The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot. Garden, ¶ 24/8/71 ¶ ¶ I feel, dear Mr Shillinglaw, as if I was new born, after the Parliament so gracefully decreeing to me supremacy in my Department again. ¶ During the discussion in...

Document information

Physical location:

Box 242/2 Shillinglaw papers, La Trobe Australian manuscripts collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 71.08.24

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Shillinglaw, 1871-08-24. 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/1870-9/1871/71-08-24-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Melbourne bot. Garden,

24/8/71

I feel, dear Mr Shillinglaw, as if I was new born, after the Parliament so gracefully decreeing to me supremacy in my Department again.

During the discussion in the Legislative Assembly on 23 August 1871 leading to the Estimates for the Botanic Garden for the following year being passed, the Treasurer, Graham Berry, acknowledged 'the anomalous position of Dr. Mueller in connexion with Mr. [William] Ferguson' in the management of the Garden, and declared that arrangements would be made 'to retransfer Mr. Ferguson to the Lands department as promptly as possible' (Argus, 24 August 1871, p. 6).

It is as if all the hopes of life were reawakening. Let me thank you for the generous interest, which you took in my case, and let me express my grateful appreciation of the support which you have given me

I feel myself placed in deep obligation to you and I hope, that you will give me an opportunity to show myself grateful.

With best regards

Ferd. von Mueller