Ferdinand von Mueller

1

The file also contains a typed copy of this letter made at the Chief Secretary's Department.

South-Yarra,

2

Melbourne.

8/4/93.

T. R. Wilson Esqr

Under Secretary.

Sir

I have the honor to bring under the consideration of the honorable the Chief Secretary the advisability of a completing volume being issued here of the Flora Australiensis,

3

Bentham (1863-78).

the 7th volume herewith forwarded having appeared in 1878, and Mr Bentham having died some few years afterwards, the work being finished as whole up to that time. But ever since and even while the earlier volumes became incomplete, I have by every possible effort continued the researches on the indigenous plants of all the colonies, as I have done by field- and study-work uninterruptedly since 1847, whereby Melbourne became the head-quater

4

quarters?

for the science of plants in this part of the world. The additional plants, which were rendered known with comparatively few exceptions by myself since 1878 as Australian , number now 1207, and further additions will in all probability be very limited

The time has therefore now arrived, that these novelties which successively, as they were discovered became described in the "Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae" and in various science-journals, should be collected and arranged in a supplemental volume , Mr Bentham himself having in the preface to the 7th volume of the "Flora" expressed the wish, that I should furnish a completing volume .

5

Bentham (1863-78), vol. 7, p. v.

With a view of rendering the issue of such as cheap as possible, I would suggest, that the 8th volume be limited to brief descriptions of the new species. Then the volume would only contain about as many pages (526) as the 7th Edition of the "Select plants" issued in 1888

6

B88.12.01.

at an estimated cost of £180 at the Gov. Printing Office here. You will be aware, that the "Select plants" had a most extensive sale , so that the expenses of printing the work were very largely (if not perhaps entirely) recouped ; and I can with fairness predict, that an additional volume of the Flora, brought out by the surviving author, would also be very largely purchased, especially as it could be sold so cheaply.

7

On 26 April 1893 Wilson minuted: 'Will Baron von Mueller be good enough to state:— 1. The number of copies proposed to be printed. 2. Approximate cost of issue; and 3. Proposed selling price.' M replied the next day: '1, It would be recommendable, that one thousand copies be printed. 2, If the suggested volume be kept within the number of pages of the 7th edition of the "Select plants," issued at the Gov. Printing Office at an estimated cost of £185, the intended volume would be produced at the same rate or even cheaper now, the binding to be only in paper. 3, Thus the cost-price per copy would be about 3/9d; and if the sale-price was fixed at 5/, it would leave a margin for booksellers commission.'

Wilson asked the Government Printer, R. Brain, on 30 May, 'to state what would be about the cost of issuing 1000 volumes like Vol VII herewith forwarded'. Brain replied on 6 June saying that the estimated cost would be £250. The Premier, J. Patterson, minuted his approval on 14 June and the file was sent to M to inform him of this. M returned it the next day 'with high appreciation of the kindness shown by the hon. the Premier'. The file was forwarded to Brain on 16 June, who marked it 'Noted and returned' on 24 June.

M had still not completed the proposed work when he died 3½ years later; see G. Luehmann to O. Tepper, 29 December 1896 (in this edition as M96-12-29).