Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Brooks, Gary (1877-09-01)

make its display with them, and to be taught with them in the lecture- room. Such a cabinet ought to have </u $8,000 > expended upon it, although $6,000 would go very far toward filling the present vacancy. This cabinet of Botany is by much the greatest present need of this enterprise ." I further went on to speak of a collection of [Achoerlogical] specimens for </u $2,500 > and of a small library of Scientific books for </u $1,500 > to </u $2,000 > more. He at that time made me no answer about the Archoology and the books, but he said "We will take up the Botanical Cabinet when you get through the present work. You do not want too much on your hands alone," Since my return from Europe in May last he has on two occasions - the last being about the middle of July - spoken to me of this cabinet of Botany . No written con- tract was made about it nor was there even any verbal agreement as to what it should cost. He had simply ex- pressed his intention to have it, and had had a hall pre- pared for it, and </s I had > the authorities of the University had been informed by me that it was coming as soon as the other </s part was done > cabinets were done. This omission of his to fix the sum and the details may surprise you. I can only say than nearly all our business was done in a very informal manner. For the cabinets of Washington to Lee University for which he paid me about $10,000. we had never a line of writing. Indeed this was true - so far as he was