Document information

Physical location:

U92/2626, unit 667, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 92.02.29

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Wilson, 1892-02-29. 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/92-02-29>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
The file also contains a typed copy of this letter, presumably made at the Chief Secretary's Department.
Melbourne 29/2/92.
T. R. Wilson Esqr
Under Secretary.
Sir,
I have the honor to solicit, that the hon. the Chief Secretary will be pleased to renew my appointment of Governm. Botanist, as it is gazetted only til the end of March, while the establishment is undergoing alterations on a reduced scale. It will hardly be necessary, to promise again, that my best efforts will be given to maintain the dignity and the efficiency in the branch of the service, entrusted to my care, and in which our hon. Chief allows me kindly to continue. I may add, that I am mentally and physically quite able, to do full justice to the multifarious and responsible duties, which devolve on me in my professional establishment.
2
On 3 March 1892, the Chief Secretary, A. McLean minuted: 'Approved. Apply to Public Service Board for their certificate in due course'. A further note, in an unknown hand, was added on 13 April: 'put with letter from Premier's Dept. T3622'. The file includes a copy of a letter that Wilson sent on 11 March to E. Thomas, Secretary of the Premier's Department: 'I have the honor, by direction, to recommend that, for the reasons set out in my letter of the 26th June, 1890, the services of Baron Ferd. Von Mueller, the Government Botanist be retained from the 1st April to 31st December next, and shall be glad if you will be good enough to take the necessary steps accordingly'.
The file also includes Thomas's reply: 'I have the honor to inform you that His Excellency the Governor in Council has been pleased to retain the services of Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, K.C.M.G. Government botanist of your Department, until the 31st December 1892'. There are MS annotations on this: 'Letter Sir F. Von Mueller K.C.M.G. | 31.3.92 No. 2504'; and 'Letter Hon the Premier 15.12.92 No. 6392'. The Chief Secretary, A. McLean, minuted on Thomas's letter on 29 November 1892: 'Continue till 31st Decr./93'.
See also M to T. Wilson, 31 March 1892 (in this edition as 92-03-31a).
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient and humble servant
Ferd. von Mueller,
Gov. Botanist.