The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot. Garden ¶ 6/2/71 ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I have the honor to inform you, that Mr Chr Hoffmann intends to proceed to Europe with a view of continuing studies at one of the German Universities, and tha...

Document information

Physical location:

VPRS 5834/P0/1, inward correspondence p. 116, VA 1411 Industrial and Technological Museum, Public Record Office, Victoria. 71.02.06

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Samuel Bindon, 1871-02-06. 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/71-02-06>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne bot. Garden

6/2/71

Sir

I have the honor to inform you, that Mr Chr Hoffmann intends to proceed to Europe with a view of continuing studies at one of the German Universities, and that he has taken his passage by the Swiftsure, which ship is to sail on the 14th instant. The articles of vegetable nature, which had accumulated hitherto and which required setting up and labelling have been nearly finished and will be ready (i.e. the rest) by the end of this week.

I am very anxious, that the payments due to Mr Hoffmann should be rendered to him now, when he is settling his affairs here, and while I more particularly ask for his salary for December and January, I express also a hope that the payments due to him for September, October and part of November will be passed by the technologic Committee.

See also M to M. Clarke, 12 February 1871 (in this edition as 71-02-12a).

It must be remembered that if this just request was again refused, I shall be obliged to pay Mr Hoffmann out of my private purse and that after my heavy private expenses for the lecture

B71.13.04.

and for the Sydney exhibition,

Agricultural Society of New South Wales Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition, Sydney, 1870.

I would by this additional payment have spent nearly one hundred pounds of Sterling of my very slender income for matters connected with the industrial Museum alone for 1870.

I further beg to ask, whether the Commissioners intend that the labelling of the woods should be continued by written or printed tickets, the naming having come to a standstill for want of funds at the end of last year for additional printed labels. In either mode of ticketing I should be glad to have some fund placed at my disposal. Required are also some Glass bottles for some additional vegetable specimen, and a memorandum is herewith submitted. I would also respectfully ask, whether the Commissioners wish me to engage some new assistance for furthering the vegetable branch under my surveillance and if so, I shall be prepared to do so if a daily pay of 7/ for working days (i.e. £2.2/-) per week is granted for an amanuensis.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.,

Director of the botan Garden

For reply see M. Clarke to M, 7 February 1871 (in this edition as 71-02-07a).

The Chairman of the Committee

of the Industrial Museum

6/2/71.

Required for vegetable substances, to be set up in the Industrial Museum:

2½ doz. wide mouth white glass stop bottles, size 20 ounces.

Ferd. von Mueller,

M.D.