Melbourne,
16 May 1889.
The honorable Alfred Deakin, M.L.A.,
Chief Secretary
Sir
I have the honor to solicit your permission, that a new edition of the "Census of Australian plants" be issued, the supply being completely exhausted. This work appeared in 1882, and since four supplements have been issued. It would therefore be desirable anyhow, to publish the whole in a connected form together with the latest additions. The printing was effected by Mess. M'Carron Bird & Coy in 1882, and I would beg to recommend, that to this firm again be entrusted the task of printing this book,1 the Gov. Printing Office being always so overwhelmed with work, that at best the reissue could there be effected only after a long time, — particularly as I also am anxious, that the printing of the "fragmenta" be resumed in Mr Brains establishment, so that at least the 12th vol. became completed. I should like further to be proceeded with other works early at the Gov. Printing Office, namely the "Atlas of the Salsolaceae" for which many plates are ready, also the "Papuan plants." Through your liberality the funds are available in the Gov Botanists Department for the reissue of the "Census of Australian plants." I would propose, that this be done in a somewhat extended form Vide appended page2 which would increase the former price of printing from £11/15/6d the sheet (including corrections) to £12/8/6d (including corrections), for one thousand impressions — the present estimate of Mess. McCarron, Bird & Coy, — the price of printing-labor having also increased here by 20 pr. c. since 1882. Though the direct payment for printing at the Gov. Establishment would likely be somewhat less, it must be considered. that indirect other costs arise to the Govern. Printing Office, met in a general way there. I am particularly eager, that the printing of the various new works of mine under the auspices of the Government should speedily proceed, so that during the probably but short period, which divine providence may yet destine for my worldly career, as much of my discoveries may be brought out, as could yet be done, while I still am among the living.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller,
Gov. Botanist.
If approved of, the payment to Mess. McCarron, Bird & Coy would be rendered sheet by sheet.
See McCarron, Bird and Co. to M, 29 April 1889.
Vide appended page is a marginal note by M with its intended position indicated by an asterisk. The sample page is included in the file.
The second edition was presented in landscape format giving a clearer layout, whereas the first edition used portrait format with the implicit columnar presentation distorted, making it difficult to identify some of the species distribution data.
Please cite as “FVM-89-05-16a,” 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