Melbourne,
22 Dec. 1888.
To the Hon. Alfr. Deakin, M.L.A.,
Chief Secretary.
Sir
I have the honor to bring under your kind consideration an idea of mine, that it would be in an acceptable souvenir to the Doctors, who in the second week of January will attend the Medical Congress,1 if each of them was here presented with a copy of the "Select plants"2 on behalf of the Government. This small volume is quite inexpensive particularly as it would need only to be stitched, not bound; 2000 copies have recently been issued (seventh edition), so that the 450 (about) members of the medical profession, which will assemble, could readily be provided; each copy cost the Government only between two and three shillings. From the last number of the Australian medical Journal I perceive, that the honorable the Premier expressed his desire to promote the interest of this great and remarkable gathering of medical men in our metropolis.
Should the Government kindly grant this favor, I would like, that the opportunity at the Gov. Printing Office or at the University3 be afforded me, to write autographically into each copy, that it was presented on behalf of the Government. This book has even professional interest to medical Gentlemen; besides it would be useful to them for general reference, and by thus becoming widely distributed among leading people the sale of the work also would be promoted.4 As each Doctor, in coming here, must make a considerable sacrifice in monetary means, this small gift might be all the more appropriate. If my own wordly means admitted of it, I would gladly present the work as a private donation; but I may be allowed to remark, that annually I spend already privately a large sum in purchasing works, of which I am the author, at the Gov. Printing Office, for maintaining my scientific relations, thus in 1886 £54.8.6d, in 1887 £45.13.2d, in 1888 £54.14.9d. This I merely mention, to show, that I was not only in this direction, but indeed also in many others willing to come forward to promote the interest of the Department also out of inofficial means.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
your obed. serv.
Ferd. von Mueller
Intercolonial Medical Congress of Australasia, Melbourne, January 1889.
B88.12.01.
The Congress was being held at the University of Melbourne.
See also M to T. Wilson, 12 December 1888; M to T. Wilson, 22 December 1888 (in this edition as 88-12-22a); and W. Sewell to M, 31 December 1888 (in this edition as 88-12-31a).
Please cite as “FVM-88-12-22,” 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