Melbourne bot. & zool. Garden,
6. Dec. 1860
Dear Capt. Standish.
I am greatly indebted to you for your friendly promise to Mr M'Millan1 to aid us in our alpine journey by the loan of horses from your department. I shall have a conference with Mr M'Millan to night for the purpose of settling the plan of operation & will inform you to morrow morning of our requirements.2
If there is any thing I can do in reciprocation in this establishment for you, pray command my services.
We find it rather difficult to suppress on Sundays after noon smoking in these gardens; may I ask, as at this season the dry grass so readily ignites, that you will be pleased to order the constables, who usually attend at the gardens, to prevent as far as possible this unlawful practice.
With the greatest respect & gratitude,
dear Sir,
your very humble
Ferd. Mueller.
This morning parties were bathing at our platform at the Yarra footbridge at 8 o'clock, and would not be hindered. The time fixed by municipality regulation is before 7 o'clock. I believe even, altho' under such restrictions the bathing on so public a locality has been tolerated, that it is not by right allowed since the municipality removed the caution board to the Yarra bathing house. It seems an unwarrantable practice for people to bath at that spot at any rate at hours when visitors may frequent the bridge. There is more over now a very respectable couple living in the refreshment booth at the bridge.
Please cite as “FVM-60-12-06,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on