Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne

26/9/77.

The honorable Graham Berry

Chief Secretary.

Sir

I have the honor to solicit permission for travelling in the interest of my Department for a few or several weeks in West Australia, where I desire to connect to some extent observations of mine, instituted in the northern regions during 1855 and 1856

1

On the North Australian Exploring Expedition.

and in the southern tracts during 1867. I intend to collect largely for our phytologic Museum, to obtain thereby also material again to continue or resume interchanges, and to gain additional means for the completion of the great work on Australian plants. If I see, that I can arrange everything in my Department timely, I intend to proceed by the mailsteamer on Thursday of next week, and I should return by the November steamer or early in December.

2

In the event, M did not return to Melbourne until early January 1878.

It is my proposal to leave instructions for the progress here of the local departmental work with Mr. Luehmann, my Assistant; any strictly scientific work of mine could stand here over til my return. As the expenses of travelling will be great, I trust that you will kindly allow me to charge any outlay for my departmental researches during this proposed journey and voyage to the votes of my establishment.

I may add, that my health has been very fluctuating latterly, and that I anticipate to become greatly invigorated by some weeks of fieldwork in tracts of country scientifically almost unexplored.

As my services during my absense would be surely transferred to an other locality, I hope you will grant me full salary during these proposed travels.

3

Berry minuted 'Yes' and on 4 October M returned the file 'with best thanks. I shall start this day.' He travelled on the RMSS Siam, which left in the early afternoon of Thursday, 4 October (see Argus, 5 October 1877, p. 4).