From Ferdinand von Mueller to John MacPherson   22 Oct 1875

Melbourne,

22/10/75.

The honorable

John Macpherson,

Chief Secretary.

Sir,

Being aware, that it is the intention of the Government to reduce the estimates,¹ I have the honor to submit, that a large saving might be effected, if the administration of the bot. Garden was again combined with my office of Gov. Botanist. The sum on the estimates of the current finance-year for the bot. Garden is by several thousand £ larger than that available to me during the latter years of my Directorship, while even with the enormous sums voted during the two years, since I ceded from the garden, no scientific workings maintained nor supplies were furnished for the country districts. The return of the Garden with its staff, buildings, votes and the very plants brought by me into the colony would moreover enable me to resume the labours of the institution formed by me in their entirety, while now only a small fragment of my Department can be maintained, and this mainly out of a modest salary. If you and your honorable colleagues see fit to restore me to the dignified position, which I held for so many years to the advantage and honor of the colony, then I would suggest, that the botanic garden should be restored to your branch of Ministerial functions, and that the Curatorship may be transferred to the Parks and reserves of the Lands Department, for which a sum of many thousand £ is specially provided on this years estimates. I can assure you, Sir, that if my humble solicitation should be approved of, I would leave nothing within my power undone to satisfy the requirements both of the Citizens and the Country districts, while again to my work facilities would be afforded, so as to resume a honorable position in progressive science.

I have the honor to be, Sir, you obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller, C.M.G.