Melbourne, 22nd August 1889
Sir
In reply to the enquiry by the Secretary to the Public Service Board1 regarding any alteration in the duties, performed by Mr. French,2 I have the honor to inform you that, although the services rendered are still in the same direction as formerly, they are of a higher grade and are performed more expeditiously on account of increased experience. In my opinion the increment enjoyed by him of £6 per annum, which moreover will soon come to an end, is disproportinate to the enhanced value of his services.3
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
Ferd von Mueller
Govt. Botanist
T. R. Wilson Esq
Under Secretary
See M to A. Deakin, 5 August 1889, and notes thereto.
Charles French Snr.
On 26 August 1889, Wilson forwarded M's letter to the Public Service Board, whose secretary minuted on 29 August that ’the Board sees no reason for an alteration in the status of the office'. The Secretary of the Board, H. Gomm, returned the file to Wilson, directing his attention to their minute. Wilson sent the file to M on 2 September for information, and he returned it on 5 September 'with acknowledgment of the information'.
MS written by Georg Luehmann and signed by M.
Please cite as “FVM-89-08-22,” 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