Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot Garden

27/7/70.

In all probability, dear Mr Clarke, I rendered myself in my expressions not sufficiently clear, when I wrote to Mr Bright

1

See M to C. Bright, 23 July 1870 (In this edition as 70-03-23a), and M. Clarke to M, 27 July 1870 (in this edition as 70-07-27c).

with a view of obtaining some aid from the trustees of the industrial Museum for the continuation of the phyto-chemic labours in my laboratory for the remainder of the year. I simply wished to render it known to the trustees, that the enormously reduced funds of my department afforded me no longer the means to maintain my laboratory work uninterrupted, and that I did not see my way clear to carry it on for the coming five months. As however the main results of the work intended to be done during the remainder of the year would benefit the industrial museum, and as furthermore much of the outlay, incurred already in 1870 by my establishment for phyto-chemic work and for obtaining raw products of vegetable substances, is for the practical value of the industrial museum and for augmenting its collections, I thought to have some fair claims on the consideration of the trustees by applying for some subsidy of my own slender resources out of their Museum fund, as on such subsidy the future results of my laboratory work must depend at least for the remainder of the year, and as it would be a pity to bring such important researches for mere want of the ordinary working expenses to a standing still. I beg therefore to submit my proposition once more respectfully for the consideration and favor of the trustees.

Marcus Clarke Esq, &c

Secr. Industr Mus.

Any subsidy obtained would be exclusively used for the benefit of the industrial Museum.