Document information

Physical location:

F97/346, unit 972, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. M96.12.02

Preferred Citation:

William Potter et al. to George Turner, 1896-12-02 [M96.12.02]. 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/M96-12-02-final.odt>, accessed July 29, 2026

1
MS black-edged. The file includes copies of a printed circular that embodies the text of this letter, but without the schedule attached to the original, headed as follows:
In the Estate of the late Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, K.C.M.G.
government botanist of victoria
Dear Sir, —
The Executors of the late Baron von Mueller, Government Botanist, have asked me to forward for your perusal the following copy of their letter to the Hon. the Premier, dated December 2nd, and also to solicit the honour of your influence with the Government in support of the requests therein contained.
Yours faithfully
W. POTTER.
December 8th, 1896.
Arnold Street, South Yarra,
December 2nd 1896
The Hon. Geo. Turner, M.P.,
Premier of Victoria.
Sir, —
Looking at the preeminently utilitarian character and economic value of the services which the late Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, Government Botanist, rendered to the colony throughout a long series of years, his zeal as a public servant, the impoverishment of his estate produced by large outlays to keep up the efficiency of his botanic work, and the fact that the brain paralysis which caused his death was largely brought about by overwork and the severe mental strain to which he had been put of recent years in maintaining a position in the Department, his Executors feel themselves fully justified in submitting the following request for your favourable consideration: —
1. — That in recognition of the distinguished public services rendered to the State the late Government Botanist, the sum of £600 be placed upon the Supplementary estimates for the purpose of paying off his liabilities, funeral and testamentary expenses.
2
One of the filed copies of the printed circular has an annotation by Potter beside this paragraph: 'A Gratuity equal to nine months salary'.
(See schedule attached)
2. — That in addition to the above a sufficient sum of money be placed upon the estimates for the purpose of complying with a wish expressed in the late Baron's will to the effect that the Government should be informed of the justness of making some monetary allowance to his heirs for the botanic collections which he accumulated by private means from 1840 to the present date and which became united with those portions of the museum plants acquired by Government expense, as also for the extensive outlays that in the eagerness of advancing the interest, utility and fame of his department he spent out of his private means for offical purposes since 1853 in defraying all personal travelling expenses himself, in incurring much private expenditure for foreign interchanges, agencies, freights, office light, fuel, frequent purchases of seeds, and for having also provided an office-keeper since 1857 continually out of his private means.
3
The same copy of the printed circular has the following annotation by Potter beside this paragraph: 'The late Baron spent about £15,000 out of his private funds upon his Department and the Herbarium'.
In support of this application we would point out —
(1) That at the time (1884) the deceased phytologist executed the will his real estate was ample for the purposes expressed therein, but that the exigencies of his Department during the last twelve years (and more especially since the commencement of retrenchment) pressed so heavily upon his mind as to lead him to sell or raise money upon the whole of his real property and also to incur such liabilities in connection with the carrying on of the department as to render it impossible, without the grant solicited, for the Executors to fully carry out his will.
(2) The relatives of the deceased are a widowed sister, the mother of a large family, and a niece the daughter of a deceased sister, all of whom, we believe, received consideration from the Baron while he lived, and for whom we are enjoined to crave the favour of the Government of the Colony he served so long and so faithfully.
We are
Sir
Your obedient Servants
W. Potter
｝
Alexander Buttner
Executors.
Hermann Büttner
Schedule of Debts owing by the late Government Botanist together with the Funeral and Testamentary Expenses.
4
Schedule includes the liabilities listed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities submitted to the Supreme Court on 12 November 1896 (in this edition as M96-11-12), plus some additional items.
To
the Royal Bank, Melbourne (secured on house)
416.
0.
3
"
Law Somner & Co " (seeds)
7.
10.
11
"
Miller & Annear, Toorak (work done)
1.
16.
6
"
Troedel & Co, Melbourne (printing)
2.
0.
0
"
Nurse and Attendant during illness
7.
14.
0
"
Four Junior Assistants in Department
5.
10.
0
"
Miscellaneous accounts as paid by Mr Luehmann
6.
16.
0
"
Rocke, Tompsitt & co (Bisulphate carbon)
1.
8.
0
"
Government Printer (books)
13.
6.
3
"
His London Bookseller & Forwarding Agents
10.
0.
0
"
Metropolitan Gas Company
4.
10.
0
"
Dr Maudsley (Consultations)
4.
4.
0
"
Renfrew & Co, Goods
1.
5.
0
"
Metropolitan Water Supply
-
15.
0
"
City of Melbourne Rates
1.
15.
0
"
Alfred A. Sleight (Funeral expenses)
35.
5.
6
"
Brahe & Gair, Solicitors (costs of Administration)
25.
17.
6
"
Lamb Smith & Co (official valuation)
5
MS annotation: 'see addl below' which presumably refers to notes on the next sheet:
Revd Mr Potter brought in addl a/cs as follows
Robt Reid Esqre per Gillott Baker & Moor for money advanced July 1891 £66.4.0
D. Chambers Wood merchant Windsor wood supplied £1.3.8.
There is another note on this sheet: 'Salary £800 9 months pay £600 '.
On 18 January 1897, C. Topp, Under Secretary, minuted: 'If Baron Von Mueller had resigned his office before his death, his Executors would have been entitled to receive nine months pay, and this payment would have been paid on an Order in Council and would not have appeared on the Annual Estimates. As Baron Von Mueller did not resign, his Executors are not entitled to any payment and any gratuity will have to appear on the Estimates and be voted by Parliament. Where a public servant dies and leaves a widow or children or a near relative such as a mother who has or have been dependent upon him it is the practice to place nine months pay on the Estimates, so that said relatives may not suffer through the omission or inability of the officer to write out his resignation on his death bed. See Appropriation Act 1896.7 page 101 Division 56 Items 5 & 6. In this case the money is granted directly to the person to be benefited (unless a minor) and does not go into the deceased's estate.' Further annotations: Read return' and 'Debate next Cabt'.
10.
10.
0