Melbourne Collin stree[t]1
N.70. East.
19. Sept. 1853.
Sir
The rapid progress of the spring vegetation induces me, to solicit your Excellency's permission, to prepare for a new botanical exploration of the country, if your Excellency should be pleased, to direct me into those regions, which I suggested as the most desirable for my pursuits. — The requirements for this journey would be, that I engage an attendent,2 that I select three horses, with saddles pack-saddles &c.
All other expenses during the journey I shall be enabled to defray out of my salary.
The list of the indigenous plants, which accompanies my last report3 will be perfected before my departure.
I have the honor to be your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant.
Ferd. Mueller.
His Excellency Governor Latrobe4
On 26 September 1853 La Trobe instructed: 'Dr. Muller ought to be empowered to make every preparation for his spring voyage', and then added: 'Dr. Muller is to have all possible encourgt to proceed in his examination of the Flora of the Colony consistent with the provision made — I think he might visit the Grampian range & country to the northward in the course of the Spring, but I leave him to choose his ground'.
The Assistant Colonial Secretary, L. Gilles, referred La Trobe's instructions to the Auditor General, H. Childers, on 27 September: 'who is requested to state whether the provision is adequate for Dr: Müller's proposed equipment'. The Auditor General's Department replied on 15 October: 'About £100 may be considered available'.
Gilles wrote to the Auditor General again on 27 October giving his approval for £100 to be included in the estimates for M's outfit (No. 53/1255, unit 1, VPRS 3208, PROV).
See also L. Gilles to M, 27 October 1853.
Please cite as “FVM-53-09-19,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 18 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/53-09-19