From Ebenezer Thomas¹    November 1886

The Secretary to the Premier, E. Thomas, in an undated minute wrote: 'I think the Baron is entitled to see the origl lr & I have therefore minuted it accdly'.

This letter, dated 5 October 1886, was sent to the Premier, D. Gillies, by J. Service, from London: 'I have the honor to acknowledge receipt per Agent-General of the bound copy of Baron Von Mueller's work on "Myoporinous Plants", as advised in your letter to me of 20th August. | I beg that you will accept my thanks for the courtesy thus shewn to me, and I shall feel obliged if you will also convey to the Baron my acknowledgement of his kind remembrance in suggesting the donation, as well as of the honor he has done me in dedicating to me such a valuable and interesting work'.

The file containing this letter was 'Referred to the Under Secretary for the information of the Government Botanist' on 18 November and forwarded from there to M on 22 November 1886.

On 24 November M returned the file with the note: 'I am extremely glad, that the honorable James Service, to whom the colony through a long series of years ownes [ sic ] so much for its advancement, was gratified by the mark of scientific homage paid through this work of a Victorian Gov. Department'.

After the file was returned to the Premier's Office via the Chief Secretary's Department, W. Sewell, Acting Secretary to the Premier, minuted for the Secretary, E. Thomas, on 27 November: 'No commn to Mr Service required I think? (See Sir F. Von Mueller's of 24th)'.

See also M to A. Deakin, 18 May 1886.