The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: memor. ¶ ¶ When the wood specimens were done I went repeatedly to the Committee meetings in Sept. and Oct. to get this order extended to other things, such as the chemicals &c now in the large glass ...

Document information

Physical location:

VPRS 5834/PO/1, inward correspondence p. 106, VA 1411 Industrial and Technological Museum, Public Record Office, Victoria. 71.01.11a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Marcus Clarke, 1871-01-11 [71.01.11a]. 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/1870-9/1871/71-01-11a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Letter is in the form of a memorandum written on a copy of M. Clarke to M, 17 August 1870 (in this edition as 70-08-17b), with attachments.

memor.

When the wood specimens were done I went repeatedly to the Committee meetings in Sept. and Oct. to get this order extended to other things, such as the chemicals &c now in the large glass case in the Museum, but there was never a quorum, but those present concurred that I should go on with the work meanwhile.

See M to [M. Clarke], 21 November 1870 (in this edition as 70-11-21a).

On one occasion, when there was a quorum of the trustees at a meeting, to which I was invited, I was suffered to wait 3 hours in the Kitchen room and finally never admitted. This discouraged me so much that I did not subsequently attend such meetings [oftenn], more particularly as since 1854 I had been myself a Commissioner for all similar duties connected with Industrial work of Exhibitions

Ferd. von Mueller

11/1/70.

Error for 1871. The section that follows is on a separate sheet in the hand of M’s clerk Ambrose Neate, and is a copy of the document that accompanied M to R. Barry, 4 November 1870.

Articles paid for by Sydney Exhibition Commissioners returned from Sydney as below:

(vide footnote)

This and the two further such entries refer to the last paragraph of this section.

Five cases for Charcoal specimens but not contents.

One case for holding bottles containing specimens of chemicals &c.

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 footnote)

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

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

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

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

Articles paid for by Dr Mueller, returned from Sydney as below (vide footnote)

Double set of wood specimens in plank form with cross sections and cost of packing same.

Also a fernchair.

'Also a fernchair' written in by M.

[NB] Above statement refers to contents of cases 37 — 40 — 41 — 49 — 52 — 53 — 57 — 66 and 67 returned from Sydney Exhibition, a lot of wood specimens paid for by Sydney Exhibition Commission left in interchange with Mr Moore, and a number 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 £12.7/11d irrespective of minor expenses in cabhire &c paid also by Dr von Mueller.

Expenses for the Sydney Exhibition

paid by Dr Ferd. von Mueller

out of his private means.

This entire section is in M's hand, on a separate sheet, and was not part of what M sent to Redmond Barry on 4 November 1870.

Jul 26 – Aug 6.	Carpenter polishing & planing at Industrial Museum wood specimens, also polish &c	£	5.	15.	3.
Aug. 2.	3 Planks (rough)		—	10.	6.
10.	Casing for planks & packing		—	10.	—
	Wood for cases		—	10.	2
	Packing of wood		—	7.	—
	Printing of labels		—	15.	—
	Specimen woods		4.	—	—
For all this receipts can be provided		£	12.	7.	11d

Dr von Mueller incurred besides for cabhire, cartage and other minor expenses several £, for which he took no receipts. Altogether the Sydney Exhibition cost him about £20. The lecture, delivered at the Industrial Museum cost him also about £20 out of his private means, giving a total of about £40 of Dr Mueller's expenses in 1870 for matters connected with the industrial Museum.

It seems that Dr von Mueller is now even called on to pay Mr Hoffmann for work solely and exclusively done for the phytologic section in Sept, Oct. and the early part of Nov. an additional sum of £31.7/— out of his private means.