From Francis Dutton to Charles La Trobe   11 August 1852

Sir.

I trust Your Excellency will pardon the great liberty I take, in venturing to adress these few lines to you, craving Your Excellencys condenscending protection for a very deserving young man, the bearer of this, Dr Ferdinand Müller, a botanist of very considerable attainments.

Dr Müller has during his prolonged residence in this Colony, very laboriously collected materials, to form a portion of a work which is to contain the combined Flora of the different australian Provinces; he has already transmitted to Europe the description of upwards of 800 plants, many of them new, and intends now to occupy himself with collecting and describing the Flora of Victoria.

I am sure Your Excellency will pardon the great liberty I have taken in thus occupying, even for a moment, on such comparatively unimportant grounds your most valuable time.

Dr Müller does not seek any pecuniary aid, but he is in hopes that if any survey parties should at any time be sent to distant parts of the Province he might be allowed to join them, and thus have an opportunity of extending his researches, which would otherwise be rendered difficult to one of his humble means, and modest retiring disposition.

I have the honor to remain

Sir

Your most obedient servant

Francis S Dutton

Adelaide 11 August 1852

His Excellency

C. J. La Trobe Esq

Lieutenant Governor

of Victoria