TRANSCRIPTION
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24 November 1874
The Registrar or Secretary. Adelaide University.

Sir,
It will be in recollection that I submitted an application for the Chair of Chemistry. Mineralogy, etc, about a year ago; and now that the University is fully established I respectfully wish to remind you of the wish I have that the matter may be dealt with at the early convenience of the Council.
You may have heard of the appointment of an Archbishop in this province, and can guess that many fresh arrangements will have to be made; and that is desirable that I should have my future course clear before me. I do not mean hereby to hurry anything; - but to say that if the
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Council adopt the course of advertising for Competitors, I shall at once retire and request you to do me the favor of returning my papers. A reference to the nature of the offer of my services will show you at a glance that it is incompatible with such a course. I cannot consider myself a stranger in Adelaide; - on the contrary I have many warm & valued friends there: and on more than one occasion have received special marks of kindness and confidence from influential sections of the Community. All this would tend to render a residence of two years certain very agreeable to myself; at the expiration of which term if it were agreeable to all parties I would settle down for life.
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It may at first sight appear unusual for any applicant for such a position to assume an attitude of the nature, but I can assure you I have not the least wish to offend anyone. I require mental rest and the University seems likely to afford it. The amount of public work outside of my Clerical duties, will be about twice as much as could be demanded of me by the professorship; at least for the first few years. The nature of this public work I have stated in the formal application; I will here only say that as Chemistry Member of the "Central Board of Health' - I have to keep myself up to all kinds of recent information concerning public health. As Vice-Chairman of the Royal Commission for Technology, I have serious duties, & these increasing in number with every new school established; At the National Museum I am Chairman of the special section of Trustees: At Ballarat I have commenced lecturing on Mineralogy in the School of Mines: and here in this institution I have constant anxiety about the practical classes, in assaying
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mineralogy - Telegraphy - etc. And though we have excellent instructors, there is still much to be done; - money to be got - buildings altered or new ones erected, and such like.
You will thus perceive that I am at all events fully employed mentally.
Of course, if my offer be accepted I shall endeavour to carry out the duties faithfully & energetically.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedt Servt
John I Bleasdale

This item contains references to: appointments

ABSTRACT
The letter states Rev. Bleasdale's opinions as to why he is suitable for a position and promotes his qualifications, his connections with Adelaide and that others in the field can testify to his ability to do the job.
TRANSCRIPTION
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J Bleasdale's
Clifton (?)
Answered
30 Dec '74
as directed
by Chancellor
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22 December 1874
His Honor the Chief Justice

Sir,
I do myself the honor of addressing a few lines to you in your capacity of Chancellor of the new University of Adelaide. About a year ago I ascertained that it was in contemplation then to establish a Chair of Chemistry Mineralogy & Geology, mainly in their relations to mining and agriculture - and submitted
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an application with testimonials for it. Those papers are I presume with the Secretary. For your Honor's information I beg to forward a few matters that may serve to give you some idea that in the estimation of our best scientific men here, I am not seeking a position that I can not fill with efficiency and credit to myself. I answered an advertisement in 1870 for a professor for the new University of Otago - and though known
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to but one member of the Council (Judge Chapman) I was placed Second in list of 22 applicants. Of course a Scotchman got the Chair.
Any of the Gentlemen named in the testimonials may be consulted about me. Rev W.B. Clarke of Sydney is without doubt the ablest Geologist in Australia - Professor McCoy is the most learned paleontologist; Mr Ellery's is a name known everywhere in science - as is also that of the Baron Von Mueller.
My object in seeking the chair is rest (?). The professional duties would be light indeed in comparison
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of what I am doing daily in this City. Only yesterday I received an invite from the Government to accept a seat in a Royal Commission about to issue for an Exhibition of the Colonies at Melbourne preparatory to that of Philadelphia.
Sir Henry Ayers or Mr Robert Kay of your Institute & many others can tell you the sort of man I am and the work I have done & am doing in the nature of the professorship I have applied for at Adelaide.
I must however in fairness to myself say that in offering my services in the terms I have submitted I must decline to enter into any competition with others.
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much as I should like the position, as one of comparative mental rest - and change of climate:- and pleasant as it would be to spend a couple of years - and perhaps my entire life among my very numerous friends in Adelaide, I must respectfully assure you that it is neither the want of social position nor pay that made me apply for the Chair at Otago or the present one at Adelaide. If therefore my offer be declined I can only
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request that my application may be returned with as little delay as the formalities of the Council will permit.
Many important changes in our Bishopric are taking place and I have to shape a course accordingly.
I have been furnished through the kindness of Sir H. Ayers with a copy of the University Act & consider it far better and more workable than either of ours or the N.S.Wales one.
If in the opinion of the council my profession as a R.C. Priest
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or any other serious consideration stand in the way of my election let the matter drop at once.
There are but three mineralogists besides myself in any of these colonies Rev. W. B. Clarke - Mr Ulrich, R.B. Smyth, Secretary of Mines.
Ulrich is a professor in the University and in connection with our Museum and quite lately refused £800 a year from the province of Otago N.Z.
I have written to you this frankly because, in affairs of this nature it is best for all parties to understand one another.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient servant
John I Bleasdale D.A.

This item contains references to: appointments; chancellors

TRANSCRIPTION
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Reed
30/12/74
Letter to Dr Barr (sic)
same day
Woodhouse
December 30

My Dear Sir
Allow me to congratulate you on appointment as Registrar to the University - though I was sorry for Mr. Young's disappointment.
I enclose some
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papers, and an application which I have received from Dr. Bleasdale.
Perhaps it will be as well to acknowledge receipt and beg that they shall be laid before the Council at its next meeting.
Faithfully yours
R.D. Hanson

This item contains references to: appointments