Although numerous meetings of the Managing Committee were held during the summer and autumn of 1830, there does not appear to have been much progress made in the formation of a Garden until the summer of 1831. This was largely due to the fact that the Duke of Northumberland left Ireland in December, and to the difficulties which, in consequence, arose in obtaining the formal possession of the site in Phœnix Park. In June, 1830, the Honorary Secretary intimated that the Lord Lieutenant ‘had been pleased to give formal possession of the ground in Phœnix Park,’ but it was necessary that this grant should be officially confirmed by the new Viceroy, the Marquess of Anglesey. It was not until May 28, 1831, that a letter was received from Colonel Gossett, the Under-Secretary, who, in his capacity as Park Ranger, conveyed the necessary powers, and at the same time intimated that the Lord Lieutenant would be ‘happy to patronize the Society and give it his support.’ At this stage it is right to bring prominently forward the valuable services which were rendered by Mr. Nicholas Aylward Vigors, F.R.S., in connection with the early struggles of the Society. Having taken an active part in the foundation of the London Zoological Society in 1826, he had been elected its first Honorary Secretary, and held that office until 1833. He was deeply interested in the Dublin project, and ten days after the public meeting he wrote to the Managing Committee to say that the London Society would extend its co-operation to the Dublin Zoological Society. A few weeks later he was elected on the Managing Committee, and attended several of the early meetings. It is evident that his advice was much relied on, and largely served to shape the early policy of the new Society. At the first meeting at which he was present (July 8, 1830) he urged the necessity of having a plan of the proposed Gardens prepared by a competent person, and he was authorized by the Committee to ascertain whether Mr. Decimus Burton, Architect to the Zoological Society of London, would place his services at the disposal of the Society in Dublin. This Mr. Burton ultimately agreed to do for a fee of £75.