Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne,

22 Dec. 1891.

T. R. Wilson Esqr

Under Secretary.

Sir.

I have the honor to solicit, that authority may be granted for the payment of £21.12/.-, by which amount I now find the authority S. 2772 is exceeded for the printing-payment of the new edition of the "Select plants". By some oversight, which I hope will be excused, I thought the payment would simply be by the sheets; but I see now, that in my letter of the 4th April 1891

1

The estimate in M to T. Wilson, 4 April 1891was for '1000 copies of about 560 pages', 16 pages to a sheet; the published version has 594 pages plus a one page postscript.

I estimated the work to comprise about 35 sheets, whereas it really became extended to 38 sheets, so that yet payment for these three sheets at £7.4/- each has to be rendered, by £21.12/- Fund for this is available under the item "publication of work" in the Gov. Botanists establishment. I may add, that nearly the whole cost of the work will be regained for the revenue, as the book sells well.

2

The Chief Secretary, A. McLean, minuted his approval on 24 December. On 8 January 1892, G. Bell, for the Under Secretary, forwarded the news to M who returned the file 'with best thanks' on 12 January. The file was then forwarded to the Commissioners of Audit.