Ferdinand von Mueller

17th March [189]3

Sir

I have the honor to direct your attention to a letter in this morning's Courier signed "Henry Tryon",

1

See H. Tryon to the Editor, Brisbane courier, 16 March 1893 (in this edition as M93-03-16).

in which my professional abilities are called in question; as well as my truthfulness. For in a circular which I had issued to fellow botanists

2

In this edition as 93-03-00b.

(a copy of which I gave to Mr Tryon when he called in at my office yesterday) I stated that I had been requested by a large number of the botanical public to undertake a certain work.

Had the letter been written by one outside the Service, I should have treated it with silent contempt, but for one civil servant to write contemptuously of an officer of another department, in the public press, surely is not allowable; and I therefore bring the matter before you with the request that you will draw the Minister's attention to the subject, which is a serious one and calculated to interfere with the progress of the important work intrusted to my hands.

The Under Secretary for Agriculture