Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M200, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 79.06.30a

Preferred Citation:

Robert Herbert to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1879-06-30 [79.06.30a]. 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/79-06-30a>, accessed December 22, 2024

1
There is a draft of this letter at the National Archives, London, CO 447/33, Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, 1879, vol. I, Despatches, warrants &c., Draft warrants, Draft letter 'I'.
AUSPICIUM MELIORIS AEVI
2
'Token of a better age', the motto of the Order of St Michael and St George on the richly coloured badge of the Order that is embossed on the MS.
Chancery of the Order of
Saint Michael and Saint George
Downing Street
30th June
3
30th June inserted by Herbert who also signed the letter, it having been prepared by a clerk.
1879
Sir,
The Queen having been graciously pleased to appoint you to be a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, I have the honor to transmit to you Warrants under the Royal Sign Manual and Seal of the Order,
4
Marginal note: Enclosures 1 and 2.
conveying to you the Grant of that Dignity
5
See Queen Victoria to M, 24 May 1879. The Governor of Victoria had been notified by a telegram dated 23 May 1879 that M had been been appointed KCMG, and Bentham and Colonel Scratchley as CMG (See Governor's acknowledgemet, National Archives, London, CO 447/33, 11952). The appointment was widely reported in the colonial press in the last week of May, mostly from agency cablegrams direct from London.
and authorizing the dispensation with the Ceremony of your Investiture as a Knight Commander of that Order licensing you to wear the Insignia of the Second Class of that Order, and permitting you to assume the appellation of a Knight Bachelor,
6
Marginal note: Enclosure 3.
together with the Insignia thereof; a copy of the Statutes of the Order; also a Blank Form of Covenant for the restoration of the Insignia;
7
Marginal note: Enclosures 4 and 5.
which document you will be so good as to sign and return to me when duly executed, in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes of the Order.
I take this opportunity of reminding you that have now to restore the Insignia worn by you as a Companion of the Order.
8
M was appointed a Companion of the Order in 1869; see Queen Victoria to M, 24 April 1869.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
Robert G. W. Herbert
Secretary
Sir Ferdinand von Mueller K.C.M.G. Ph.D. M.D.
&c&c&c
Victoria
List of Enclosures .
1. Warrant for granting the Dignity of a Knight Commander.
9
See Queen Victoria to M, 24 May 1879 (in this edition as 79-05-24a).
2. Warrant for dispensing with the ceremony of Investiture and licensing to wear the the
10
sic.
Insignia of the Second Class of the Order.
11
See Queen Victoria to M, 24 May 1879 (in this edition as 79-05-24a).
3. Insignia of a Knight Commander.
4. Copy of the Statutes of the Order.
12
The file at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne includes a copy of The statutes of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (1877), and also a copy of the 1891 edition that was presumably later sent to M.
5. Blank Form of Covenant for the restoration of the Insignia.
13
The Covenant was completed and returned, together with the Companion insignia; see M to R. Herbert, 29 September 1879 (in this edition as 79-09-29b).