Ferdinand von Mueller

1

The letter is accompanied by an envelope addressed in M's hand to 'George Day Esqr Little Bendigo near Ballarat' and dated by M '13/3 1879', with a Melbourne postmark dated 14 March 1879.

4/8/79

On enquiry I find, dear Mr Day, that the vote for my Department will not likely come on for some weeks; hence it would be unwise to take any action at present regarding any engagements, involving lengthened expense; and the question arises, whether it would be better to carry out in first instance your original plans for the Mallee-Country during the next few months. I gave my former collectors £3 pr week, out of which they had to bear their travelling expenses, but I supplied collecting material extra, and paid also the freight for the collections.

The Mallee country is botanically so much exhausted, that I should not feel justified to spend departmental means on collections from thence; altho' commercially a collecting-tour, such as suggested by Mr Luehmann, may possibly turn out quite payable, if the seed-season should prove favorable this year. Rest assured, that no one would like more than myself to turn your energy & enthusiasm into a channel profitable to my favorite science. But my hands are tied at the present.

Your legislative friend must not raise any debate on my vote, but must act in concert with Dr L.L. Smith, Mr Bosisto, Mr Dow & Mr Blackett concerning any attempts of resuscitating my Department, not by a discussion in Parliament, but by friendly remonstrances in private with the ministry.

2

Smith and Bosisto were members of a Parliamentary Board of Inquiry into M's position that had provided strong support for M; see L. Smith to G. Berry, 11 July 1877 (in this edition as M77-07-11). J.L. Dow and C.R. Blackett were also members of the Victorian Parliament.