his resignation, Barry outlined his reasons for believing that the Exhibition could open on time, with some adjustments to arrangements. At the conclusion of the meeting Barry stated: 'Noting was further from my intention than to desert your ranks... I will vindicate the principle on which I stand [i.e., his duty to have the exhibition open at the date promised the Government when it appointed him as President], I will keep faith if you empower me, and as a humble individual, I will have the place ready by the 11th. Whether opened then or not is another matter.' (Age, 6 October 1866, p. 6.). The formal ceremonial opening of the exhibition occurred on 24 October (Age, 27 October 1866, p. 3). Melbourne punch (25 October 1866, p. 1) expressed its regret that 'owing to what appears to have been his loyalty to a fake principle Sir REDMOND did not on the opening day occupy that distinguished position which he is so eminently fitted to adorn'.