Document information

Physical location:

K76/69, unit 873, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 76.01.01

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John MacPherson, 1876-01-01. 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/76-01-01>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne
1/1/76.
The honorable the Chief Secretary.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you, that I have received last evening from the hon. Th. Elder the collection of plants, formed during Mr Giles's last Expedition
1
Ernest Giles's expedition, supported by Elder, left Beltana (SA) in May 1875 and reached the settled districts of WA in early November (E. Giles (1889), vol. 2, pp. 131-248).
by the Astronomer Mr. Jess. Young. Mr. Elder has done me the honor of placing these plants for elucidation at my disposal, and what may be required permanently by my Department may be retained. As I am eager that the dignity of my branch of service, which has been won for the colony by long exertions, should also on this occasion be properly maintained, I have the honor to enquire whether out of some vote a small sum could be granted for a few lithograms of such of the Expedition plant, as are of prominent interest in medicine or industry, the reductions of the votes of my Department for several years having rendered it impossible to produce a single new lithographic illustration for any of my works since 1867.
2
None of M's publications devoted specifically to Giles's plants from any of his expeditions were illustrated: B73.04.01, B75.04.08, B77.09.01, B77.10.01, B77.11.03, B89.13.01.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller.