Document information
Physical location:
Y94/8537, unit 806, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 94.11.21Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Charles Topp, 1894-11-21. 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/1890-6/1894/94-11-21-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
21/11/94
Ch. A. Topp Esqr.
Under Secretary.
Only this day, dear Mr. Topp, I received the enclosed letters,
and would now beg, that in accordance with the wish of the hon. the Premier my "Select plants" and "Key to the system of Australian plants"
be forwarded through the Gov. Printing Office to Mr Rendle, the Adress presumingly being still Ascot-Vale.
These works are inexpensive; I have only a working copy of each in my office
1
See G. Perrin to M, 19 November 1894. On 2 November 1894, J. Rendle wrote to G. Turner, MP, saying that as he intended to travel in Victoria
and wished to 'become acquainted with the wild flora of Gippsland, particularly the
timber trees' a copy of 'Part 2 of the Baron Von Mueller's work on Native plants may
aid me if you can get a copy'. Turner forwarded Rendle's request to Perrin on 3 November but it seems that the letter was mislaid and Perrin forwarded
the file to M on 19 November minuting his 'regret for the delay'. M added a further
minute on 21 November: 'Reached me only the 21 Nov., accompanied by a letter from
Mr Perrin dated 19. Nov.'
2
The most recent edition of
Select plants
was B91.09.01; The
Key
was published in two volumes, B86.04.05 (part II) and B88.11.02 (part I).
3
Melbourne.
4
On 23 November, Topp wrote to Turner, saying that M's works were 'supplied only to public institutions and to individuals if representing institutions
or holding important public positions and especially interested in Botanical matters. The Book Part II especially mentioned is a small one and can be purchased for a small
sum at the Government Printing office; but I can say speaking as a Botanist that it
would be of scarcely any use to Mr Rendle, it contains only about half a dozen drawings
of plants found in Gippsland including perhaps two small timber trees — The Eucalyptographia
& Acacias are very expensive works & certainly could not be given away, moreover they
would be much too bulky to be carried by a tourist.'
Very regardfully your
Ferd. Von Mueller