THE WOMBAT. 29 



A movement has already been initiated by the Executors 

 of the late Baron to secure funds with which to erect a Tomb- 

 stone, and, whilst sympathising with this object, the Com- 

 mittee now appointed, to avoid confusion, desires it to be 

 understood that the Tombstone Fund, with which the 

 Executors are alone concerned, and the National Memorial 

 Fund, with which the present Committee is concerned, are 

 quite distinct from one another. 



Whilst nominally the Government Botanist of Victoria, 

 it is well known that the Baron von Mueller's assistance was 

 sought by and always freely given not only to public bodies- 

 but to private individuals in all parts of Australia. Apart 

 from his purely scientific work, upon the value of which it is 

 unnecessary to dwell, the Baron von Mueller devoted himself 

 to the development of the more practical side of various 

 branches of work, such as those connected with Forestry, 

 Agriculture, Horticulture, Pharmacy, and, not least, Geo- 

 graphical Exploration. His own explorations in early days, 

 both in Northern Australia as botanist in the expedition 

 under Mr. A. C. Gregory, and when, subsequently, he 

 traversed alone the then little known wilds of Gippsland, 

 were of considerable importance, and his deep interest in and 

 the practical assistance which he rendered to the explorations 

 of others are well known. 



Not only did he spend his whole life in the furtherance of 

 the work in which, from the nature of his position, he was 

 most deeply interested, but he devoted practically the whole 

 of his income to the assistance of those who were engaged in 

 work the object of which was to increase our knowledge of 

 the nature and products of Australasian lands. 



The object of this Committee is to secure sufficient funds 

 to allow of the establishment of some permanent Memorial; 

 which shall worthily perpetuate his name ; and whilst it is 

 not possible as yet to state definitely the form which the 

 Memorial will take, it is hoped that sufficient funds will be 

 forthcoming to provide for (i) the erection of some form of 

 statue, and (2) the endowment of a Medal, Prize or Scholar- 

 ship, to be associated with Baron von Mueller's name and to 

 be awarded from time to time in recognition of distinguished* 

 work in the special branches in which he was most deeply 

 interested, and which shall be open to workers throughout 

 the Australasian colonies. 



Subscriptions to the fund may be sent to the Hon. Treas- 

 urer, addressed to the College of" Pharmacy, Swanston Street, 

 Melbourne, or to the Hon. Secretaries, addressed to the 

 University of Melbourne, and will be duly acknowledged. 

 We have the honour to remain, 

 Your obedient Servants, 



W. WIESBADEN, {Hon. 



W. BALDWIN SPENCER, / Sees. 



