The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne, ¶ 29 March 1887. ¶ The honorable Professor Pearson, M.A., M.L.C., ¶ Acting Chief Secretary. ¶ Sir....

Document information

Physical location:

J87/3194, unit 281, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 87.03.29

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Charles Pearson, 1887-03-29. 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/87-03-29>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne,

29 March 1887.

The honorable Professor Pearson, M.A., M.L.C.,

Acting Chief Secretary.

Sir.

I have the honor to report, that of the lithographic illustrations of Australian Acacias, approved last year, two decades are now ready, of which I beg to send copies herewith.

B87.13.04.

As 40 more plates are now already lithographed, several other decades can soon appear. I therefore beg to submit for your favorable consideration, that the successive decades, as they appear, may be sent out, and I forward herewith a list of such institutions and recipients, to whom I would recommend the work to be given.

List not found.

Nearly all these send reciprocally publications of their own; the few others mentioned have either rendered important services to the Department, or are for scientific special reasons deserving of this consideration of the Government.

This letter was forwarded to the Premier's Office on 1 April 1887 (P87/931, VPRS 1164, vol. 6, Public Record Office, Victoria). It was returned on 18 April with a note from E. Thomas, Secretary to the Premier: 'Mr Gillies directs me to enquire what the total cost of this work will be'. H. Moors, for the Under Secretary, asked the Government Printer to 'supply the information desired by the Hon. the Premier'. On 26 April the Acting Government Printer, R. Brain, replied: 'Three decades have now been published. The printing and binding only of these were done here and that cost £103. The litho. drafting was executed elsewhere the cost being defrayed by Baron von Mueller. I am therefore unable to state the total cost of production, or whether the three decades complete the work.' The next day Moors asked M to be 'good enough to furnish the information required by the Hon the Premier'. See M to H. Moors, 28 April 1887.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

your obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller,

Gov. Botanist.