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The University of Kansas.
Chancellor's Office.
Lawrence, Oct. 9th 1885.
Prof. C. E. Bessey, My dear Sir:
We are arranging our usual course of [coming?] lectures for the ensuing season. Two of the lecturers have been left to our Univ'y Science Club to provide, and I am instrcuted by the committee of the Club to extend to you our most cordial invitation to give one of them upon such subject as you may choose. The dates not yet filled are Nov. 17th, Jan. 12th & 19th, Feb 16th, Mch. 9 & 16, Apr. 6th & 8th. We trust you will give us a favorable response. Please select the earliest possible of the above dates.
Sincerely Yours T. H. Snow E. P. Nichols }Committee
P. S. I am sorry we cannot offer some pecuniary inducement, but we will repay all the expense of the trip. We want to get acquainted with you.
Topic later Feb 16 chosen
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[Fall?] City Nov 29 1885
C. E. Bessey Lincoln
Dear Sir:
I have been requested to ask you to deliver an address on the evening of Jan 6th 1886 before the farmers institute to be held at this place from Jan. 5th to 7th I spoke to you concerning this matter while you were in [?] at our teacher's institute in Aug. and you thought at that time that you could address the farmers at [sic.] any time we should ask you to come down The Sec. of the association to day asked me to write you. he would like an early answer
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Exeter, N. H. June 15
Mr. Bessey, Dear Sir,
I beg that you will pardon this letter with its requests; my only excuse is that your criticism and approval are necessary to me in a venture I am contemplating.
A part of my daily duty as a teacher is, and for years has been, to teach botany orally, to primary classes. I have never fully fancied the Child's Book of Nature, and similar works, upon which I have had my lessons; and last Fall, when a copy of your Essentials of Botany fell into my hands, I determined