Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botanic & zoologic Garden,

12. Jan 1861.

Dear Sir William

Being engaged in placing the botanic collections in the new museum-building of this department into such order, as to render them accessible to the public, it occurred to me, that a separate herbarium of Victorian plants would be very desirable for enabling students to glance with facility over the species, constituting the flora of this country

As it appears, that the collection of Victorian plants is little consulted, which I deposited at the public Library, your magnificent institution being seemingly not the appropriate receptacle for such collection, and as it will be difficult for me to furnish the specimens again for a separate Victorian herbarium, I would venture to ask, whether the Gentlemen trustees of the public Library would kindly favor me with their consent, of transferring the collection at the Library to the public botanical Museum. For such an arrangement I should be truly grateful, as it will safe

1

save?

much of my time for the next weeks, whilst placing the botanical collections into final order

2

See also M to R. Barry, 10 January 1861 (in this edition as 61-01-10a).

His Honor

Sir Will. Stawell, Knt,

Chief Justice

&c&c&c