21/11/94
Ch. A. Topp Esqr.
Under Secretary.
Only this day, dear Mr. Topp, I received the enclosed letters,1 and would now beg, that in accordance with the wish of the hon. the Premier my "Select plants" and "Key to the system of Australian plants"2 be forwarded through the Gov. Printing Office to Mr Rendle, the Adress presumingly being still Ascot-Vale.3 These works are inexpensive; I have only a working copy of each in my office4
Very regardfully your
Ferd. Von Mueller
See G. Perrin to M, 19 November 1894. On 2 November 1894, J. Rendle wrote to G. Turner, MP, saying that as he intended to travel in Victoria and wished to 'become acquainted with the wild flora of Gippsland, particularly the timber trees' a copy of 'Part 2 of the Baron Von Mueller's work on Native plants may aid me if you can get a copy'. Turner forwarded Rendle's request to Perrin on 3 November but it seems that the letter was mislaid and Perrin forwarded the file to M on 19 November minuting his 'regret for the delay'. M added a further minute on 21 November: 'Reached me only the 21 Nov., accompanied by a letter from Mr Perrin dated 19. Nov.'
The most recent edition of Select plants was B91.09.01; The Key was published in two volumes, B86.04.05 (part II) and B88.11.02 (part I).
Melbourne.
On 23 November, Topp wrote to Turner, saying that M's works were 'supplied only to public institutions and to individuals if representing institutions or holding important public positions and especially interested in Botanical matters. The Book Part II especially mentioned is a small one and can be purchased for a small sum at the Government Printing office; but I can say speaking as a Botanist that it would be of scarcely any use to Mr Rendle, it contains only about half a dozen drawings of plants found in Gippsland including perhaps two small timber trees — The Eucalyptographia & Acacias are very expensive works & certainly could not be given away, moreover they would be much too bulky to be carried by a tourist.'
Please cite as “FVM-94-11-21,” 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