The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Botanic Gardens Melbourne ¶ Decr 6. 1865 ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I have the honor to inform you that, during the past night, a large quantity of exotic Ash Trees (50) have (by some person or persons unknown) been ...

Document information

Physical location:

Unit 5, VPRS 1199 Chief Commissioner's inward correspondence, VA 724 Victoria Police, Public Record Office, Victoria. 65.12.06b

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Frederick Standish, 1865-12-06 [65.12.06b]. 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//letters/1860-9/1865/65-12-06b-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Decr 6. 1865

Sir

I have the honor to inform you that, during the past night, a large quantity of exotic Ash Trees (50) have (by some person or persons unknown) been wilfully destroyed in the Government House Reserve, close to the Observatory — As these trees are under my especial charge I have the honor to request your kind assistance in order that if possible the perpetrators of this malicious act may be brought to justice, and further destruction of like valuable public property be in future prevented —

I have the honor to be Sir

your most obdt Servt.

Ferd. Mueller

Direct. bot Garden.

Captn Standish

Chief Commissioner of Police

Standish referred the matter to the officer in charge of detectives for inquiry and report. No account of the investigation has been found.