Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS written by G. Luehmann and edited and signed by M.

Melbourne, 7. December 1889

Sir

I have the honor to report, that the printing of the "Second Census of Australian Plants",

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B89.12.03.

for which the Honorable the Chief Secretary kindly granted permission, has now been completed at Messrs. McCarron Bird & Co's establishment, and I beg to forward an impression herewith. I further beg to submit list of those persons and societies, whom I consider, through literary interchanges or other services rendered to the Govt. Botanist's Department, entitled to receive this new publication in the usual official course through the Public Library. But I would consider it a particular kindness, if the Government would allow me a moderate number of copies of this edition (the impression being 1000) for direct use in the Govt. Botanist's office, such number to be fixed as the Government may deem proper,

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On 21 December, Wilson asked M how many copies he wanted, to which M replied on 23 December: 'Could 25 or 50 copies be granted of this inexpensive work at a time, when after such supply being exhausted a return of, how disposed, would be sent in'. On 28 December this was referred to the Premier's Office where an amount representing the value of the gifts was asked for. When this message reached M via the Chief Secretary's Department he replied, on 30 January 1890: 'Fifty pounds Sterling would cover the annual expenditure, which from next year might be defrayed from the ordinary vote'. The next day M added: 'Best thanks for information afforded; will the copies be sent out according to the proposed list, by the public Library'. The information referred to seems to have been given orally, since there is no indication on the file of what it was. The file was returned to the Premier's Office and on 20 March 1890 the Secretary, E. Thomas, ordered 50 copies to be sent to M 'for which an account is to be rendered for payment'.

especially as the work was printed by a private firm at the expense of my branch of the Service, at a very moderate cost through being without illustrations. For opportunities arise frequently when the work is quickly required in the exigencies and to the advantage of the Service, such copies to be distributed always on behalf of the Government, and a record kept in my office about such distribution, a return of which might quarterly be submitted to the minister of the Department, similar to an arrangement existing in the Govt. Statist's office as regards Mr Hayter's Year Books.

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i.e. Victorian yearbook, published annually by the Government Statist, H. Hayter.

I may be allowed respectfully to remark, that in cases of urgency I have for several years past purchased out of my private means the various publications of my own at the Govt. Printing Office, to expedite the departmental service on many occasions, the expenditure having amounted to about £50. in each of those years, with no means of reimbursement. The Government might perhaps also, as generously done during the Medical Congress with regard to the "Select Plants",

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Intercolonial Medical Congress, Melbourne, January 1889. A copy of M's Select extra-tropical plants (B88.12.01) was presented to each delegate to the Congress by the Victorian Government; see M to T. Wilson, 22 December 1888 (in this edition as 88-12-22a).

grant the favor of placing a certain number of copies of the Second Census of Australian Plants at the disposition of the biological section of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, which is to assemble early in January in our metropolis, wheras such a meeting is not likely to be held here again for many years. The remaining copies might as usual be sent to the Govt. Printing Office for sale.

T. R. Wilson Esq &c

Under Secretary

Proposed distribution of Second Census of Australian Plants.