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A84/8354, unit 59, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. M84.09.12Preferred Citation:
Stanley Dobson to James Service, 1884-09-12 [M84.09.12]. 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/M84-09-12-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
MS annotation by unknown: 'Is pubn For S. Schools Public at large 16.9.84'.
12 Septr 84
My dear Mr Service
You may remember that some months ago I talked to you and Sargood in the railway van
about the advantages to be derived from the publication of a Key to the Botany of
this Colony. I have not been idle since that time and have at last persuaded Baron
v. Müller to undertake its compilation.
He has money enough in his present vote for the purpose but I understand that he
will have to get your permission to set about the work. As I know something about
Botany and as I feel the great want of such a work in every walk I take I hope I may
without much trouble induce you to approve of the proposition. I have had personal
experience of the very great impulse that was given to the study of Botany by the
publication of a similar work in Tasmania by the late Revd W. Spicer
and I feel so confident as to the results of our own Key when published that I beg
to express the anxious hope that you will give your sanction.
2
See M to G. Berry, 11 September 1884 (in this edition as 84-09-11a).
3
Spicer (1878).
4
See also, in the same file, S. Dobson to G. Berry, 13 September 1884.
Yrs very faithfully
Stanley Dobson
The Hon Jas Service