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No. 57/95/2, 4/3351 letters received, Colonial Secretary's Department, Archives Authority of New South Wales, Sydney. 57.01.06Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Augustus Gregory, 1857-01-06. 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/57-01-06>, accessed May 10, 2024
1
For a copy of this letter also in M's hand see MS Q426, Dixson Library, State Library
of New South Wales, Sydney. There are some minor differences in punctuation and words
between the two versions.
Sir
I do myself the honor to inform you, that Sir William Hooker, the Director of the
Royal Gardens of Kew, has suggested my proceeding to England, in order to elucidate
there the botanical results of the N. Australian Expedition, as preferable to the
preparation of such a work in the colonies.
2
See also M to A. Gregory, 9 July 1855.
Being fully aware of the difficulties, which must necessarily attend this task anywhere
out of England, where almost exclusively ready access to botanical libraries of sufficient
extent and to large collections of plants for comparison is to be obtained, — means,
by which alone in many instances safe deductions can be drawn —, I beg now to submit
Sir William Hookers proposal to your consideration, and to express my own readiness
of proceeding home for the purpose explained, if this plan should receive the sanction
of his Excellency the Governor General and if a prolongation of my leave of absence
would be guaranteed by the Government of the colony Victoria for a period not exceeding
two years.
Should his Excellency approve of the proposed arrangement, I would request leave to
proceed to Melbourne, in order to make the arrangements which would therefore become
necessary with reference to my leave of absence from Victoria and my private affairs.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
your most obedient servant
Ferd. Mueller,
Botanist to the N.Austr. Expedition
A. C. Gregory Esq &c &c &c
Commander of the N.A. Expedition
3
Gregory submitted this letter, via the Colonial Secretary, H. Parker, for the consideration
of Governor General W. Denison, on 6 January 1857: 'In recommending this arrangement
to the favourable consideration of His Excellency, I would observe that it would be
a matter of regret, should the Botanical specimens and memoranda, which have been
collected at such expense and labor, be permitted to remain in the incomplete state
which has rendered a portion of many previous collections unavailable to science.'
Denison commented, 7 January 1857: 'I can have no possible objection to accede to
Mr Muellers request so far as it is in my power that is he has my full permission
to proceed to Melbourne to make such arrangements as may be necessary to enable him
to proceed to Europe with as little delay as possible — but it must not be forgotten
that Mr Mueller is an officer in the service of the Govnt of Victoria — a letter therefore
must be addressed to the Col Secy of that Colony stating the object with which Mr
Mueller wishes to proceed to England, and my wish that, should it be possible, leave
should be granted to him for the period stated' (No. 57/95/2, 4/3351 letters received,
Colonial Secretary's Department, Archives Authority of New South Wales, Sydney).
Gregory was informed of Denison's approval in a letter from the Colonial Secretary's
Office on 8 January 1857 (see footnotes A. Gregory to M, 10 January 1857). The Victorian Chief Secretary, W. Haines, was similarly informed by letter on 12
January 1857 (No. 522, vol. 1856-7 Z, VPRS 1186, PROV). This letter and a copy of
M to Gregory, 6 January 1857 were forwarded to the Public Works Department, Melbourne (No. 445, unit 3, p. 55,
VPRS 963, PROV).