Ferdinand von Mueller

Royal Societys Hall

6/2/69.

Attending this day at the Royal Societys Hall, dear Mr Fitzgibbon, I observe to my horror, that nearly all the beautiful White Cedars within the halls ground have been barked by goats, of which a lot is roaming about the streets in the neighbourhood. The people thereabouts break in all probability the fences with a view of letting in their hungry goats purposely and as no one is living on the Societys ground it will be impossible to save even those trees, which are not already destroyed, unless the Municipal police would enforce the law, which forbids the roaming of goats on the streets of the city. I may mention, that the trees destroyed were 10 years old. I was not a member of the Council of the Royal Society for several years, declining several calls to be placed in nomination for want of leisure. Hence I became only now aware of the lamentable destruction, which has been going on.

1

See also E. FitzGibbon to M, 8 February 1869.