Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne

16 April 1883.

T. R. Wilson Esqr,

Undersecretary.

Sir,

Noticing that the hon. the Chief Secretary has brought the item of £900 for the purchase of the Sonderian collection before the Committee of Supply, and that Parliament has voted this sum, and that it has now also been reported to the House, I have the honor to suggest, that these £900 be placed early at the disposal of the Agent General in London, so that the widow of Dr Sonder in Hamburg, whose adress is Neubert Street 5, may receive the £800 agreed on for the purchase of the collection and such additional sum as the 36 packing cases may have cost, and that through the Agent General arrangements may be made for the safe transmission of these valuable collections, for insurance, freight &c, for which the rest of the money (£100) will suffice, after the probably inconsiderable expenditure for the packing-cases.

I avail myself of this opportunity, to express my best thanks to the Government, for the liberality evinced in securing these important collections, which for all times to come will give to our botanic Institution an additional prominence in this part of the world.

1

M's request was approved (T. Wilson to M, 24 April 1883) and on the same day a letter was sent to the Agent General (letter not found). On 15 June 1883, R. Murray Smith of 8 Victoria Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster [London] wrote to the Chief Secretary, G. Berry, acknowledging the remittance of £900. Wilson referred the letter to M for his information on 26 July, and M returned it 'with thanks' the next day.