Ferdinand von Mueller

9/4/86.

The renewed wish, expressed by You,

1

See F. Barnard to M, 6 April 1886 (in this edition as 86-04-06b); for M's response to an earlier invitation, see M to F. Barnard, 10 April 1885.

dear Mr Barnard, on behalf of the Committee of the Field-Naturalists Club, that I should assume the Presidency of your important Institution, is so highly honorable to myself, that I find it difficult to express myself in adequate words of gratitude, and still more difficult to point out, how my obligations for the many next months render it almost impossible for me, to enter on any additional duties. The extensive extrawork for the London-Exhibition,

2

Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London, 1886.

and the necessity of issuing an enlarged edition of the volume on "select plants"

3

B85.12.03.

for the objects of the Royal Commission on new rural industries here, took so much up of my sparetime during the past year, irrespective of work even departmentally incumbent on me in connection with the geographic Society, that the "Key to the system of the Victorian Flora" is far from completion.

4

B86.04.05, B88.02.07.

I am also required, to give some time up in 1886 and 1887 for elaborating the plants of the New Guinea Expedition as an official byework; and as I my

5

as I my as in MS

health is not firm, I must fear, to render it still more impaired by adding to my mental work and my litterary obligations. Indeed for the last 12 months I could find no time for any of the meetings of the two medical Societies here, for the microscopic Society, the litterary Assoc. of the W. Melb Presb Church whose Patron I am, the Liedertafel and any other local Unions, with which I am connected except the geographic Society, whose exploratory measures are intimately connected with the interests of my Department.

You are aware, and you and your honored colleagues will approve of my view, that the Duties of a President of any scientific organisation should not merely be nominal, but that he ought, as has been the case in your Club for some years, extensively and actively identify himself with your work. For this I see no prospect on my part during 1886 and perhaps 1887, without setting aside the completion of the "Key" and other urgently needed publications as the daily routine work of the Department takes up most of my time already.

It seems to me also but just, that the Gentlemen, who occupied the positions of Vice-Presidents so worthily, should successively also be promoted to the highest office.

Under these circumstances it has occurred to me, that perhaps the Club might have it within its power and rules, to establish special honorary Positions for Prof M'Coy and myself, by which we would be able, to give a greater and distinctly defined support to the Club as official representatives of the two great branches of animated natural history, so assiduously reared by your Union. In making this suggestion and explaining my views in this repect to Professor Lucas and Mr C. French verbally,

6

Presumably Charles French,Snr, who was the Club's librarian and a committee member.

I am solely actuated by a desire, to respond to your honoring calls in so far, as I see my way clear, and to lend what little influence my scientific standing may give me more powerfully for the promotion of the great and multifarious objects of the Club.