To Thomas Bride   29 March 1883

Melbourne

29. March 83.

T. F. Bride Esq. L.L.D. &c

Principal Librarian of the public Library,

Melbourne.

Allow me, dear Dr Bride, to submit to you herewith a letter, received to day by the French mail, by which letter the Publishing Establishment of Th. Fischer in Cassel offers according to byefollowing Index¹ to supply additions to the series of works, acquired by the trustees of the public Library through purchase from the Cassel establishment after the International Exhibition of Melbourne.² I have no doubt, that — if a somewhat extensive order was given — a considerable reduction in the prices would be made.

This is however the whole correspondence I have on this subject, beyond an incidental expression in one of Mr Fischer's letters to me, that he could furnish considerable addenda to the important works, which the public Library already secured from his issues.³

I avail myself of this opportunity of thanking you for your Kindness of allowing me on several recent occasions the loan of Books for my studies for some days from your grand establishment. Let me add, that I could offer for your acceptance still 25 or 50 copies of the index to L. sp. pl. first edition,⁴ if you have any use for this little publication while interchanges between your and other institutions are going on. The first part of the Census of Australian plants⁵ has also recently appeared, so that doubtless the Victorian Government will place the usual 25 copies at your disposal, and so it will be likely in the Mines Department, where the second decade of the Veg. fossils⁶ is just got ready

Very regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.