The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Gov. Botanist office, bot. Garden, ¶ Melbourne, 22. August 1853. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I do myself the honor to lay before you, for communication to his Excellency the Governor, the plan for a new botanical inve...

Document information

Physical location:

D53/8374, unit 203, VPRS 1189 inward registered correspondence, VA 856 Colonial Secretary's Office, Public Record Office, Victoria. 53.08.22

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Foster, 1853-08-22. 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//letters/1850-9/1853/53-08-22-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Gov. Botanist office, bot. Garden,

Melbourne, 22. August 1853.

Sir

I do myself the honor to lay before you, for communication to his Excellency the Governor, the plan for a new botanical investigation of this colony during the next season, adding at the same time, if his Excellency will be pleased to give his sanction to this journey, what I deemed necessary for its perfect success.

I would propose to start at the end of September or in the beginning of October in a westerly direction, examine all the low country between here and the Glenelg, where already some interesting botanical discoveries have been made by Sir Th. Mitchell, proceed thence to the Grampians for the purpose of adscending the most elevated points of that range, advancing then either along the Wimmera or Avoca to the Murray and follow this river up to its sources, so that I might be enabled to devote the most favourable months (Jan.-March) for the examination of the Australian alps.

This exploring line would be in a circumference opposite to my last expedition and would enable me to accumulate to a certain degree the materials for the Flora of this province.

In the supplementary estimates for this department I have already expressed the necessity of being permitted, to engage one attendant (at the rate of gardeners wages), not only as a companion for my next journey, but also to assist me permanently in the manual work, so that the strict scientific labours might be more accelerated as it otherwise will be possible. I would further solicit to be provided with 3 horses of my own selection (which I can procure for 100£) and with a barometer for ascertaining the altitudes, which limit the alpine vegetation. This instrument could be probably supplied by the Gov. Meteorologist.

It is not clear to whom M refers. Derek Reid (pers. comm. 15 November 1990) states that the term 'Meteorologist' was used in several references in the 1840s (up to 1851) for a public servant at Flagstaff Hill who was responsible for weather recording and communicating the arrival of ships. In 1853 a number of stations sent meteorological readings to W. H. Archer, Registrar General: Flagstaff Hill, the Argus Office, Alberton, Sale, Williamstown and Richmond. R. Ellery was responsible for the observations at Williamstown and Archer himself at Richmond. Archer sent an order to England for £200 worth of 'the best meteorological instruments' to support a program of regular meteorological observations. See W. H. Archer (1854), pp. 410-11. 'Government Meteorologist' was not officially used until Georg Neumayer was appointed in 1859.

I beg leave to lay a ful report of my past labours before his Excellency previous to my departure.

M to J. Foster, 5 September 1853.

I have the honor, Sir, to be

your most obedient and humble servant

Dr. Ferd. Mueller,

Gov. Botanist.

The honorable the Colonial Secretary.