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Phila. 4/16 1887
Dear Prof Bessey
Yours is recd. I have had a deal of work & trouble with the Naturalist. I had negotiations with numerous publishers from October to March in Boston, N. Y., & Phila. The [?] 5 publishers became bankrupt & collected a large part of the subscriptions for 1887 before doing so, so that new publishers would not take hold, until I gave my notes for the [ant.?] [?] abstracted from the repts. Then they refused to print the index & title page, & I have to pay for that. Then Packard vacated. Good times [suit?] him best. Other details
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too numerous to mention have had to be settled. Now nearly every thing is [sic.] in running order.
I will see that the publishers you mention get the Natst. I suppose you set Bot. Central [Platt?]. Mr. Kingsley gets the Royal Mic Society.
I have had a great time with [Ballow?]. I have a collection of his papers which will do for a funny article some time. They are immense! He was very angry at being left off. He is however useful as a newspaper man.
We will, a little later, when the Naturalist catches up, have
some letter headed paper & envelopes, but I haven't mentioned that yet.
With best wishes [?] Edwd. D. Cope
Get the [Christian?] Register (Botson) symposium from 18 scientists of the U. S. on Immortality, to be re published as a pamphlet.
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Phila. 10/3 1887
Dear Prof Bessey
I fear that the publishers [?] are not satisfied with the financial condition of the Naturalist for this year, and will not continue it in 1888 without more backing. It will require several hundred dolls. to satisfy them & as I do not wish to see the magazine go down I am trying to raise a fund for next year. I have gather[ed?] $200, but must do better, to meet expenses. Would the scientific interest at your University & the one you
