Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botan. Garden,

20/9/71

Sir

Anticipating, that this is the time, when any propositions for additional estimates should be brought before you, I have the honor to solicit, that you will be pleased to take into consideration, whether the acquisition of the great Sonderian Collection in Hamburg could now be effected. The importance of this collection for the botanic Museum of my establishment has been pointed out in former communications to your office, and as the negotiations have extended over several years, I should be grateful, if they could now be brought to a close and such a treasure be received for this colony, where these collections would be of value for scientific reference during centuries. The lowest price finally fixed by Dr. Sonder is £880. -. -. Should this sum be deemed too large to be placed on the estimates for such a purpose at one time, then I would suggest that half the sum (£440. -. -) might be provided now, the other half to be provided in an other year.

1

An initial portion of Wilhelm Sonder's herbarium had been purchased some eighteen months earlier; see M to J. MacPherson, 6 April 1870. However, the remainder of the collection was not acquired until after Sonder's death in 1881.

I further beg to ask, that you will be so kind to place on the additional estimates the sum of £31.7/-, that (£31.7/-) amount having been paid by me to the former operator in my Laboratory for work performed by him for the industrial museum. By some oversight no timely provision was made for this claim, and hence I was obliged, as explained in Mr. Hoffmann's memorandum,

2

C. Hoffmann to M, 11 February 1871.

to render payment temporarily out of my private means.

In reference to the purchase of Dr. Sonder's collection I may still observe, that had my salary not been so much smaller than that of other heads of establishments, and had the scientific and other professional obligations of my position not fallen absolutely crushingly on my private property, I would long since for facilitating my literary and departmental work, have purchased the Sonderian Herbarium with private means, but after I sunk my whole private property, (at least £8000. -. -) in the Department, I have no means myself of securing Sonder's plants.

The honorable C.G. Duffy &c &c

Chief Secretary.