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File relating to the dismissal of G S Cansdale.

Letters and papers relating to the position of Secretary at ZSL. In the past this position was responsible for the overall running of the Zoo(s), but in later years it has become an honorary position. The letters in particular show a breadth of correspondence between the society and people and organisations around the world.

Nicholas Alyward Vigors was an Irish zoologist and politician and one of the founding members of the Zoological Society of London. He was the 1st secretary of the society, and was in post from 1826-1833.

Letter from a Fellow to Nicholas Aylward Vigors regarding the conduct of a group of children from a charity school during a visit to the gardens of the Zoological Society of London

Letter from Edward Greenaway to Nicholas Aylward Vigors regarding the opening of the gardens of the Zoological Society of London on Good Friday when other exhibitions in London were closed

Letter from William Pryor to Nicholas Aylward Vigors regarding a request to add labels to a great portion of the animals at the Zoological Society of London

Nov 3/8 1832
Port Louis, Mauritius

My dear Sir
I have had an opportunity lately of making some researches about the fossil bones of the Dronte or Dodo. One of the Kings ships the Talbot having gone from [here] to visit the Island of Rodriguez on which occasion my friend Colonel Dawkins undertook to bring me the bird if it existed - or its bones if they were [?] found. I send you the result of his researches and the specimens that have been collected in consequence - begging that wherever there are duplicates they may be given to the Ashmolean Museum for whose curators Mr Duncan and I have the highest esteem and respect. It was from him that the first impulse emanated which set us to work on this subject. Long before this letter reaches you I trust you will have received from Mr Barclays a communication of the specimens contained in two boxes shipped on board the [Salvation?] Captain Addison, I have heard that the eagle I sent you arrived safe after having devoured the last living animal on board, a fine cat that was sacrificed with great regret for his preservation - I now send you in care of Mr. Vinet Secretary to the Governor by the [?] Captain Hunt & hope that you will find some novelties in them - I kept the white Hawk alive for several months in the hopes of a good occasion to forward him - he was a noble creature you will find him stuffed and in the same box with the bones of the supposed Dodo together with the stuffed specimen of the ["oiseau a boeuf" of Rodrigues] Crow of Madagascar. I have some curious living tortoises to send to you from the Amirantes Islands but I wish to give them a Summer passage - I had a stuffed specimen of the "Oiseau a Boeuf" for you from Rodriguez but I find it so eaten up by insects that it would be wrong to forward it with the others - enclosed in a letter I have received from my friend David Griffiths the missionary at [?] you will see that I may expect some Madagascan specimens of the Tandraka and the Sokina he has sent me a very curious fable [?] the conversation between the [Mamba?] or Crocodile and the Sokina with a translation of it into English, this latter being interesting to the learned in Eastern languages. I have sent it to my friend Mr. Calder of Calcutta to publish in the Transactions of the Asiatic Society where as they have already done with several translations - poems and legendary tales I had forwarded to them. You shall have the specimens of the Sokia and Tandraka by the first good occasion. Enclosed is a Madagascan version of the Psalms. I wish some of the religious societies at home would send a large supply of paper for printing at Tananarivo. There are six thousand people in the school and a great thirst for information. The local gov. here does what it can to favour the spread of knowledge - but in these times of economy the supplies are very limited. I had got so far in my letter when yours of the 14th July reached me - with your very welcome parcel of proceedings of the Society for which I beg [you] to express my best thanks "among the flacons" containing the fish in the larger case you will find an animal which I think you will consider quite new. I never saw it before it was sent to me lately from the Interior and southern part of Madagascar - and I have not seen any of the Madagascan people here that were acquainted with it. It is the most savage creature of its size I ever met - its motions & powers & activity were those of a tyger and it had the same appetite for blood & destruction of animal life - its muscular force was very great & the muscles of the limbs remarkably full and thick - it lived with me some months, we took it for a new species of Viverra but you will soon [determine?] all about it. Our poor colony has been sadly buffeted by misfortunes & bankrupting from the utter extinction of value in colonial property [from] owing to the measures of the anticolonial party at home, our young men have been disheartened in their pursuits of science by the presence of misery. I told you that our Cath. Bishop had upset our Chair of Natural History - & having done all the harm he could stole away furtively from the island, he has not since been heard of - we have now no professorship of science in our college, neither Natural Philosophy, Nat. History - Botany nor Chemistry - all of which I had introduced into the course of Education in the College of Port Louis of which I am Vice President, If the Minister would recommend to the Governor the re-establishment of these professorships - it would be a great favour to the unlucky youths of the island & attach their fathers & families to the Minister who restored them this boon. There is no better man living than our present Governor but his hands are tied in all that regards expense & however disposed to favour the rising generation he cannot afford to do it out of his own pocket. Your letters & communications cheer our little scientific circle & encourages us to exertion & particularly your notices of us in your proceedings which are very flattering.

Your sincerely obliged friend

C. Telfair

Letters to E T Bennett (or to the Secretary of the Zoological Society). An occasional letter is addressed to John Bennett who was Edward's brother and a botanist at the British Museum. Mr Bennett commenced as Vice Secretary. He founded the library although it was, for a number of years, located in his office with less than 1000 books

Letters from Keith Edward Abbott to Edward Turner Bennett regarding bird skins from and for the Zoological Society of London

Letter from Celia Barlow to say that she is feeling much better. She collects mussels and sea anemones and will show Edward Turner Bennett specimens of crustaceans from Teighnmouth