Melbourne
19 March 1885.
The honorable Graham Berry, M.L.A.,
Chief Secretary.
Sir.
I have the honor, to seek your permission, that through my Department but on behalf of the Government two comparatively small Todea-ferns and a few ferntrees be supplied to the Imperial Austrian Ship "Saida", just arrived, as this affords an excellent opportunity of making, free of freight, a return-sending for a splendid collection of 800 Austrian plants, received from the botanic Museum of Vienna last year I would beg further to recommend, for your favorable consideration, that a copy (if possible bound) of the "Eucalyptography" be presented to Captain Fayenz, that work being of particular interest to Commanders of any Navy for information on hardwoods for ship-building. The Saida leaves Port Phillip at the end of this month.1
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller2
The file includes an undated note from M to Thomas Wilson: 'The expense, dear Mr Wilson, for getting two Todeas (not large) and a few fernstems including the packing in Cases, will not be large, and can be borne by the vote of my establishment, should the hon Graham Berry approve of it. | Regardfully your | Ferd. von Mueller.'
MS annotation by G. Berry, 20 March 1885: 'Approved'. The Under Secretary, T. Wilson, forwarded M's letter to the Premier, J. Service, on 20 March 1885. Service replied on 21 March giving his approval of the suggested presentation and informing the Chief Secretary that the Public Librarian would be requested to supply a bound copy of Eucalyptographia. M was urgently shown the Premier's decision on 23 March and on the same day responded: 'Returned with best thanks'. See also T. Wilson to M, 23 March 1885, and M to G. Berry, 31 March 1885.
First registered as D85/3069 in the Chief Secretary's Department, then referred to the Premier.
Please cite as “FVM-85-03-19,” 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