Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne

18/5/79.

To the honorable Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, Bt,

Acting Chief Secretary.

1

For reply see W. Odgers to M, 3 June 1879 (in this edition as 79-06-03c).

Sir

I have the honor to solicit, now while the estimates for the new finance-year are under the consideration of the Government again, that you and your honorable Colleagues will be pleased to give to the Report of the Committee of Dr L. Smith, Mr Bosisto and the late Mr King, MLA,

2

See L. Smith to G. Berry, 11 July 1877 (in this edition as M77-07-11).

your favorable consideration for the resuscitation of my Department in its proper scope. The report of the above named Gentlemen, who were appointed by the hon Graham Berry, to advise him respecting the means, required by me for the proper functions of Gov. Botanist, was submitted long ago, but I have not sought to obtain an insight into this document, being assured, that what the Committee recommended would be reasonable and just. I believe however, that I shall be in consonance with the general views of the Committee on my case, if I beg of you, to cede to me the buildings, now occupied as temporary almhouses or immigrants homes at the City bridge, it being doubtless the intention of the Government to remove early the paupers from the close vicinity of Government House, on sanitary considerations.

3

M had made a similar request, some years previously, to have these buildings allocated to him; see M to J. MacPherson, 26 June 1876, and M to G. Berry, 7 August 1877.

I would further ask, in probable conformity of the Committee's recommendation, that all the ground in Gov. House reserve, not enclosed for the private use of His Excellency the Governor, be allotted to my control, from the boathouses up to the St Kilda Road and towards the Barracks and the vicinity of the Observatory. It needs not my explanation, that in a clime like ours a few acres would be utterly insufficient for my purposes, as a full collection of different trees from all parts of the globe, so far as hardy here, would occupy alone a very extensive area, not to speak of the numerous other kinds of plants, which as Gov. Botanist I should have in a living state under my daily observation. Indeed I may be allowed to remark, that in every other country the Gov. Botanist is provided with a botanic Garden; so it is with Sir Jos. Hooker at Kew & everywhere else. The administration of the new grounds, asked by me, need not involve a heavy annual expense , nor would my planting scheme be solely scientific but ornamental as well . In the ground asked for, almost every tree has been raised by me, so that I would return to a creation of my own, utterly neglected since; and by removing from me the undeserved and deeply saddening humiliation , which also impedes my work in most directions, my hopes of life by your kindness would become once more brightened.