1 852. 
GD G- 
VICTORIA, 
GOVERNMENT BOTANIST. 
Laid upon the Table of the Council, hy the Colonial Secretary, hy command of Ilis Excellency 
the Lieutenant Governor, and ordered hy the Council to he printed, bih Novemher, 1852. 
COPY OF COKRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE APPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM 
SWAINSON, Esq., AS GOVERNMENT ROTANIST. 
(Copy.) 
Wollongong, Illawarra District, 
30th July, 1862. 
Sir, 
A circumstance has arisen in connection with the scientific results of my investigating the 
productions of this Colony, during the last twelve months, which induces me to submit this com- 
munication to the local Government, and which I request you will lay before it. 
It is well known that a great majority of the timber, and other trees peculiar to the Aus- 
tralian Flora, are so difficult to discriminate in their botanical and tlierefore certain characters, 
that they have hitherto baffled the most eminent Botanists in Europe, no less than those who have 
carried on their investigations in this Country, so that up to this moment the “Gum Trees” 
remain a chaos, even after the labour bestowed upon their elucidation by such eminent men as 
Robert Brown, the two Cunningham^s, and the most distinguished Botanists of Europe. Of this 
fact, no one is more sensible than the first authority perhaps on such questions, in exist- 
ence — William Sharp McLcay. 
Great, however, as would be the advantage to Science, if these trees were better understood, it 
would be much more generally useful, and therefore much more important, in an economic point of 
view. Their timber and bark are even now applied to many useful purposes in manufactures. 
But, except in a few instances, they are very imperfectly known, and this uncertainty is increased 
by the contradictory names locally applied to them by the common people. These facts induced 
me, some months ago, to confine my attention exclusively to this tribe, and I have at length, (as I 
believe), discovered the true principle of their variation. The time, however, is fast approaching, 
which I had fixed upon for returning to my family, in New Zealand ; and, as I have no intention 
of again visiting Australia, the result of this discovery will bo very limited, and those imperfect, 
unless some plan can be devised for continuing the investigation on an enlarged and efficient scale. 
Lnpressed therefore with the importance that may result, both scientifically and economically, 
from a more extended elucidation of this subject, I am induced to offer my services to the Govern- 
ment of New South Wales, (in the first instance), as Botanical Draughtsman ; the duties of 
which office would be chiefly, (though not exclusively), confined to the execution of outline draw- 
ings,'*' including ample botanical dissections of every species of Eucalyptus, I may find in different 
parts of the Colony ; these to be accompanied by separate descriptions, and prefaced by a general 
dissertation on the whole group ; two series at least of dried specimens of the plants, (and where 
practicable of the bark and wood), would be prepared and preserved, as also such artistic pencil 
drawings of the trees themselves, as would facilitate their recognition by unscientific persons. 
To give some idea of the extent and difficulty of this undertaking, I may here observe, that 
not many more than 40 species, (I believe), have been published, as inhabiting the whole of 
Australia ; and most of these have such vague and unsatisfactory characters assigned to them, that 
they cannot be determined even by Botanists. On the other hand, in the Illawari’a District alone, 
generally considered very poor in “ Gum Trees,” I have already discovered and determined more 
than 50 species, of which dissections, &c., have been made. One of them has a bark wJiich cannot 
be distinguisbed from the cork of commerce. 
With regard to the remuneration I should expect, I may observe that for many years I have 
continued to pursue Sciences as now, merely as a recreation from the more healthy duties of my 
Farming Establishment, in New Zealand. But a further residence in this Colony, would entail 
much extra expense both there and here. Travelling and living in N. S. Wales, is now become 
more expensive than ever. Two horses, and a man servant or guide, would be necessary for visiting 
remote counties, and many other facilities ^voiild be necessary to carry out this undertaking wit 
the requisite energy for insuring (as I should hope) a brilliant result, I do not think, thcreiore, 
under all these considerations that the remuneration of £450, or even £500, for one ye^ so occu- 
pied, will be deemed unreasonable. I could not, however, undertake to hold this Office or a 
longer period, and I should stipulate for the option of relinquishing it at the end^ of six 
should unfor.seen circumstances render it necessary. It being well understood, in either case, a 
the materials already enumerated, would bo the property of Government. 
^SiifTicicnt liercaftor to engrave from. 
