Melbourne, 70. Collin street East,
10. June 1855
Sir
I have the honor to inform you, that I received from Mr Gregory, as head of the Exploring-party destined for Northern Australia, a communication,2 in which he offers to me the appointment of Botanist for the expedition with a salary of 200£ per year, should it please his Excellency to discharge me from my present duties for the requisite time.
Fully aware of the difficulties and dangers to be encountered in a barren tropical country and moreover amidst very numerous and hostile natives, the acceptance of such an appointment, honorable and flattering as it is, deserves the deepest consideration, — and this so much more, as I am likewise aware of the very slender means at Mr Gregory's command, to secure as well the safety of his party as success to his undertaking.
Desirous however to develope the Australian Botany to the utmost of my power, I beg to solicit humbly from his Excellency the Governor leave of absence til the end of next year, praying at the same time to have the honor of remaining nominally attached in my present position but without salary to the Victorian Government, and to be permitted, to resume my position and to finish my botanical work under the auspices of the Victorian Government after my return.
I beg further to solicit his Excellency's permission, should I, by viewing personally Mr Gregory's arrangements, deem these of not more promising of success and security as those of Mr Kennedy or Dr Leichhardt, to continue then, declining the appointment, without aid from the Victorian Government my researches in the interior of New South Wales for the current and following year, humbly directing his Excellency's attention to the importance of my becoming acquainted with the Australian plants on the places of their discovery, promoting thus also, by enlightening myself on many at present dubious points, the Flora of this colony.
I beg leave to state finally, that to join Mr Gregory, I shall be obliged to proceed to Sydney either at the end of this or the beginning of the following month.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient and humble servant
Ferd. Mueller,
Gov. Botanist.
The honorable the Colonial Secretary.3
On 31 May 1855 the Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney wrote to W. Haines: 'It being considered that the services of Dr Mueller, who is understood to be employed as a Botanist by the Victoria Government, would be most useful in the Northern Exploring Expedition; I have the honor to request that you will be so good as to bring the matter under the notice of the Governor of Victoria, and to state to His Excellency, that His Excellency Governor General Sir W. T. Denison trusts that if Dr Mueller can be spared he will be allowed to accompany the Expedition alluded to' (O55/7217, unit 262, VPRS 1189, PROV). Governor Hotham commented, n.d.: 'I have no objection to Dr Mueller joining the Expedition as his expenses are paid from the funds provided for the purpose from the time of his arrival at Sidney.' He then added, 7 June 1855: 'Before instructing Dr M on the prospect I should wish to be informed whether the payment suggested will be made'.
Hotham then decreed, n.d.: 'AG [Auditor General] to be informed that on the 1st of July /55 the Salary of Dr Mueller & his staff cease'. He added, 15 June 1855: 'Dr Mueller I understand solicits leave of absence for one year & a half, during which time he is to receive no Salary but after his leave expires he desires to resume his duties under the Victorian Govt — I had written to Sir Wm Denison to enquire by whom he was to be paid should he join the exploring Expedition - I have had no answer Dr Mueller has my permission to [take] the leave of absence he requires & at the end of the time he has a clear right to the consideration of this govt because Mr Latrobe applied for his services'.
See also J. Moore to M, 13 June 1855 and 18 June 1855.
Please cite as “FVM-55-06-10a,” 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 20 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/55-06-10a