The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 26/11/84 ¶ ¶ I am too unwell, esteemed Mr Tepper, to write you a long letter just now, but would really like to express my regret immediately that your position there came to an end. ¶ However, do g...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M198, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 84.11.26

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Otto Tepper, 1884-11-26. 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/84-11-26>, accessed September 11, 2025

MS annotation by Tepper: 'Reply with parcel 23.1.85'. Letter not found.

26/11/84

Ich bin zu unwohl, geehrter Herr Tepper, Ihnen eben jetzt einen langen Brief zu schreiben, möchte aber doch mein Bedauern gleich ausdrücken, dass Ihre Stelle dort aufhört. Gehen Sie aber doch gleich zum Gouvernements Haus, wo gerade the Honorable John Forrest, C.M.G, Commissioner of Land & Survey, als Gast weilt; Sie würden dann sofort die vollste Auskunft über W.A. bekommen; vielleicht bietet sich da eine gute Lehrerstelle dar, so dass Sie Ihren früheren Beruf wieder aufnehmen können, der wenigstens das Gute völliger Freiheit während der Ferien-Zeit hat.

Ihnen Alles Gute wünschend

Ferd. von Mueller.

Haben Sie keine Freunde in den mehr centralen Theilen Australiens, durch welche die Pflanzen Arten, namentlich auch jetzt die kleinsten annuelen zu erlangen wären in Blüthe u Frucht. Der Post-Verkehr ist jetzt ja so leicht, so dass kleine Packete von Zeit zu Ziet doch leicht gesandt werden könnten.

Ich würde an die Sammler als Gegengabe gern Bücher, oder Sämereien senden. Es handelt sich weniger um neue Arten, deren es nicht mehr viele zu sammeln giebt, als um die Bestimmung der geogr. Verbreitung der Arten und weitere Belehrung der specifischen Formen-Kreise.

26/11/84

I am too unwell, esteemed Mr Tepper, to write you a long letter just now, but would really like to express my regret immediately that your position there came to an end.

The board of governors of the SA Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery at its meeting of 17 October 1884 adopted the report of the museum committee that they had granted the Director, J. W. Haacke, six months' leave of absence on full pay and had accepted his resignation to take effect at the end of the leave, and that they 'had instructed the general director and secretary to give Mr Tepper three months' notice (from November 1 next) of his termination of his engagement by the board' (South Australian advertiser, 23 October 1884, p. 7). Some of the background to these actions is given in the Adelaide observer, 25 October 1884, p. 25, col. b, with additional information in Kapunda herald, 21 October 1884, p. 3, col. b:

'Complete collections of weapons and other ethnological curiosities, which can never be replaced, have been distributed with a lavish hand, and other specimens choice and rare have found other habitats than the museum. Of course, it is not implied for a moment that these valuable things were not given away or disposed of with the best of intentions, but the fact remains that many foreign museums, chiefly German, and scientific gentlemen and collectors of curios, also chiefly German, have been enriched by our museum, which at the present time is not only reduced to a farce, but is actually closed to the public.'

Tepper was supported in the press, and at its meeting of 3 July1885 the Board adopted the report of the museum committee stating

that in view of the limited means at disposal of the board, committee do not recommend the appointment of a museum director at present. That they have arranged that the taxidermist and articulator (Mr. G. Beazley) and the preparateur (Mr. A. Zietz) be each responsible for the conduct and management of his own department; that Mr. Tepper be employed for the present in naming and arranging the entomological collection, and at suitable times in collecting — all under the general direction of the committee. (South Australian weekly chronicle, 11 July 1885, p. 14, col. b.)

Tepper remained the entomologist at the museum until he reached compulsory retirement age in 1911 ('Obituary', Register (Adelaide), 19 February 1823, p. 8, col. e).

However, do go immediately to Government House where the Honourable John Forrest, C.M.G., Commissioner of Land & Survey, is just now staying as a guest; you would then immediately get the fullest information about Western Australia, perhaps a good teaching position will present itself there, so that you can take up your former profession again that at least has the good of complete freedom during the holiday time.

Wishing you all good things

Ferd. von Mueller.

Have you no friends in the more central parts of Australia, through whom the plant species, especially also now the smallest annuals could be acquired in bloom and fruit. The postal communication is now indeed so easy so that small parcels can be really easily sent from time to time.

I would gladly send the collectors books or seeds as a gift in return. The concern is less with new species, of which there are not very many more to collect, than with the determination of geographical distribution of species and further explanation of the specific associations.