Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botan. Garden,

4/11/70

Sir.

Some misunderstandings having arisen in reference to the returning of the articles, which I sent partly on behalf of the trustees of the industrial Museum, partly on behalf of my Department and partly on my own behalf to the Sydney Exhibition,

1

Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition, Sydney, 1870.

I have the honor to submit respectfully the following explanation of the circumstances of their misunderstandings for the information of the General Board of the trustees. I sent weeks ago the young man, who transacts since 12 years the town business for my Department to request that when the articles, sent by me to Sydney, came back, they should be delivered directly to me in first instance, as I am alone acquainted with their nature of all; and in the same manner I did get the five cases of living plants, when sent back to me some weeks ago. These cases were certainly sent by Mr Moore

2

Charles Moore.

back again, but they went through the agency of the Secretary of the Victorian Exhibition Commission, Mr Moore merely looking for me after the life-plants, just as Professor Smith of the Sydney University kindly looked after my technologic products. To both Mr Moore and Prof. Smith I gave Mr Levey letters of introduction. I never for a moment thought, that the other cases, about which a dispute has arisen, required to be obtained differently, and mentioned on Mr Leveys return, when passing him hurriedly, that I should like to fetch them direct from the railway, and certainly did not understand that any special objection to this simplifying business was raised. From the written testimony of my town agent, (herewith annexed)

3

See A. Neate to M, 4 November 1870 (in this edition as 70-11-04a).

it will be seen, that I made several enquiries through him after these goods; and requiring most necessarily a lot of these articles for my lecture of yesterday,

4

M had delivered a lecture at the Industrial and Technological Museum 'On the Application of Phytology to the Industrial Purposes of Life' (Argus, 7 September 1870).

I went on the afternoon before yesterday to the Exhibition building to obtain them, and not finding Mr Levey I asked his assistant to let me have the articles, as I could not possibly unpack them in the annex, and should be obliged otherwise to give that evening notice in the papers, that my lecture would be postponed. I told him, that I was a public Officer holding a position of trust and never yet had found any difficulties in matters of this kind, and would hold myself responsible for the goods; and on receiving the articles I caused my town agent, who took delivery, to give a receipt in my name. So little did I foresee any difficulties or the necessity of further formalities, that it not even occurred to me as necessary, to find one of the trustees to give further formal consent for the removal. If it has occurred to me as necessary, I would have written formally for getting the whole sending back to my Department in first instance, but I scarcely ever find in other similar cases such formality necessary, having always enjoyed the trust & respect of those, with whom I came into business contact. Yesterday morning Mr Levey called on me to demand the return of the whole consignments by noon of this day; but not only felt I deeply hurt by this demand, as evincing a want of faith, but I pointed also out, that the cases were opened the evening before and unpacked, with a view of getting the material for my lecture, to complete what I required. I pointed out in the presence of the Rev. Dr Bleasdale, who also demanded the return of the goods by this day noon, that I should find it almost impossible to repack the things, as I had to work during much of the day for the lecture, and requested both from Mr Levey and the Rev. Dr Bleasdale to defer the matter til this afternoon, when I would wait on the general Board of the trustees and receive further instructions. Not even so small a consideration was however shown to me, as to allow the affair to stand over for one single day, and I received last night, just when I was to commence lecturing and when my mind ought not to have been disturbed by harassing communications, a letter from Mr Levey, that he had been instructed by the Exhibition Committee to demand back the goods by noon of this day, otherwise the young Assistant of his would be dismissed. To shield this perfectly innocent Gentleman from the effects of so great and harsh injustice, I have with much trouble indeed managed to pack up again and to return all the goods received the day before yesterday by me. The whole treatment I regard also towards myself perfectly undeserved, particularly as I have given much time and even private means to assist in the Sydney Exhibition, the whole grant made by the Executive Committee after repeated urgent applications having been thirty three pounds (£33) including packing of the very many things sent by me.

I now have the honor of submitting herewith a statement of the articles, showing, what was forwarded on behalf of the Commission, what on behalf of my Department and what on behalf of myself,

5

See below.

requesting the general Board of trustees, to allow me to continue to exercise my professional discretion in the choice and arrangement of the articles, to be placed into the industrial museum, and that with this view the whole cases once more are returned to my Office, where all the property of the trustees can then undergo final preparing or revision for the Museum, and I will gladly add, as intended and as largely done before, any eligible sample of the property of my department or even private property of my own, to augment the collection of the industrial museum. The same request for temporary location here I made in reference to a number of unsightly vegetable objects, temporarily now in the Museum. I have far more facilities for this purpose at my own place, then

6

than?

in the Museum, besides saving time in going to and fro. But this concession is only acceptable to me when it comes with unreserved readiness and faith from the Board. Private collections I have none, as my own costly collections, formed by me since 1840 were given as a gift , as a pure donation, to my Department. On meeting Mr Newberry

7

Newbery.

last night, he on his own accord at once stated, that I alone could judge about the things in all details, which I had under such humiliating circumstances to send back to day. The wood collection, only partly paid for out of the £33 was on my suggestion left in Mr Moores establishment, in exchange for a valuable series of wood now in the industrial Museum, and presented by that Gentleman on my special solicitation to our institution on the occasion of our own exhibition in 1867.

8

Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia, Melbourne, 1867.

About seven (£7) pounds alone for this item of wood, left in Sydney, have been paid out of my private purse. I allowed Mr Levey besides at his own discretion and without any restrictions to effect on behalf of the Commissioners interchanges with a number of articles sent by me to the Sydney exhibition. I avail myself of this opportunity to ask permission to remove again from the lecture hall the articles, irrespective of those from Sydney, used for my lectures, as the large drawings &c were made on my private expense. I make this formal request, that not new misunderstandings may arise.

The boxes now sent are 9, instead of 10, on the evening before yesterday received, as the contents of one case with part of contents of others is in the lectureroom.

I may add, that the collection of 328 kinds of economic seeds (in so many glasses) was gradually formed by me in the Department here since 1857, no expenses whatever in this or the other indicated instances having arisen to the Exhibition Commission.

The Chairman of the Board of trustees of the Public Library and Industrial Museum.

9

The summary that follows is in the handwriting of Ambrose Neate. Although placed with Neate's letter to M (70-04-11a) that follows immediately in the file, it clearly belongs here.

The file is annotated: 'ack letter | […] how the £33 voted by the Commission has been expended [is] catalogue of Exhibits now in Museum purchased with £33/- | 25th November [SHB]'.

The file also includes a 'Memorandum. Dr Von Mueller & Technological Committee' that summarizes financial interactions between the Committee and M, June-October 1870 (in this edition as M70-11-00).

Articles paid for by the Sydney Exhibition Commission; returned from Sydney as below (vide foot note)

10

See note at end of document, which is separated from the rest of the text by a line drawn across the page.

Two (2) Cases for Charcoal specimens but not contents.

One (1) Case for holding bottles containing specimens of chemicals etc.

The bottles containing specimens of fibres and chemicals, but not contents.

Putting up and labelling of the fibres and chemicals.

Note. Labels for fibres and chemicals supplied from the surplus of those printed for the Industrial Museum

Articles paid for by the Botanic Garden returned from Sydney as below (vide foot note)

11

See note at end of document.

Bottles containing seeds, articles required for putting them up & cost of printing up. The contents also pertain to the Botanic Garden.

Frames containing paper specimens. The contents also pertain to the Botanic Garden, and cost of putting up. Foreign samples originally property of Dr. F. von Mueller.

Case containing dyed fabrics. The contents also pertain to the Botanic Garden and cost of putting up.

Contents of all bottles with chemicals, fibres etc. pertain to the Botanic Garden.

Articles paid for by Dr. F. von Mueller returned from Sydney as below (vide foot note)

12

See note at end of document.

Double set of wood specimens in plank-form with cross sections

and cost of packing same.

13

On the copy of this document filed with M to M. Clarke, 11 January 1871 (in this edition as 71-01-11a), M has inserted 'also a fernchair' at this point.

NB. Above statement refers to contents of case Nos 37. 40. 41. 49. 52. 53. 55. 57. 66. and 67. returned from Sydney Exhibition. A lot of wood specimens paid partly for by Sydney Exhibition Commission left as interchange with Mr. Moore,

14

Charles Moore.

and a [small num]ber of other articles left at Mr. Levey's discretion for interchange in Sydney, as requested by him including articles paid for by Dr. von Mueller to the extent of £12.14/, irrespective of minor expenses in cabhire etc. paid also by Dr. von Mueller.