Botanic Museum
Melbourne,
1st December 1875
Sir,
I have the honor to solicit that you will be pleased to sanction the transfer of the sum of £100.- under the item "Publication of Works on Australian Plants" to the vote for "Collecting Botanic Specimens Clerical Assistance etc".1
The sum of £300.- voted for the latter purpose is barely sufficient to pay the scanty salary of my two assistants, and I beg to transmit herewith accounts for incidental expenses and for stationery etc., the latter already supplied during last financial year, which could not be passed then for want of funds, and which I now propose to pay out of the […]2 transfer, as authorized by your predecessor.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your very obedient servant,
Ferd. von Mueller
The honorable the Chief Secretary3
George Bentham had told M earlier that year that he had not yet commenced work on the final volume of Flora australiensis, so M knew that the Victorian Government's subvention would not be needed that year, see G. Bentham to M, 4 May 1875, and G. Bentham to M, 23 August 1875.
illegible word.
On 29 April 1875 W. Odgers, Under Secretary, had informed M: 'The Government Botanist is informed these requisitions have been approved on the distinct understanding that such arrangements be made in regard to payment as will ensure the accounts being charged against the votes for 1875.6'.
There are minutes by unidentified authors on the file: 'The Baron sent in Mr Luehmann who says no hurry — wait until votes shall have been taken', and 'I suppose this is disposed of by K3574'.
Please cite as “FVM-75-12-01,” 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