Melbourne bot. Garden,
19/6/73.
Sir.
In reply to your communication, dated 14 June1 and received on the day following, I have the honor to inform you, that I was not aware of the necessity of replying immediately to the Assistant Commissioners letter of the 31. May,2 written on behalf of the Government, until I should know myself the day, when I could move into a new abode, for which I have sought ever since the beginning of this month, but I regarded it as selfunderstood, that I must give up my quarters at the end of this month. This I shall do, even if I have to locate my private effects inaccessibly in some store. May I ask, that two officers be appointed to take formal possession or delivery of the property of the bot. Garden in the beginning of next month.
I have the honor to be, Sir
your obed. servant
Ferd. von Mueller
The hon the Minister of the Lands Department.3
Letter not found.
C. Hodgkinson to M, 31 May 1873, asked 'at what time before [1 July] it will be convenient for you to give up possession of the quarters'.
On 23 June 1873, Casey minuted: 'The Secretary for Agriculture is to meet Baron Von Mueller, on my behalf, on 2nd July, at 9.00 am and to then accept delivery for me from him of the property of the Botanic Garden. So inf. Baron von Mueller, and pass to Mr Wallis to meet him at time stated.' The Secretary for Agriculture, A. Wallis, noted in due course that he had taken delivery of the property on 2 July.
Please cite as “FVM-73-06-19,” 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