Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot.

Garden 29/12/67.

Sir

In compliance with the request, conveyed in your letter of the 23 inst,

1

See J. Moore to M, 23 December 1867 (in this edition as 67-12-23a).

I have the honor to transmit to you a general report on the botanic Garden and the special scientific institutions connected therewith.

2

Report not found; the Royal Archives, Windsor, in 2015 searched unsuccessfully for the report among the Duke of Edinburgh's papers.

I deemed it advisable to render this document as full and extensive as the short time allotted for its preparation would admit, being uncertain what branch of the department might be more particularly of interest to H. R. Highness.

3

Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.

I moreover understood from Mr Bryerly,

4

O. W. Brierly, who illustrated J. Milner & Brierly (1869), the account of the Galatea voyage.

that official information on the public institutions of Victoria would be utilized for a record of the present voyage of the Galatea, hence it appeared to me that from a more extensive report likely such passages would be selected as may appear to the Royal visitor of prominent interest.

5

There is no indication that any of M's report was used in the published account.

I beg respectfully to remark, in reference to the request of furnishing information on the bot Gardens of this colony , that I am not entrusted with any authority or invested with any power to share in the formation or administration of any of these institutions. Consequently I have no official information on the public Gardens of the different towns of Victoria, this information being only available on application to the respective administrative bodies, consisting in most instances of the Municipalities, or trustees.

The honorable

the Chief Secretary