To William Thiselton-Dyer   4 August 1893

4/8/93.¹

You will be sorry to learn like myself, dear Dr Dyer, that it is the intention to abolish Mr Bailey’s Department; but I cannot believe, that this will be finally carried out. Now at Brisbane a rather extensive herbarium exists, which needs tending, and that will occupy (adding the correspondence and utilisation) entirely one Officer’s time, — no one in Queensland having at all Mr Bailey’s claim for the administration of the collection there, largely formed by him. I offered at once to him the exercise of such influence as I might possess for the maintenance of his position, and advised him to seek also the support of the hon. Aug Gregory, to whom he dedicated his Q L.² Flora. I fancy, that rather reductions in the working expenses of Mr Bailey’s Establishment be decided on. He told me, that he had £100 annually for books to purchase and he must have had other contingencies. In my Department they are borne by myself since the retrenchments here since 1892 inclusive. Mr Hill has a good pension, and I feel sure such will not be denied his successor in the Gov. Botanists Branch, the bot Department in Brisbane after Hill having two separate branches one for horticulture only, like here also

With regardful remembrance your

Ferd von Mueller³

It was very generous of Mr Massee to allow my authority and dedication of the [new fung]⁴ to stand.⁵