Melbourne
18/5/79.
To the honorable Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, Bt,
Acting Chief Secretary.1
Sir
I have the honor to solicit, now while the estimates for the new finance-year are under the consideration of the Government again, that you and your honorable Colleagues will be pleased to give to the Report of the Committee of Dr L. Smith, Mr Bosisto and the late Mr King, MLA,2 your favorable consideration for the resuscitation of my Department in its proper scope. The report of the above named Gentlemen, who were appointed by the hon Graham Berry, to advise him respecting the means, required by me for the proper functions of Gov. Botanist, was submitted long ago, but I have not sought to obtain an insight into this document, being assured, that what the Committee recommended would be reasonable and just. I believe however, that I shall be in consonance with the general views of the Committee on my case, if I beg of you, to cede to me the buildings, now occupied as temporary almhouses or immigrants homes at the City bridge, it being doubtless the intention of the Government to remove early the paupers from the close vicinity of Government House, on sanitary considerations.3 I would further ask, in probable conformity of the Committee's recommendation, that all the ground in Gov. House reserve, not enclosed for the private use of His Excellency the Governor, be allotted to my control, from the boathouses up to the St Kilda Road and towards the Barracks and the vicinity of the Observatory. It needs not my explanation, that in a clime like ours a few acres would be utterly insufficient for my purposes, as a full collection of different trees from all parts of the globe, so far as hardy here, would occupy alone a very extensive area, not to speak of the numerous other kinds of plants, which as Gov. Botanist I should have in a living state under my daily observation. Indeed I may be allowed to remark, that in every other country the Gov. Botanist is provided with a botanic Garden; so it is with Sir Jos. Hooker at Kew & everywhere else. The administration of the new grounds, asked by me, need not involve a heavy annual expense, nor would my planting scheme be solely scientific but ornamental as well. In the ground asked for, almost every tree has been raised by me, so that I would return to a creation of my own, utterly neglected since; and by removing from me the undeserved and deeply saddening humiliation, which also impedes my work in most directions, my hopes of life by your kindness would become once more brightened.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obed. serv.
Ferd. von Mueller4
On Wednesday 4 June 1879 L. Smith wrote to B. O'Loghlen, Acting Chief Secretary: 'Dr Mueller having written to me stating that you have granted him an interview on friday but having omitted the hour will you please inform me the time you have appointed. I will then bring up with me as Chairman the copy of the Report.' (P79/5117, unit 1086, VPRS 3991/P, PROV).
On 7 June 1879 O'Loghlen minuted: 'Will the Commissioner of Public Works be good enough to direct some leading officer of his department to report on the buildings now occupied as the Immigrants Home on the Eastern side of the St Kilda Road with a view to their suitability for a Botanical Museum and the Government Botanists Residence'.
A week later, on 13 June, Charles Barrett, Chief Assistant Architect of the Public Works Office, reported:
I have the honor to report that this establishment consists chiefly of six substantial brick buildings in a fair state of repair fuller particulars of which are given on the other side
The Hospital could be converted into a residence for the Government Botanist at a cost of about £250.0.0. The conversion of the Dormitories, Mess Room &c into Botanical Museums including repairs to Fencing and drainage is estimated to cost an additional £225.0.0.
As I have not been furnished with particulars of the number of buildings it is proposed to occupy as a Museum, or of the nature and extent of the Fittings, Furniture &c required I am unable to estimate these latter but believe they would form a serious item in the cost of the work.
The letter includes a sketch of the buildings and a brief description of each, with dimensions. Barrett's report was forwarded to the Departments of the Chief Secretary and Public Works.
On 18 June 1879, the day after the Chief Secretary, G. Berry, resumed office upon returning from a visit to London, M wrote seeking an interview with him prior to the Estimates being finally settled; see M to W. Odgers, 18 June 1879.
L. Smith wrote to Berry on 12 July 1879: 'As Chairman of the Commission re Baron Mueller I am requested by my colleague Mr Bosisto & by Mr Dow to ask you to receive us as a Deputation to place the Baron's case before you, will you please name day & hour'. On 14 July W. Odgers, Under Secretary instructed: 'Ack & say that C.S. is fully acquainted with all the particulars of the case and doubts if any good purpose wd be served by the interview but if the Gentn [Gentlemen] as Members of Part [Parliament] particularly desire to see him Mr B. will be happy to receive them at noon on Thursday' [i.e. 17 July] (P79/6404, unit 1086, VPRS 3991/P, PROV).
In the event, no action was taken on M's proposal.
Please cite as “FVM-79-05-18,” 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 23 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/79-05-18