Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS annotation: 'Rec. from Dr Von Mueller for the information of the Trustees, with letter 275 4th Nov 1870' [i.e. M to R. Barry, 4 November 1870].

Melbourne Botanic Garden

Novr 4th 1870.

Sir,

I have the honor by your request, to pen the following Memo. respecting ten (10.) cases received from the Exhibition Building on Wednesday afternoon, carted to your Office at the Botanic Garden and safely delivered there by me.

Concerning the above Cases (which were the return exhibits from the Intercolonial Exhibn held at Sydney,

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Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition, Sydney, 1870.

and there shown in your name) I beg respectfully to state you instructed me to look for the arrival of the above from Sydney.

Finding that some at least of the cases had arrived by the P & O. Co's Steamer from Sydney nearly three weeks ago, and were in the Queen's warehouse at Hughes' Wharf — Saw them and found one of the cases in a very broken condition (containing economic seeds) I unpacked it, and as far as was possible to do there placed the contents in a safe condition, and at your repeated request, tried to obtain the whole of the above cases, but was told the things were all consigned to the care of Mr Oliver Levey, (at the Herald Offices) to whom I went by your instruction (called twice) but did not see him. A message was obtained in answer that nothing could be received till Mr G. C. Levey's return from Sydney.

I saw Mr G. Levey's Clerk twice about the cases required and requested that they might be left at the Customs’ shed (Hughes' Wharf) and that you might obtain them direct from the shed if possible, but as Mr Levey had not then returned, they could not be obtained. Calling again at the Exhibition Building found that Mr Levey had arrived from Sydney, but could not see him, (this was on Friday or Saturday last.)

Enquiring again, found that the cases from the Exhibition had in the mean time arrived from the shed at Hughes' Wharf and were then in the Annexe at the Exhibition Building

Mr Levey was not at his Office & I was told he would not be there till 6 O'Clock that evening (Wednesday last) You received also the same answer from Mr Levey's Clerk on going to look for your cases: who at your special request (as you urgently required the economic exhibits in connection with your lecture the following (Thursday) evening) gave the 10 Cases according as they were numbered, marked or addressed, so that nothing was received but your own particular packages (which I heard you express to the Clerk it would be impossible to unpack in the place they were then in) for the delivery of which you instructed the Clerk (as Mr Levey was not to be found) that you would hold yourself responsible and it was by your request that I gave a receipt for the whole

Dr F von Mueller C.M.G.

Director of the Melbourne Botanic Garden