12

Amherst, Ms Apr 18, 1879

My dear Prof. Bessey,
Many thanks for your
very kind letter, received nine
days since. An unusual
amount of work is my excuse
for letting a reply go over
from day to day. The house
you speak of is no doubt
suitable and a good chance
that may not occur often.
But I should not wish to
become [ ] responsible
for it from a fixed date, so
long as there are uncertainties
still of the kind already
explained. So I may as
well take my chances after
moving, or immediately before.
At the worst we can board
a while.

I am sorry you are
not relieved from zoology
and Prof. M. from geology