The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: If Cook, who visited these coasts with the pride of an explorer exactly a century ago, ¶ James Cook, on Endeavour, first sighted the Australian east coast on 20 April 1770. ¶ could once again see the...

Document information

Physical location:

70.04.00c

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edmund Goeze, 1870-04 [70.04.00c]. 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/70-04-00c>, accessed September 11, 2025

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Excursão botanica e horticola', Jornal de horticultura practica, vol. 1, 1870, p. 125 (B70.07.01). (This section of the journal consists of short notes ranging over botanical and horticultural topics, and was contributed by Edmund Goeze.) The letter is dated to April 1870, as the latest likely date in which it could have been written in time for it to be summarized for publication in July. See also note 2 below. The extract is introduced by 'O dr. F. von Mueller escreve de Melbourne:' [Dr F. von Mueller writes from Melbourne:].

Se Cook que visitava com o orgulho de um explorador estas costas, ha exactamente um seculo, podesse ver mais uma vez a scena das suas descobertas, ficaria encantado com a vista de grandes cidades e o feliz aspecto rural e industrial, mas fecharia os olhos indignado, vendo a aridez em que tudo se acha actualmente.

Desde muito que em todos os paizes se trabalha em destruir as florestas. Dir-se-hia que esta improvidencia foi emprehendida por uma recente Nemesis para obstar ao progresso da prosperidade nacional e ao bem estar de toda a gente.

If Cook, who visited these coasts with the pride of an explorer exactly a century ago,

James Cook, on Endeavour, first sighted the Australian east coast on 20 April 1770.

could once again see the scene of his discoveries, he would be delighted with the sight of great cities and the happy rural and industrial scene, but would close his eyes indignantly, seeing the aridity of everything now.

Since all countries have long worked to destroy forests, it would seem that this improvidence was undertaken by a recent Nemesis to prevent the progress of national prosperity and the well-being of all the people.