Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne

12 June 1880

To W. H. Odgers Esqr

Undersecretary.

Sir

I have the honor to ask, whether you will be so kind to bring under the favorable consideration of the honorable the Chief Secretary, that I am very eager to give to the researches of my Department in the coming financial year the greatest extension possible under the present limitation of my Departmental Service, especially in consideration of the forthcoming exhibition;

1

International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1880-1.

and I beg therefore to ask, whether Mr Ramsay would be so kind as to restore on the estimates the £50, which I deducted from the budget of my establishment, as submitted for the new finance year.

2

M to W. Odgers, 23 April 1880 (in this edition as 80-04-23a).

This reduction was made in response to your circular, a few month ago received, but — small as it is — it falls very heavily on my Department, which is already so very much less provided than any other scientific institution under the Government.

3

On 12 June 1880, Odgers sent a minute to R. Ramsay: 'Baron Müeller now asks that the £50 by wh he reduced his Contingent Estimates may be restored. There will not be […] if the C. S. authorise it to be done — I recomend it for approval'. Ramsay approved Odgers's recommendation the same day.