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G75/681, unit 817, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 75.01.20Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Robert Ramsay, 1875-01-20. 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/1870-9/1874/75-01-20-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
South Yarra
20/1/75.
The honorable
Rob. Ramsay, M.L.A.
Sir,
I have the honor to draw your attention to the circumstance, that after seven months
of the financial year have passed, still a large share of the Departmental work, desirable
to be carried on this year, remains in arrear for want of the needful means. In the
letter, which I had the honor of adressing to you on the 1 Aug. 1874,
the requirements for the effectual service of my Department were pointed out, while
only £300 were placed on the estimates (irrespective of £100 for the English Work
). My last own property is now sacrificed to maintain with honor and dignity the important
branch of the public service, entrusted to my care, and from which the colonists draw
daily their informations.
1
MS annotation, and date underlined, in unknown hand: 'No letter of 1st August [...]'. However, the earlier letter was evidently later found, because there is a further
annotation, in a different hand, '1530 annexed' (1530 being the file number assigned to the letter in question) and this letter follows
in the file. See M to R. Ramsay, 1 August 1874.
2
Bentham (1863-78).
The sum available (vize £300) is absorbed in the salary and expenses for the Museum.
Hence I respectfully request, that out of the vote for unforeseen expenses or out
of the hon. the treasurer's advance such monetary aid may be afforded to my Department
as you may deem necessary for providing proper office accommodation, for a messenger,
a fieldcollector, my own field service, books, journals, instruments, travelling expenses,
office furniture, engravings and wood cuts for my works, educational collections and
the current other expenses of the departmental service. I understood, that it was
kindly your intention to provide £500 in addition to the sum available; but as half
the year has passed I will endeavour to bring creditably the Departmental work on
for the remainder of the year, if half that sum or £300 is granted me. I may be permitted
to call to your recollection, that the honorable Mr. Kerferd promised in Parliament,
when recently the increase of my working vote was urged by both sides of the House,
that the fund of my Department on further consideration, if it was found necessary,
should be augmented.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller
P.S.
The extent of researches, to be carried on, must necessarily depend on the amount
of subsidies to be afforded, and even if the £500 full were granted, the total expenditure
of my Department would be small in proportion to that of any other.
3
The file was submitted to Cabinet on 15 February 1875. The file records the decision:'No'.