Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne, 27/4/95

Ch. Topp Esqr M.A., LLB., F.L.S., Barr. Law,

Under Secretary.

Sir,

As it is likely, that the two Herbarium-Assistants will have finished the Work very soon, at which they are engaged in the Agriculture-Department, I have the honor to solicit, that Mr Ch. French jun. may be allowed by the hon. the Chief Secretary to return for the months of May and June to my branch of the Gov. Service.

1

On 25 March 1895, the Secretary of the Public Service Board had replied to a letter from Topp dated 18 March concerning the services of French and Minchin, that 'their names were furnished by your Department as of officers in excess, a long time since, and they were, therefore, available for transfer at any time. The services of the officers in question will be required by the Department of Agriculture until about the end of May.' (B95/2592, unit 830, VPRS 2992/P, Public Record Office, Victoria). On 29 April, Topp minuted: 'Write to Secy Agriculture stating that I shall be glad if Mr French [Charles H. French] who has been temporarily lent to his Department can be returned to this Department, as his services are urgently needed, perhaps his early return will be facilitated if Mr Minchin stays somewhat longer than was originally intended, I shall be quite willing to arrange for this'. The proposed letter was not written until 1 May but it succeeded; see M to C. Topp, 3 May 1895 and the annotations thereto.

The work, devolving on my institution has been so extraordinarily overwhelming during the several past months, that I should be so very thankful for this temporarily

2

temporary?

help, young Mr French being born in the Department and having acquired from his boyhood special information and experiences as regards the particular duties, devolving on my branch. In addition to the ordinary obligations now also the necessity of my seeing the enlarged nineth Edition of the "Select Plants" through the press,

3

B95.08.04; see M to C. Topp, 19 January 1895 (in this edition as 95-01-19a).

taxes my time, so that for a variety of routine herbarium would

4

MS annotation made at the Chief Secretary's Office: 'work?'.

I should just now be glad for his aid. The British Museum and Kew together employ in the herbaria there 14 professional Assistants irrespective of the leading duties of the Directors. I can so arrange, that Mr. Minchins help, however valuable it may be, is not invoked, or that he at once remained available for carrying out any further extrawork in the Agriculture-Department or in any other Division of the public service, in which immediate auxiliary work is to be carried out.