To Bryan O'Loghlen   21 January 1879

Melbourne 21/1/79.

To the honorable Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, Bt,

M.P., Chief Secretary of Victoria &c

Sir

I have the honor to seek your permission for the reissue of my work on "select plants"¹ in an extensively supplemented form by the Government of India, as intended according to the byefollowing letter from the Undersecretary of India.² This proposition arose under the following circumstances. In a correspondence with the hon. Sir Andrew Clarke, whose friendship I have enjoyed during the last quarter of a century the question arose, whether the chances for renewed famines might be reduced by augmenting and diversifying the cultural resources of India; and on this occasion I suggested, that the "select plants" with additional notes, which I had gradually collected, might be reproduced in an Indian edition by the viceregal Government for the benefit of Upper India. Sir Andrew and his honorable colleagues seem to have gladly approved of my suggestion, and as the matter has now assumed an official form, I deem it my duty to seek your final ratification of this proposition. It is unnecessary to add, that I have no financial interest whatever in the reproduction of my work, though I feel greatly pleased, that one of the greatest Governments of her Majestys realms is anxious to avail itself of scientific information emanating from an Officer of the Victorian service. As the republication of this work will reflect credit on Victoria and in no way interfere with us here, I humbly trust, that this proposal will meet with your kind approbation, which of course would be fully acknowledged in the preface to the work.³

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller.