10/12/61.
My dear Dr. Ellery.
I regret to see, that actually a high building (I suppose belonging to the meteorolog. Department) is rising right in front of my museum, thus totally defeating the object for which the Government altered the originally proclaimed boundary line. This seems very unkind in the face of arrangements, by which after personal inspection of the ground by Mr. Brooke, Mr. Verdon, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Ligar and other gentlemen, on whose approval the site of the buildings depended, the ground was granted. This is certain, that the disregard thus shown is entirely opposed to their wishes.1
Allow me to bring this matter under your consideration and to solicit, that should you be unable to effect any alteration in this arrangement, whilst still the building has little progressed, you may be able to inform me so, as I can then only avail myself in Mr Neumayers absence of the only alternative of sending a protest against the progress of the building to the Government. Pray let Mr. Verdon know; that Gentleman acted so kindly throughout in the matter.
You will easily persuade yourself, that the panoramic view from my museum by the intended building is entirely spoiled.
Ever your faithful
Ferd. Mueller
M's concern seems soon to have been allayed, since nothing further was heard of his complaint. Perhaps M had misjudged the scale of what was being built? None of the surviving Observatory buildings from this period are in a position and of a size to have justified the alarm he expressed.
Please cite as “FVM-61-12-10,” 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