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From Charles French to Ferdinand von Mueller   8 Feb 1884

Botanic Gardens 8/2/84.

Sir.

Having learned the decease of your second Assistant, Mr Groener,1 I take the liberty of offering my services for the vacancy thus caused in your department.

As I have been employed under you during your directorship of the botanic Garden for a number of years and as you are also otherwise sufficiently acquainted with my abilities I need not now refer to this subject specially, however if necessary I could supply testimonials also from other sources.

It is is2 nearly 20 years since I entered the service of the Government and at the present time I am in charge of the labelling Dpt in the Botanic Garden, my income at present is £150 per Annum and I occupy a 6 roomed cottage in the Gardens, free of rent, so that I should not be a gainer in a pecuniary respect, by this transfer, but the duties devolving upon me in your department, would be more in accord with my inclinations and I sincerely believe that I should give thorough satisfaction.

I now solicit therefore that you will kindly submit this my application to the Honorable the Chief Secretary for his favourable consideration.

I have the honor to be

Your obedient Servant

Charles French.3

Sir F. Von Mueller, K.C.M.G. &c

Government Botanist.

1

Groener died on 6 February; see M to G. Berry, 7 February 1884.

2

is repeated.

3

Charles French Snr. M forwarded the application, which was duly approved; see M to G. Berry, 9 February 1884 (in this edition as 84-02-09a), and T. Wilson to M, 14 March 1884.

Please cite as “FVM-84-02-08a,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/84-02-08a