Document information

Physical location:

N78/2312, unit 1018, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 78.03.05a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Odgers, 1878-03-05 [78.03.05a]. 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/1870-9/1878/78-03-05a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne,
5/3/78
W. H. Odgers Esqr
Undersecretary.
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 23 February, which only reached me this day (it having been forwarded to the western districts after I left) I have the honor to inform the hon. the Chief Secretary, that on the 7th of Aug. 1877
1
See W. Odgers to M, 26 July 1877, and M to G. Berry, 7 August 1877.
I answered at great length the question, to which the Despatch and also the pamphlet of Dr. J. C. Brown
2
J. C. Brown (1877).
had reference, as submitted to me on the 26 July. I have now the honor of forwarding a copy of my letter to you from the copy book of my Department. I gave the questions, raised by Dr. Brown, at once full consideration, and replied in little more than a week afterwards, having previously studied fully the publication of Dr. Brown.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller,
Gov. Botanist.
3
MS annotation by [Odgers]: 'Not suitable for transmission to Sec. of State'.
There is an entry in our register of letters as follows. 7 Aug. 1877 "one letter to the hon. the Chief Secretary Melbourne with report on forest-schools book returned and three Eucalyptus plates". I notice, that on the same day, 7. Aug, our letters for Europe, India &c. were posted by the monthly mail, and it seems to me therefore possible that the letter may have gone astray to Europe.