The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 6th April [187]1. ¶ editorial addition. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I have the honor by direction of the above Committee to acknowledge your letter of the 10th March addressed to His Honor Sir Redmond Barry ¶ M to R. ...

Document information

Physical location:

Letter no. 62/I.T.M.71, Outward letterbook 1870-9 pp. 167-169, Industrial and Technological Museum and Public Library, Museum Victoria. 71.04.06b

Preferred Citation:

Marcus Clarke to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1871-04-06 [71.04.06b]. 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/71-04-06b>, accessed September 11, 2025

6th April [187]1.

editorial addition.

Sir

I have the honor by direction of the above Committee to acknowledge your letter of the 10th March addressed to His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

M to R. Barry, 10 March 1871.

and to inform you in reply that the Committee much regret that you should have misunderstood the tenor of their communications with you

The Committee instruct me to assure you that they have the highest possible respect for your scientific attainments and social and official position, and that they would on no account have you imagine that they would act towards you in any manner that was not consonant with that opinion and the greatest consideration for yourself.

But the Committee desire me to point out to you that they have already expended on the Phytologic Section a larger sum than that expended on other departments of the Museum, and that it is their duty as Trustees of the Institution to exercise in their disbursements a most strict economy

The Committee think moreover that you have omitted to consider the fact that they — so far from refusing the needful funds to enable you to carry on your valuable labours in connection with the Museum — have begged you to name the sum required to fully complete the Phytologic section in order that they might give to the question of further expenditure their best consideration The Committee again desire me to ask you to name the sum you need.

With reference to the index plantarum , the Committee regret that owing to arrangements made with the Printer, and the fact that they have already been compelled to refuse to print addenda to other lectures — in the shape of notes and diagrams, they cannot publish your most valuable and interesting list together with the volume of lectures,

Industrial and Technological Museum (Melbourne) (1871).

but unwilling that the public should be deprived of the benefit of your labours and that you yourself should suffer the mortification of seeing your trouble and time expended to no purpose the Committee will publish a limited number of copies of your lecture separately with the index attached

In M to R. Berry, 29 March 1871, M asked again whether the Industrial Commission would publish the appendix planned to accompany B71.03.10. The proposed appendix was instead published as B71.06.02, with a comment in the introduction that it was ' originally prepared and alluded to as an appendage to a lecture recently delivered at the Melbourne Industrial Museum '.

Again assuring you of the consideration of the Committee

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your most obedient Servant

Marcus Clarke

Secretary

Dr. Von Müller C.M.G. M.D. Ph.D. F.R.S

&c &c &c

Director of the Botanic Gardens