To James McCulloch   23 April 1870

Melbourne botan Garden,

23 Apr. 70.

Sir

I have the honor to draw your attention to the circumstance, that in the revised estimate now submitted for your favorable consideration, no provision is made for the Inspector of forests, who by some anomalous arrangement was for several months employed not only for forest duties but also in the botanic Garden.

As since 1857 never the necessity for additional superintendence arose in the bot. Garden, and as I am now still more readily able to carry out the surveillance of the establishment alone, the facilities having by performed foundation work from year to year increased, I beg now to solicit, that intimation may at once be given to the Inspector of forests, that his duties at the botanic Garden have ceased, and that his instructions concerning forest affair would come from the Lands Department, and that he should place himself at once under the Orders of the honorable the President of the Board of Lands and Works.

It's needless to observe, that I am anxious to avoid a single days expense for an officer, whose services are not needed at the botanic Garden, and whose presense leads through a duality of authority to constant complications, loss of time and difficulties in my responsible Directorship.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your very obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller,

Director of the bot. Garden

The honorable Sir James M'Culloch, M.L.A., Chief Secretary.