South-Yarra,
Newyears day 1892.
The honorable Allan Maclean, M.L.A.,
Chief Secretary.
Sir
Having learnt with the greatest sadness, that it is the intention of the Government through retrenchments to abolish the Governm. Botanist's Establishment, I beg to solicit as a last concession to me, that I may be allowed, to exercise an honorary Custodianship under yourself directly2 the trustees of the public Library and Museums over the collections, formed since my boyhood, and on which and the scientific intercourse connected therewith I have spent almost all I had of worldly means through life! As this would be merely a departmental arrangement, it would need no official appointment, and I could thus continue the researches, pertaining to these collections, as freely as before, during what little time, divine providence may yet destine to my worldly career! I will undertake to make such arrangements, if this favor is granted me, for the safety of the herbarium and other collections, as will not involve the Government in any special expence and yet will provide perfect access to this scientific material, with which my very existence all along was wrapped up. I may be allowed to point out, that Sir Fred. McCoy holds the custodianship of the National Museum by arrangement of the Government under the trustees of the public Library also.3
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller.
On 5 January 1892 Wilson minuted: 'Write ackg [acknowledging] & saying the final disposal of the Museum & its contents will shortly receive consid[eratio]n. [Request] that he will now inform the members of his staff in writing that as the establisht of the Govt Botanist will be abolished on the 31st March next, their services will not be required after that date'. The file includes two drafts of the letter that was eventually sent by Wilson to M on 15 January 1892.
On 6 January 1892 G. Renford, on behalf of the Secretary of the Premier's Department, wrote to the Under Secretary, T. Wilson: 'I have the honour to inform you that His Excellency the Governor-in-Council has been pleased to retain the services of Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, K.C.M.G, Government Botanist, of your Department, until the 31st March, 1892' (U92/147, unit 663, VPRS 3992/P PROV).
See also M to A. McLean, 28 November 1891 and M to T. Wilson, 17 December 1892 and 16 January 1892.
Please cite as “FVM-92-01-01,” 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/92-01-01