Document information

Physical location:

M67/17, unit 21, VPRS 1096 inward correspondence, VA 466 Governor, Public Record Office, Victoria. M66.12.00

Preferred Citation:

Godfrey Howitt and others to Henry Manners-Sutton, 1866-12 [M66.12.00]. 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/mentions/selected/M66-12-00-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

To His Excellency the Hon Sir J. H. J. Manners-Sutton K.C.B.
Governor of Victoria
The Memorial of the Undersigned respectfully sheweth
That we desire to bring under your Excellency's consideration the merits of a gentleman whose scientific reputation has conferred lustre on the Australian Colonies.
That we believe it is the desire of our Gracious Sovereign that those who distinguish themselves in the fields of science should be rewarded with honour; and we respectfully submit that no one in the Southern Hemisphere has attained more exalted eminence in science than Ferdinand Mueller M.D. F.R.S. or enjoys such a world wide reputation.
That although he is a native of Denmark, Dr. Mueller has been a naturalized subject of Her Majesty and has resided in Her Majesty's Australian Colonies for nearly twenty years. During this long period he has travelled over a greater portion of the continent of Australia than probably any other man living, and as a descriptive botanist of first class rank, his name must be for all time associated with the Flora of Australia.
That so generally and so fully has his scientific distinction been recognised that already seven European Sovereigns have bestowed upon him the honour of Knighthood. These honours however Dr. Mueller as a British subject is not allowed to enjoy.
1
For the background to this comment, see notes to C. Darling to the Duke of Newcastle, 22 February 1864 (in this edition as M64-02-22) and Lucas (2013) which includes an analysis of the reasons that the European knighthoods were conferred.
That irrespective of his eminent attainments, we believe there is no one in this portion of Her Majesty's dominions who has more successfully directed scientific knowledge towards promoting the material prosperity of the Australian Colonies
We therefore humbly pray that Your Excellency will be pleased in acknowledgment of such distinguished merits and services, and in consequence of his not being allowed to accept foreign honours, to recommend Dr. Ferdinand Mueller F.R.S. to the favourable consideration of Her Majesty
And your Memorialists will ever pray.
2
When Manners-Sutton sent a copy of the request to the Colonial Office he did so saying that it would be an unwise precedent to encourage such memorials, declined to give an opinion on Mueller’s worthiness for a British honour, but advised against it in the circumstances (National Archives, London, CO 309/80).
Signed
Godfrey Howitt M.D. Eding
3
Edinburgh.
& Melbe
4
Melbourne.
F.B.S.E. & Councillor of University of Melbourne.
Matthias Goëthe, Pastor of the Melbourne German Lutheran Congregation, & Superintendent General of the German Churches of Victoria.
L. MacKinnon J.P. Argus Office F.R.G.S. — Melbourne
Adam Cairns D.D. Minister of Chalmers Church Melbourne & Principal of the Theological Institute of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria
James Robertson, M.A., M.D. Lecturer on Medicine, University of Melbourne
Hamilton Traill Oriental Bank Corporation
W. Campbell M.L.C.
Theo Jno
5
John.
Sumner J.P.
John Benn President of the Chamber of Commerce
W. E. Hearn L.L.D. Professor of History & Political Economy in Univy of Melbourne
J. E. Bromby D.D. Late Fellow of St John's Coll: Camb: & Head Master of the Ch. Engd Gramr School.
James S. Waugh, Chairman of Wesleyan Church and President of Wesley College.
Robert Williams Pohlman Member of the Council of the University
George B Halford M.D. Professor of Anatomy & Physiology University of Melbourne.
Moses Rintel Senr Jewish Rabbi Vic.
Thomas Odell Congregational Minister
S. G. Henty J.P. M.L.C
W. Degraves
Wilberforce Stephen Barrister at law. M.A. late Fellow of St John's Coll. Camb. Member of the Council Uny of Melbourne
J. Black
6
Joseph Black.
M.D. M.R.C.S.E. Physician to the Melbourne Hospital.
Charles E. Bright J.P.
Reginald Bright
W. Henry Cutts MD Councillor of the Melbourne University & Physician to the Melbourne Hospital
James T. Rudall F.R.C.S. Surgeon to the Melbourne Hospital & Examiner in Anatomy & Physiology in the University of Melbourne
W. Lockhart Morton