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Physical location:
A345 Royal ParkTrusteeslettercopyand minute book, p. 7, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 63.07.17aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to William Henry Archer, 1863-07-17 [63.07.17a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/63-07-17a>, accessed September 11, 2025
Melbourne botan. Gardens
July 17th 1863
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 14th inst., which
have been duly laid before a Meeting of the Trustees of the Royal Park held this day.
In reply I have been directed by my collegues
to communicate to you the following resolution passed at their meeting.
1
Letters not found. The letters communicated the following resolutions to the Trustees
of Royal Park, Melbourne from the Council of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria:
1) 'That the Government having by letter dated April 30th 1863 approved of the sale
of the Camels at present in charge of the Acclimation Society and having requested
this Council to suggest such steps as they may think fit for that purpose, the matter
at present rests with this Council to deal with, and any interference on the part
of the Trustees would be quite uncalled for and unwarrantable.' 2) 'This Council desires
to record, that the Trustees of the Society are recognized only as Trustees holding
for and subject to the directions of the Society, who claims a sole and absolute right
of disposal of its stock and property free from any interference by the Trustees against
which this Council protests and therefore the reconsideration by the Trustees at the
instance of one of their number of any resolution of the Council would be unauthorized
and ultra vires.' (A345, p. 124).
At the meeting of the Trustees held on 16 July 1863, M ‘stated, that he had as honorary
Secretary deemed it his duty to summon his colleagues, in order that an opportunity
might be afforded to them of expressing an opinion wether (sic) cognizance should be taken of the sale of the Dromedaries as proposed by the Council
of the Acclimation Society and of which proposition no intimation had been given to
the Trustees. Letters on the subject from W. Wardell Esq. and Clem. Hodgkinson Esq.
were read deprecating the intended sale of these useful animals. After a lengthened
deliberation it was resolved, that the honorary Secretary should apply to the honorable
the Chief Secretary for information wether the Trustees might regard themselves perfectly
free of any responsibility of this transaction.’ See M to J. McCulloch, 16 July 1863 (in this edition as 63-07-16a)
2
colleagues?
"That the Trustees can not recognize the principles enunciated in the copies of the
resolutions, adressed to the honorary Secretary of the Trustees of the Royal Park
as passed by the Council of the Acclimation Society on the 14th instant and communicated
in their letters of that date.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedt servant
signed F. M.
Hon. Secr. to the Trustees of the
Roy. Park
W. Archer Esq
Hon. Secret. Acclim. Soc.