Melbourne,
10/5/75.
The honorable R. Ramsay &c &c
Sir
I have the honor to inform you, that on Saturday, the 15th inst, I have to deliver a lecture on industrial plants before the Farmers Club at Ballarat, and that it is my intention, if it meets with your approbation, to proceed thence to some other places in the western districts,1 which I wish particularly to examine in reference to the intended school-work on Victorian plants. May I ask, that a rail-way pass be provided me,2 as I have no vote to charge the expense to, being indeed since February obliged to pay all current daily expenses of the Department, except Assistants salary, out of my private means.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant
Ferd. von. Mueller
Vic.
MS annotations: by Ramsay on 12 May 1875, 'I will be glad if the practice permits it', and, in an unknown hand: 'Urgent [Railways] 13/5'. The Railways responded:
'Immediate
Under the special circumstances stated the Commissioner authorises the issue a pass in this instance, which I enclose; but I am to add that for the future the travelling expenses of the Govt Botanist must be provided for, & paid to this Department as in the the case of other Govt Officers
John Steavenson
Secy
13.5.75.
The Under Secretary
&c &c &c
Minutes on the file show that the pass was forwarded to M by the Under Secretary, W. Odgers, on 14 May 1875.
Please cite as “FVM-75-05-10,” 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