Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot. & zool. Garden,

20. Dec. 1859

Sir

I have the honor to return the documents in reference to a remittance of seventy five pounds Sterling forwarded to Edw Wilson Esq. and regret that I was unable to return them, as desired, before the close of the mail, the papers having reached me only this day at noon .

1

See M to J. O'Shanassy, 1 August 1859. On 20 December M noted: 'My dear Mr Moore It is very possible that the letter was mislaid at my town adress & thus reached me so late. It bears on the envelope the date 16. Dec.'

In reply to your memorandum

2

On 17 October 1859 Edward Wilson wrote to Moore asking for the opinion of the Zoological Society in regard to the disposal of funds remitted. Moore queried on 16 December: 'Do I understand that Dr Mueller did not write to Mr Wilson when forwarding the letter containing the draft for £75.' (O59/12572, unit 748, VPRS 1189, PROV).

I have the honor to inform you, that I have not been instructed either by the office or by the Committee of the zoological gardens to specify to Mr Wilson, what animals should be procured for the above remittance and I beg for this purpose to annex a copy of the resolution adopted by the Committee.

3

' Extract of minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Committee appointed for the management of the zoological Garden held at the Office of the Government Botanist the 1 August 1859. Present Dr. [Thomas] Black in the Chair, Dr. Embling, Dr. Mueller. "It having been shown, that the fund for purchase of animals at the disposal of the Committee was reduced to £8.15.0 it was proposed by the chairman, and seconded by Dr. Embling, that Government should be requested to provide the sum of £75 to Mr Edw. Wilson in aid of his enterprises, and it was also agreed on, that Mr Wilson should receive the Committees expression, that every effort should be made for aiding him more powerfully in future."'

The reason, for which the Committee did not issue an enumeration of what we required of animals &c for the zoological Garden is to be sought in our being aware of Mr Wilson having expended already a much larger sum than 75£ for promoting his objects, and thus, as will be seen in my letter dated 1. August 1859, we solicited the above sum "in furtherance of Mr Wilson's exertions of introducing useful animals into the colony." I have however pointed out to Mr Wilson, that the introduction of salmon was regarded here as important, and have also acquainted him with the Committees desire of leaving him free action in his enterprises as far as the choice of animals is concerned, writing to him simultaneously with the transmission of remittance.

4

Letter not found.

The sum, on the supplementary estimates, will be available only, if voted, for British game , and should the sum provided for the purchase of animals in 1860 admit of being to a considerable amount forwarded to Mr Wilson likewise and such a step receive the sanction of the hon. the Chief Secretary, I will not fail to request the Committee to specify every single animal then to be imported.

Mr Undersecretary Moore

&c&c&c

5

On 22 December 1859 Moore directed: 'Will the Honble the Treasurer be so good as to provide a Draft for £500 (less charges) for remittance to Mr Edward Wilson to be expended in the purchase of "British Game"'. A letter was sent to the Treasurer on 13 January 1860 and one to E. Wilson on 17 January. On 17 January Moore asked the Under Treasurer to 'be so good as to let me know by messenger if the amount of the vote for purchase of British game will be remitted to the Agent General by this mail, as requested by the Chief Secretary's letter of 13th instant.' The Under Treasurer, E. Symonds, replied on 17 January that the requisite steps to make the remittance had been taken.