To James McCulloch   4 April 1867

Melbourne botan. Gardens

4/4/67¹

Sir

Observing that this day some information is required respecting the distribution and cost of the Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae I have the honor, in anticipation of an official request to furnish the return as far as it concerns this Office.

For this work, published in 500 copies, the plates are furnished by my department, while the letterpress is the work of the Government Printing Office. For the five volumes hitherto issued 44 Plates are drawn under my direction, the work of the draftsman and Lithographer involving an expenditure of five pounds Sterlg. for each plate and the lithographic printing of 500 copies three pounds Sterlg, in total therefore the expenditure of the 44 plates for the 500 copies of each of the 5 volumes (2500 volumes) of the work has been £352.0.0. Besides 25 Proof copies are drawn off for immediate distribution to the principal contributors of plants towards the work. Whenever a volume was completed eighty copies were granted for distribution to this establishment for interchanges with other scientific institutions or to gentlemen, who have rendered important services to the botanical department. The list has undergone slight modifications every two years, but the one here submitted is that one on which the distribution is based, though deaths etc. will alter it from time to time. The binding of the volumes is also effected by the Government Printing Department, which effects moreover the sale. I may mention that any copies I require for private use I invariably purchase from my private means, about £60 having hitherto been spent in the purchase of my works, issued here, by myself. Mr Baillière has for some years effected the sale in Europe. The results of the sale pass to the treasury and the monetary transactions are entirely carried out by the Governm. Printing Office, and thus my Department derives from them no return.

It is also to be born in mind, that the Fragmenta and other works of mine have been largely presented as donations, whenever occasion arose either of distinguishing visitors coming to Victoria or in reciprocation for donations to the Public Library, or as an acknowledgement of services rendered to the Colony. Such donations are made under the authority of a Minister of the Crown. From the unbound copies fascicles are distributed distributed² at my direction for plants given by donors to my Museum according to circumstances, it being now generally known that collecting thus is stimulated by these literary records. The Museum the sole property of the State is, as a phytologic one, maintaining one of the highest ranks on the globe, about 300,000 prepared plants being continued in it.

I have the honor to be

Sir

your most obedient servant³

The honorable the Chief Secretary⁴

List

referred to within.

Return of fragment. Phytog. Austral.

distributed

Colonial Office London

Sir Henry Barkly

Sir Rich. Macdonell

Sir W. Denison

C. J. La Trobe Esqr.

Dr Hance, Wampoa (contributor)

Prof. Lindley (since dead)

W. Woolls, Esqr., Paramatta (contribut.)

Dr. W. Sonder Hamburg.

A.Thozet, Rockhampton, (contribut.)

Sir Charl. Nicholson.

A. Oldfield, Esqr (contributor)

Miss Louisa Atkinson (conribut.)

Jul. Haast, Esqr (contributor)

F. Krichauff (contributor)

Petermanns Geograph Institute, Gotha

German Association Melbourne

Smithsonian Institute

Cambridge Philosophical Society

Philosophical Society Sydney.

Medical Society, Victoria.

Pharmaceutical Society, Victoria.

Imperial Academy, Jena

Royal Academy, Stockholm.

Physical Society, Erlangen

Academy of Sciences Paris

Royal Irish Academy.

Prof. Forchhammer (since dead)

Bibliotheque du Louvre.

Academy of Sciences, Berlin

Philosophical Society Adelaide.