Document information
Physical location:
L59/12281, unit 747, VPRS 1189 inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 59.11.30aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to William Nicholson, 1859-11-30 [59.11.30a]. 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/1850-9/1859/59-11-30a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
MS written by Carl Wilhelmi and signed by M.
30 November 1859.
Sir
I have the honor of submitting to you a report on the progress of the work in this
establishment during the month of November.
Besides the ordinary routine-work in the Garden, the hay harvest has nearly been completed,
the principle gathering of seeds commenced and a wall been built accross the swamp
along our eastern fence for the better support of the iron fencing.
There have been several important contributions to our collection of plants, consisting
— amongst minor donations — in cases with living plants from Mr Hulke of New Plymouth,
N. Zealand, from Messrs Shepherd of Sydney, from Doctor Hillebrand of Honolulu and
from Mr Tyesman,
Director of the botanic Garden of Buitenzorg, Java. Professor Dr. Asa Gray of Boston
has forwarded the seeds of a lately discovered gigantic species of Cactus, which is
in Mexico attaining the hight of 50 feet and yields edible fruits to the Indians.
2
Johannes Teijsmann.
To the Herbarium have been contributed from the same learned Gentleman, from Dr. Milligan
of Hobarton, Mr Woolls of Paramatta and Dr. Beckler of Port Macquarie, besides what
we collected ourselfes in the Garden or field. A Wardian Case with living plants was
forwarded by us to Hobarton botanic Garden, an other to Mr Hulke of New Plymouth and
a collection of dried plants to the Wuertenbergian Univ. itineraria
for interchange.
3
Wilhelmi's error for 'itinerarus', not a term in classical Latin but possibly intended
by M to mean 'Wuertembergian world itinerant'? Prince Paul of Württemberg visited
Melbourne in 1858 during a journey around the world, and met M. Since officially he
was travelling incognito, he could not be mentioned by name in an official report,
but it would seem that M had sent him specimens of some Australian plants for his
natural history collection.
Submitted have been to this Office also for examination the plants collected by Mr
Macd. Stuart during his last expedition.
4
See B60.06.01.
The printing of the flora of Victoria
has advanced to page 60 and that of the fragmenta phytographiae Australiae to page
210,
some additional illustrations having during the month been furnished to both works.
5
B62.03.03.
6
B59.11.01, B59.12.01.
The Menagerie is in a prosperous state, unless suffering to some extent from want
of accommodations. Thus I believe, altho' the various English singing birds have commenced
nesting, that their multiplying would be much greater if more space could be aforded
them. The English Pheasants, in laying now, are likely to enable us to distribute
this species soon wider over the country.
The yield of wool of one of our young & best Llamas was 4lb 9 ounces, which altho'
not unconsiderable in itself is still falling very short to the clip of the true Alpacas,
being besides inferior in quality. It will thus be percieved, how valuable an addition
the new Alpaca ram is to our flock. The fleece shorn from our best Alpaca ram weighed
4¼ lb, besides which about 3lb afterwards spontaneously separated. I beg to avail
myself of asking at this opportunity the Governments permission of sending two of
the four Angora Goats born this season as an acknowledgement of the donation of the
Alpaca to the Government of N.S. Wales.
7
MS marginal annotation by Nicholson: 'this should be done WN'. An annotation on the
cover of the file, 'Letter to Dr Mueller | F. B. 9/12/59', may have been connected
with this. No relevant letter to M has been found. 'F. B.' probably refers to the
Finance Branch within the Chief Secretary's Department (see Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into and report upon the civil service
of the Colony, parliamentary paper 1859/60, no. 19 (1859), p. 28).
I would also bring under the consideration of the Government, how desirable it would
be to secure the 6 Dromedaries, lately imported by private speculation,
for this establishment. For altho' we expect to obtain 12 Camels and 12 Dromedaries
through our emissary
from India in the course of a few month, it must remain very doubtful, whether in
a sailing vessel these animals will all safely arrive; and even if this hope is realized,
it will be of great value to the forthcoming Victorian Expedition to command the use
of as large a number as possible of these animals.
8
9
George Landells. On 24 January 1860, Landells wrote to the Chief Secretary, William
Nicholson, to report on the steps he had taken for the purchase of camels for the
planned expedition that became known as the Burke & Wills Exploring Expedition, 1860-1.
His letter was referred to M for his information on 13 April 1860, and he 'gratefully returned' it the following day (O60/3225, unit 748, VPRS 1189/P
inward correspondence registers, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record
Office, Victoria).
The addition to the menagerie during the month are a turtle, some Australian Porcupines,
Owles, 1 Eagle, some Californian Quails and Canaries and 1 Chinese Goose.
A Cistern has been built for saving the water from the roof of the toolhouse.
The foremans Cottage on the Northern Ground is completed, and some additions are made
to the Iron-fencing.
I have the honor to remain
Sir
your most obedient & humble servant
Ferd. Mueller.
The Honorable the Chief Secretary
&c&c&c