Document information

Physical location:

D73/9916, unit 669, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 73.08.01b

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Francis, 1873-08-01 [73.08.01b]. 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/1870-9/1873/73-08-01b-final.odt>, accessed June 15, 2026

Melbourne bot. Museum
1/8/73.
Sir
I have the honor to enquire, whether the manuscript of a translation of Dr Wittsteins work on "chemical analysis of plants and vegetable substances" prepared by his permission and performed without any use of my Office hours, would be acceptable for publication by the Government. The translation is improved by some changes and additional notes of my own, and the extent of print would
1
be omitted?
about 300 octavo-pages. I would be ready to place the manuscript unreservedly at the disposal of the Government. I know already of about one hundred Gentlemen in Victoria, willing to purchase a copy of the trans-
2
remainder of word (presumably 'translation') not carried over to next page as evidently intended.
so that doubtless the expense of publishing the work, which might be a credit to the Department, would readily be covered by the sale of the work here and abroad.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller.
The honorable the Chief Secretary
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On 5 August 1873, Francis asked M to 'ascertain and inform expense of printing and binding […] 1000 Copies'. The next day M minuted on the letter: 'Will Mr Ferres be so kind to inform the hon. the Chief Secretary what the approximate expense of printing 300 octavo pages would be, further what the cost of binding 1000 copies'. J. Ferres, the Government Printer, replied on 9 August: 'The cost of printing 500 copies of 300 pages, similar to the "Fragmenta," will be £87.10.0. 1000 copies £120.10.0. The binding in Cloth will be 1/- each'. On 10 August M returned the letter with the minute: 'Respectfully submitted for the information of the Hon the Chief Secr.' Francis minuted on 13 August 1873: 'Decline to publish at Government expense'. The decision was reported in W. Odgers to M, 14 August 1873.