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Unit 1, VPRS 4020 letters of introduction to the Governor, VA 466 Governor, Public Record Office, Victoria. M52.08.11Preferred Citation:
Francis Dutton to Charles La Trobe, 1852-08-11 [M52.08.11]. 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/M52-08-11>, accessed September 8, 2024
Sir.
I trust Your Excellency will pardon the great liberty I take, in venturing to adress
these few lines to you, craving Your Excellencys condenscending protection for a very
deserving young man, the bearer of this, Dr Ferdinand Müller, a botanist of very considerable
attainments.
Dr Müller has during his prolonged residence in this Colony, very laboriously collected
materials, to form a portion of a work which is to contain the combined Flora of the
different australian Provinces; he has already transmitted to Europe the description
of upwards of 800 plants, many of them new, and intends now to occupy himself with
collecting and describing the Flora of Victoria.
I am sure Your Excellency will pardon the great liberty I have taken in thus occupying,
even for a moment, on such comparatively unimportant grounds your most valuable time.
Dr Müller does not seek any pecuniary aid, but he is in hopes that if any survey parties
should at any time be sent to distant parts of the Province he might be allowed to
join them, and thus have an opportunity of extending his researches, which would otherwise
be rendered difficult to one of his humble means, and modest retiring disposition.
I have the honor to remain
Sir
Your most obedient servant
Francis S Dutton
Adelaide 11 August 1852
His Excellency
C. J. La Trobe Esq
Lieutenant Governor
of Victoria