From Charles Moore to Joseph Hooker   24 February 1873

Sydney 24th Feby 1873

Dear Dr Hooker

I returned here lately from a rather lengthened tour in Victoria-South Australia. I was very much pleased with the Botanic Garden at Adelaide. It is a most creditable establishment, but my excellent friend & Colleague Dr Schomburgk the Director is, German like going in for collections of plants not selections. At Melbourne I spent much of my time¹ with poor Mueller - who is at the present time as miserable a man as there is in the whole Continent of Australia. It is really sad to see so distinguished a man in such a pitiful condition, and he will not listen to any compromise. I was authorised by the leader of the Victorian Government to try and bring about an amicable arrangement, and I endeavoured to do so - but failed, and yet the offer made him through me is I am as thoroughly convinced of as of any existing thing the only solution out of the difficulty. Let him (Mueller)² send Mr Francis the Victorian Premier resignation the Directorship of the Garden for which he has proved totally unfit after spending from first to last very nearly £180-000 on the grounds and accept the offer of Colonial Botanist and Professor of Botany for which he is eminently fitted and the Parliament of this Colony will guarantee him his present Salary, and render him all reasonable assistance. Is our Garden - he added to me -not a disgrace as compared with similar establishments in neighbouring Colonies, & yet we have spent three times the amount upon it than has been expended in any one of these gardens. [W]e wanted to have the finest garden & we have the worst, and you as Baron Muellers friend can tell him all I have said. I did this, and urged on him in the strongest possible manner the case […]³ his accepting the position offered him, & his reply was sooner than do so I shall put a bullet through my head. He compares his case to yours.⁴ There is nothing of the kind. Yours has been clear persecution because the Garden & everything in it was kept in the most admirable order — but exactly the reverse has been the case for years past with the Melbourne Garden. The Victorian Government offered me the post of Director of Public Parks with a salary of £300 a year more than I have got here, but as the object is to get in the thin edge of the wedge to oust Mueller I refused the offer. In fact nothing would now induce me to go to Victoria. I would state however in the most perfect confidence that Mueller has himself entirely to blame - the state of his Garden being a bye word and a [reprimand] among colonists in general, but all willingly acknowledge his great ability as a botanist. As I know both you and Mr Bentham will be interested in this matter I have gone into particulars that you may understand the case. By the "Parramatta" ship which lately sailed from this, I have sent you a case containing of which the enclosed is a list, and by this mail I have forwarded a Tin case containing seeds of the following Palms, viz Corypha australis

Kentia	Canterburyana	Muell
"	Belmoreana	do
"	Forsteriana	do5
"	Mooreii6	do
Cocos	plumosa	H.K.7

The seeds are all recently gathered and may be useful. Kentia Mooreii is from an elevation of about 3800 feet the highest point upon Howes island,⁸ and grows in moist situations. It will not grow with us - as it will not bear our dry heat. With my sincere condolences for your late bereavement.⁹

I remain

very truly yours

Charles Moore

Dr Hooker C.B.

Cocos plumosa

Corypha australis

Kentia Belmoreana

Kentia Canterburyana

Kentia Forsteriana

Kentia Mooreii