Document information

Physical location:

MS 9575 Casey papers, precis vol. 3, La Trobe Australian Manuscript Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. M72.08.09

Preferred Citation:

Robert Ramsay to James Francis, 1872-08-09 [M72.08.09]. 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/M72-08-09-final.odt>, accessed May 10, 2026

1
MS letter head: 'ORA ET LABORA' ['By word and deed'].
[9 August 1872]
2
Date suggested by Wright (1982), p. 140. However, this date is suspect. The reference to 'the other Evng' must refer to the accrimonius Legislative Assembly debate on the Botanic Gardens estimates that began on the evening of 8 August and closed at 3:12 am on 9 August, with the Botanic Gardens estimate being withdrawn from consideration, while others were passed. The house was cleared of 'strangers', including Hansard reporters, at 1:25 am, and in the 'secret session' 'estimates … were disposed of, amounting in the aggregate to upwards of one million sterling' (Argus, 10 August1872, p. 4). See also Victoria Parliamentary debates ('Hansard'), vol. 14, pp. 919-24. There were Cabinet meetings on 12 April and 19 April; the former described as 'lengthy' (Argus, 13 August 1872, p. 4). Amended estimates, now split into three parts, Botanic Gardens, Government House Domain, and Forests, were debated in the Committee on Supply on 3 September, when extensive extracts from the report of C. Hodgkinson to J. Casey, 14 August 1872 (in this edition as M72-08-14) were read. When the Committee reported to the House on 4 September there was further extensive debate before these estimates were approved (Victoria Parliamentary debates ('Hansard'), vol. 14, pp.1178-86 and pp. 1207-14 respectively). Reference in the debate of 4 September to the closed session of the debate in the early hours of the morning of 9 August gives some indication of its character, for example a member said 'The other night, when the galleries were cleared, the honorable gentleman at the head of the Government [James Francis] so far forgot himself as to imitate Baron von Mueller's broken English, in describing a conversation he had with him while the baron was a guest in his house' (p. 1213).
My dear Mr Francis,
I am sorry I cannot well get back to the Cabinet this Evng, the more so as Mackay
3
Angus Mackay.
who takes the same view as I do regarding Mueller's matter will also be absent. As a matter of policy it will undoubtedly be to the interest of the Govrnt to let the Dr have say one years undivided rule at the Botanical Gardens giving him at the same time distinctly to understand that the gardens must be made more attractive than they have hitherto been. There are a very large number of German Colonists here & I may add they are among our best settlers who will regard any injury sustained by him in the light of an almost national insult & I know that there are a very large number of members in the House who feel very strongly indeed on the subject — Mueller was prepared to resign at once had the vote being carried the other Evng as submitted on the Estimates.
I shd be glad if you could postpone dealing with the matter till the next meeting.
Faithfully yours
Robert Ramsay