Document information

Physical location:

V62/4800, unit 749, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 62.07.22

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John O'Shanassy, 1862-07-22. 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/1860-9/1862/62-07-22-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne botanic Garden,
22 July 62.
Sir
I have the honor to solicit, that you will be pleased to empower Capt. Norman of HM.C.S. "Victoria" to draw the amount of £12.5/— being an account passed in this establishment to the favor of Mr G. L. Morton on the 3 instant, and that you will be pleased to issue an authority accordingly to the honorable the treasurer.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient and humble servant
Ferd. Mueller.
The honorable the Chief Secretary
& & &
1
The account related to expenses incurred by M's botanical collector Diedrich Henne when he travelled on Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
On 23 July the Under Secretary, J. Moore, minuted: 'The account being a peculiar one, in favor not of Mr G. Morton but of the "Gun Room Mess Committee," and merely signed by him "as President" perhaps the Honble the Minister of Finance would allow it to be paid to the present President of the mess. This would, if allowable, save some time.' The Under Treasurer, E. Symonds, added on 28 July: ''The account having been passed through the Books of this Office — and advised to the Banks as payable to Morton — cannot now be altered — I have already suggested to Mr Mueller — to pass the account, Re crediting the amount to the Vote — a fresh a/c may then be passed'.
On 4 August Moore directed: 'The Honble the Minister of Finance will oblige by crediting the amount to the vote if the matter cannot be otherwise arranged.' Moore's request was complied with. On 18 August he directed: 'Commander Norman will be good enough to request the Mess Committee to prepare a new account & forward it to Dr Mueller for his certificate'. Norman prepared the new account and forwarded it to M. On 27 August Moore directed: 'The Director of the Botanic Gardens will understand from the papers that the new account is in lieu of the first one certified by him and which the Treasurer has with-drawn'. M replied on 5 October: 'The amount due is only £12.5/. The account has been altered accordingly & has been repassed this day.' On 14 November Moore added: 'Comr Norman will be good enough to report if this matter has now been settled to the satisfaction of the officers interested in it.' Norman replied on 15 November: 'Settled satisfactorily to the officers'.