Document information

Physical location:

J76/5691, unit 915, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 76.06.03

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Odgers, 1876-06-03. 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/1870-9/1876/76-06-03-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

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On 1 June 1876 H. Rathnow, Secretary of the Ballarat German Association, wrote to the Chief Secretary, J. MacPherson: 'May it please Your Honor, — I the undersigned by direction of the president and the Committee of the german Association, have the honor to communicate to you most respectfully, that Baron Müller in Melbourne has made over all his literary sientific Works, which belong to him and are at the present still left in Your Department, as a gift to the "Free Library of our Lodge ". — In reference to this I therefore make on behalf of the said Society the humble request, that it may please your Honor to give at your earlyst convenience the necessary orders for the Transfer for the above mentioned Books to the " Free Library of the German Association in Ballarat ".' The Under Secretary, W. Odgers, passed the letter to M, for his 'remarks'.
This letter from the German Association of Ballarat has arisen from a total misunderstanding. When I arrived last week in Ballarat to lecture at the Farmers Club, I was met at the train by the President, Secretary and other members, who conducted me to their rooms & library and asked me, whether I could contribute to their collection of books. I pointed out to them, that most of my works had appeared at the Gov. Printing Office, that therefore they were Gov. Property and that it would be best to apply for a set of those still available direct to the hon. the Colonial Secretary, while I undertook to send such as elsewhere appeared as private gifts. As this application has come unexpectedly before me, I think it best to submit an ordinary requisition. Should the hon. the Chief Secretary approve of it, then I would suggest that the sending be made direct as a gift from his office.
Ferd. von Mueller
3/6/76.
VICTORIA .
No .
18 .
Requisition for the undermentioned Books for the Library of the German Association of Ballarat.
Description, Number, or Quantity required, in figures and words at length, on the ruled lines only, without interlineation, and one item only on each line.
Purpose for which required.
Approval .
one (1) copy
of those of my works, which are still available at the Governm. Printing Office.
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M's requisition was approved by MacPherson on 3 June, and the copies were duly supplied to the Association by the Government Printer, J. Ferres.
To the Government Printer.
Ferd von Mueller.
( Signature of the Head of the Department.)