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No. 12228, unit 1, pp. 276-7, VPRS 2814 outward registered correspondence, VA 856 Colonial Secretary's Office, Public Record Office, Victoria. 55.06.18Preferred Citation:
John Moore to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1855-06-18. 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/1850-9/1855/55-06-18-final.odt>, accessed July 26, 2026
18th June 1855
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant
intimating the receipt of a communication from the Head of the party about to undertake
the Northern Exploring Expedition offering you the appointment of botanist and requesting
the Governors permission to have leave of absence for 18 months without pay to enable
you to join the party resuming your duties under the Victorian Government after the
expiration of such leave
1
M to W. Haines, 10 June 1855.
Your application having been laid before the Governor I am directed to inform you
that His Excellency has written to Sir Wm Denison enquiring by whom your services
were to be paid should you join the Expedition but no answer has been received
His Excellency is pleased to accede to your request for leave of absence on the terms
stated and for the period mentioned and under the circumstances of your services having
been applied for by Mr La Trobe he considers you have a clear right to the consideration
of this Government after your leave expires
(Signed) J Moore ACS
2
Assistant Colonial Secretary.
Ferdinand Mueller Esq
Govt Botanist
70 Collins Street East
Melbourne
3
On 13 June 1855 Moore wrote to the NSW Colonial Secretary, E. Thomson: 'I have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo stating that the
services of Dr Mueller the Government Botanist here would be most useful in the Northern
Exploring Expedition and conveying the desire of His Excellency the Governor General
that he might be allowed to accompany it In reply I am commanded by Governor Sir Charles
Hotham to inform you that His Excellency sees no objection to Dr Mueller joining the
Expedition if his expenses are paid from the funds provided for the purpose from the
time of his arrival at Sydney and that it is desirable information should be received
as to whether the suggested payment will be made prior to any instructions being issued
to Dr Mueller on the subject' (No. 55/5779, 4/3351 letters received, Colonial Secretary's
Department, Archives Authority of New South Wales, Sydney).
Denison commented, 19 June 1855: 'The payments will of course be made to Dr Mueller
who will be borne on the strength of the Expeditionary party as soon as he arrives
here'. The Victorian Colonial Secretary, W. Haines, was duly informed on 20 June:
'I have laid before the Governor General your letter of the 13th Instant, stating
that His Excellency the Governor sees no objection to Dr Mueller joining the Northern
Exploring Expedition, if his expenses are paid from the funds provided for the purpose
from the time of his arrival in Sydney. | 2. I am in reply to acquaint you for His
Excellency's information that Dr Mueller will be borne on the strength of the Expeditionary
Party as soon as he arrives here, and his expenses will thus be paid from that date'
(O55/8098, unit 262, VPRS 1189, PROV). Haines instructed, 29 June, that the information
in this letter was to be conveyed to M, but Moore noted that Mueller had already sailed
for Sydney on 29 June. (In fact, it appears that M did not leave Melbourne until 4
July; see M to R. Gunn, 3 July 1855.)
See also M to A. Gregory, 9 July 1855.