146 Junction Road
London N
My dear Sir/
According to the terms of agreement between the Departments of State my official connection with the Herbarium at Kew ceases at the expiration of the present year, and I am not aware of any intention to extend it2
Under these circumstances I shall be prepared to enter upon any other eligible arrangement which will produce some little remuneration, and occupy my time. It has been proposed to me more than once to enter upon the preparation of a volume on the fungi of Australia, but I have felt no desire to enter upon such a project at my own expence. If the Australian colonies will combine for this purpose it can be carried out
The production of 500 copies of the book in 1 vol. of upwards of 500 pages and 48 plates, illustrating the Genera and subgenera would cost about £420. If this sum were to be advanced for the purpose, and all the copies sold at 25/- or 30/ each I think the whole amount would return to the Exchequer, but I have not the money to spare to invest £400 in such a venture at a time when I shall be wholly without offical employment and only a small pension to depend on
Under these circumstances I have submitted my scheme, with estimates, and should be glad if you would take steps to ascertain the feeling of the governments of the several colonies and as early as possible communicate to me the result3
I am my dear Sir
yours most obliged
M Cooke
1st Sept. 18894
Please cite as “FVM-89-09-01,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/89-09-01