Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS bears the seal and the richly coloured badge of the Order of St Michael and St George at the top of the letter.

Victoria R. I.

2

Regina Imperatrix [Queen Empress]. The Queen has signed the document at the top.

AUSPICIUM MELIORIS AEVI

3

'Token of a better age', the motto of the Order of St Michael and St George embossed on the badge.

Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India Sovereign and Chief of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. To All to whom these Presents shall come Greeting.

Whereas We as Sovereign and Chief of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George have full power to dispense with all the Statutes Ordinances and Regulations required to be observed in conferring the Dignity of the said Order. And Whereas We have been graciously pleased to nominate and appoint Our Trusty and Well-beloved Ferdinand von Mueller, Esquire, Companion of Our said Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Medicine Government Botanist for Our Colony of Victoria to be a Knight Commander of Our said Most Distinguished Order Now Know Ye that We are pleased to dispense with and do hereby dispense with, so much of the aforesaid Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations as provides for the Investiture of the said Ferdinand von Mueller with the Insignia of the aforesaid Dignity of Knight Commander but no further. And We do give and grant unto him the said Ferdinand von Mueller full power and authority to wear the Insignia of, and enjoy the Precedency and Privileges appertaining and belonging unto a Knight Commander of Our said Most Distinguished Order (including the appellation of a Knight Bachelor of these Realms) in as full and ample a manner as if he had been invested by Us with the Insignia of Knight Commander in the Form prescribed by the Statutes of Our said Order

Given at Our Court at Balmoral under Our Sign Manual and the Seal of the said Order this Twenty fourth day of May 1879 in the Forty second year of Our Reign.

4

See also Queen Victoria to M, 24 May 1879, in which the Queen conferred the Knighthood of the Order of St Michael and St George on M.

By Her Majestys Command

By the Sovereigns Command

Warrant for the Dispensation with the Investiture of Ferdinand von Müeller, Esqre C.M.G. Ph.D. M.D. as a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

6

There is a draft of this document in TNA CO 447/33, Order of St. Michael and St. George, 1879, Vol. I, Despatches, Warrants &c.