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large cases of museum plants in 922 largo fascicles, with notes, have been transmitted on loan to 
Kew for the elaboration of this work, the collections here accumulated, or furnished originally from 
hence, being more extensive than the united former Herbaria of Australian plants in Britain. 
We may reflect, not without pride, on the fact, that a similar descriptive work exists not even yet 
for the vegetation of Europe, and we may also remember that, without a work of this kind, the confused 
vernacular appellations and any medicinal technological cultural, or other observations on the native 
plants, could not be reduced to a solid scientific basis. R. Brown’s celebrated Prodomus, issued in 
1810, comprised only about one-third of the Australian plants then known, and even the orders 
elaborated in his volume have been augmented by more recent researches almost threefold. Of the 
FragmentaPhytographim Australian, the sixth volume has also been completed last year, and the seventh 
is commenced. Within the few next years I trust it will be in my power, if Providence grants me life 
and strength, to issue, on the plants of each of the Australian colonies, a special volume, for which much 
preliminary work has been done. 
The library became also lately further enlarged, but mainly on the Director’s private means. 
Personal travelling expenses since 1852, and all outlay for scientific and local journals, British and 
foreign agencies, means of conveyance for attending at the city, office light, and many other official 
expenses, as well as the courtesies which are demanded from a public department frequented by very 
numerous visitors, have also ever solely and readily been defrayed from the administrator’s own resources, 
who, not for any selfish purposes whatever, ventures to place these facts, after the lapse of many years, 
on record, but simply in justice to himself, because the obligations devolving on him in maintaining the 
efficiency and dignity of the department seem not at all understood. 
When now long past the zenith of ordinary life, he can with fairness assert, that thirty of his 
best years have been absorbed almost entirely in phytologic and cognate pursuits ; that almost seventeen 
years have been devoted cheerfully and exclusively to the main foundation and on struggling services of 
his department, and this, he may add, with the sole aim of endeavoring to efiect some lasting good to 
the great country which, since twenty-two years, he adopted as his permanent home. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, 
Your very obedient and humble servant, 
FEED, VON MUELLER. 
The Honorable J. M. Grant, M.P., 
President of the Board of Land and Works. 
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