Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1873-08-15)

Iowa State Agricultural College Ames, Iowa, Aug 15th 1873

Prof Henry A. Ward Dear Sir: Your favor of the 10th has just been received. I must confess I hardly know what to say in reply, for the matter is of vital importance to me. I am now in the last half of the Soph. year, and I would sacrifice a good deal in quitting now. Pres. Welch favored me with his advice, and on the strentgh of that mainly I will tell you frankly what I will do. I would rather wait until next Spring if I can be certain of the place at that time; if not I will leave everything and go before you go to Europe. By not going until Spring I could finish the year here and get my standing upon the Record and so leave nothing undone. The Winter could be spent in teaching which would give one more funds to go on. I could be ready any time after March 1st. But if the position in your Cabinet would not be absolutely certain, if there would be any possibility of my losing it I will go inside of twenty days. In either case I would stay with