The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ [The telegram which recently appeared in the Sydney papers, stating that the above distinguished and learned phytologist, to whom Australia is so deeply indebted, ¶ had received an appointment in ...

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73.07.00c

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Ferdinand von Mueller to [William Woolls], 1873-07 [73.07.00c]. 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/1870-9/1873/73-07-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'The Baron Von Mueller', Australian town and country journal (Sydney), 19 July 1873, p. 10. The article is said to be 'From a correspondent', probably William Woolls who was a regular contributor to the Town and country journal. See the article 'Dr. Woolls', Australian town and country journal , 5 October 1872, p. 9.

[The telegram which recently appeared in the Sydney papers, stating that the above distinguished and learned phytologist, to whom Australia is so deeply indebted,

i.e. M. The Australian town and country journal, 7 June 1873, page 5, reported a telegram from Melbourne saying 'Dr. Baron von Mueller has been relieved of his position in the Botanical Gardens, and is appointed Government Botanist and Lecturer at the University, at a salary of £800 per annum'. The Newcastle chronicle (Newcastle, NSW), 3 June 1873, p. 2 carried the same paragraph in its item 'From the Sydney papers'. No exhaustive search has been made to find which Sydney newspapers could have been used by the Newcastle chronicle.

had received an appointment in connection with the Melbourne University, seems to have been without truth.

Baron Mueller informs me that the telegram respecting him is not true. He complains most bitterly of the treatment he has experienced from the Victorian Government; and says that they will not allow him sufficient assistance to carry on his investigations.

The article goes on to comment that the Victorian Government 'accept the benefits [of M's work], but ignore the benefactor. They all praise him, and so verify the saying of old, "Virtus laudatur et alget" [Virtue is praised and left out to freeze].’ It continues by quoting a passage from the Telegraph (Melbourne) and concludes:

For the sake of Australia, and, we may add, the world, we hope better counsels will prevail. Let it not be said with truth, as it has often been asserted, that in Australia whatever talents a man may possess, or how ever well he may deserve encouragement, honour, or reward, none of these will be accorded to him, unless he be also a Charlatan, and quack, cringe, and pander to vulgar prejudice, and ignorant pretentiousness.

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