Document information

Physical location:

580/1(c), Australian Manuscripts Collection, La Trobe Library, Melbourne. 82.03.19

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Francis Gibbes, 1882-03-19. 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/1880-9/1882/82-03-19-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

19/3/82
It was my intention, dear Mr Gibbes, to attend yesterday at the opening of the Academy of Arts, to which the Council so kindly invited me;
1
The 12th exhibition of the Victorian Academy of Arts was opened by the Governor, Lord Normanby, on Saturday afternoon, 18 March 1882; see Argus, 20 March 1882, p. 10.
but when the hour arrived, I found myself so overwhelmed with official engagements, that I had very reluctantly to deprive myself of the pleasure of sharing in your festival. Indeed I was compelled to work all this day though it is Sunday.
The intercolonial Exhibition
2
International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1880-1.
taxed me for many months with heavy extra engagements, so that my departmental work got into arrear, and it requires thus all my exertions to do justice to my duties now.
Pray, excuse my absense
3
i.e. from the opening, M was not a member of the Council.
at the next Council Meeting & let me remain regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.