Melbourne Botanic Garden.
July 15th 1869
It affords me much pleasure to testify, that Mr G. Christian Hoffmann has had charge of the chemical and technological laboratory of my department, ever since the foundation of this branch of the service here in 1865, and that the various analyses and experiments, which I desired to be carried out, and which have given many important results, were conducted by this gentleman with great skill, much circumspection and scrupulous accuracy.
The system of order and neatness, which was apparent in all his work, has always elicited my praise, and his command of several languages made it possible for him to trace out many references in the extensive chemical and technological literature of several nations, not other wise equally accessible to others.
With gratification I also bear testimony to this gentlemans highly honorable character and principles, his modesty and quiet and unostentatious application to his work in which indeed, it would seem, the whole delight of his life consists.
While anxious to promote the welfare and prosperity of Mr Hoffmann, and while most willing to aid him in gaining a higher position, I should at all times regret to loose his services.
Signed. Ferd. von Mueller C.M.G., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S.
Government Botanist of Victoria and Director of the Botanic Gardens of Melbourne.
Please cite as “FVM-69-07-15,” 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 19 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/69-07-15