From John Moore   15 February 1858

By His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, Knight Commander of the most Honorable Order of the Bath Captain General and Governor-in-cheif of the Colony of Victoria and Vice Admiral of the Same To the Honorable Andrew Clarke Captain Royal Engineers Frederick McCoy Fellow of the Geological Society of London and Professor of natural Science in the University of Melbourne Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn Government Geologist Ferdinand Frederick Mueller Government Botanist Thomas Skilling Director of Model Farm and Robert Brough Smyth Fellow of the Geological Society of London Esquires all of Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria Greeting Whereas it has been deemed expedient by His Excellency the Governor by and with the advice of the Executive Council¹ of the said Colony that a commission should forthwith issue constituting gentlemen of Scientific attainments to be a Board of Science to advise the Governor on all matters wherein Special Scientific or Technical Knowledge is requisite and in certain cases where applications for grants or expenditure of public moneys for Scientific purposes are made Now Know ye that I the Governor with the advice afore said reposing great trust and confidence in your scientific knowledge and ability have authorised and appointed and by these presents do authorise and appoint you Andrew Clarke Frederick McCoy Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn Ferdinand Frederick Mueller Thomas Skilling and Robert Brough Smyth to constitute and be the members of The Board of Science aforesaid for the purposes recited in this commission when such purposes do not originate in existing Scientific departments or when public grants or expenditure shall have been made for special Scientific purposes You shall also when deemed necessary appoint and form yourselves into Committees for the determination of questions requiring special knowledge of a Technical or practical kind and in every case when so acting you shall be responsible for the opinions given and recommendations made And for the better effecting the objects of this commission I do give and Grant you power and authority to call for such documents and examine witnesses and to collate evidence when required for the elucidation of questions referred to you by the Government And when requested you shall make recommendations of fit and proper persons for scientific appointments And this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and you the Said members may from time to time and at any place or places proceed in the execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournments And in the event of a Cabinet Minister not occupying the position of President of the Said Board then you the Members shall act as chairman at each meeting in rotation And Lastly that you do from time to time report to me in writing under the hand and seal of the Chairman pro tem. an account of all matters and things which have engaged you as such Board whether referred to you by the Government for your opinion or by you deemed to be of Public Service Given under my hand and the Seal of the Colony at Melbourne this fifteenth day of February in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty eight and in the twenty first year of Her Majesty's Reign

By His Excellencys Command

(Signed) Henry Barkly

(Signed) J. Moore.

Entered on Record by me in Register of Patents Book 9 page 256 of this fifteenth day of February One thousand eight hundred and fifty eight.

(Signed) J. Moore.