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University of California
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Berkeley, OCTOBER 28, 1881.

DEAR PROFESSOR BESSEY,

IN ANSWER TO YOUS OF 18TH, I WOULD SAY THAT JUST AT
PRESENT THE QUESTION OF A STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IS AN ABEYANCE, IN CONSE-
QUENCE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WILL BE NO SESSION OF OF THE LEGISLATURE
UNTIL FOURTEEN MONTHS HENCE; FOR WHICH GREAT MERCY WE ARE DEVOUTLY THANK-
FUL. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL BE A PROMINENT QUESTION, HOWEVER,
WHEN THE NEW LEGISLATURE DOES ASSEMBLE - PROVIDED THAT BODY SHOULD EVE
APPROXIMATELY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE FARMERS. FOR THAT TIME, THEN,
MR. OSBORNE MAY KEEP THE MATTER IN VIEW, AND I WILL KEEP HIM BEFORE THE
PROPER PERSONS, IF SO DESIRED.

IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE A LIVELY TIME ABOUT UNIVERSITY
MATTERS AT THAT SESSION, AND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SWEEPING MEASURES
PROPOSED, ALBEIT THE CONSTITUTION FORTUNATELY PROHIBITS ANY DIRECT IN-
TERFERENCE EXCEPT IN SEEING THAT THE OBJECTS PRESCRIBED BY LAW ARE FUL-
FILLED. HERE COMES IN THE OLD QUESTION ABOUT THE INTENT OF THE MORRILL
BILL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FORESEE HOW IT WILL BE SETTLED, BUT IT IS
QUITE LIKELY THAT A LITTLE MORE BONAFIDE AGRICULTURE WILL BE ENGRAF-
TED UPON THE UNIV. IN SOME WAY. IN THAT CASE THE PRESSURE FOR THE AP-
POINTMENT OF A WORKING ENTOMOLOGIST WILL BE VERY STRONG.

VERY TRULY YOURS
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