Although I am sure that plain and interesting information on subjects of their daily surroundings would be gladly received by the boys, I do not in the least see my way to complying with your flattering suggestion of my pen being useful in the matter. You know how I am situated? There is a constant stream of applications sent me for advice regarding prevention of insect pests, which though chiefly about British troubles, involves much correspondence both with the Entomologists of our Colonies, the Continent and the U.S.A.—and to meet which I have no staff. I could not find time to write papers such as you desire; but if you wish I would send you copies of such leaflets as I have in which some of the ordinary crop pests are treated of very plainly; and from these I make no doubt that you could get passages arranged for your readers which the boys would like to read.
July 9, 1900.
It gratifies me very much that you should think my leaflets and “Manual” likely to be of use; and you have only to express the wish, for me to send another hundred of the “Manuals” as soon as they could be bound. I have been reading and much appreciating your observations in “Our Programme,”[[89]] of which you have kindly given me a copy, and it has occurred to me whether, now that I understand the scope of your work better, I might arrange a very simple paper on our commonest Live Stock attacks. I enclose a few pages as a sample of what is in my mind, just giving what could be taken in (and I think is needed) with addition of a little more life history, and the exceedingly simple methods of prevention. I have quantities of first-rate illustrations, but now I just submit the enclosed to you, hoping you will be kind enough to let me know at your convenience what you think of my idea.
July 14, 1900.
I am personally truly grateful for your letter of this morning, for I was very uneasy lest I should be, to put it shortly, giving sad offence. I certainly think the “Water-baby”[[90]] leaflet is a great mistake, but, as you judiciously remark, if it is to be issued we must make the best of it.
I will think over to the best of my power what appears likely to be of use agriculturally on the subject of fly attacks on farm stock. Whilst I am preparing the papers themselves perhaps a good heading such as I may presently submit for approval will suggest itself. I should much like to have the primary heading “Agricultural Education Committee,” for—with a footnote that the papers were prepared at the desire of the Agricultural Education Committee to give information—this would throw a shield over me, in writing on Cattle and Stock attacks. The ones selected do not infringe on what might be called “Veterinary”—things that involve discussion unbecoming in a lady writer, and those I propose to write on are what I have long had application about. There need be no difficulty about publishing if I do it in my usual way.
August 2, 1900.
After your visit, so pleasant as well as profitable to myself yesterday, I sat down as soon as I could to see what I could write about “Wasps,” and I enclose the results. It is mostly an abstract of records of much personal observation of my own. If you like I would gladly lend electros of the figures.[[91]] If you care to accept the enclosed for any use to our Agricultural Education Committee that you may think it may be suited, I should be really pleased, only begging that it may not on any account whatever appear as part of the “Water-baby” series—that really I do not think I could bear.
August 8, 1900.
I thank you very heartily for your courteous reception of my letter about resignation. It is very good of you to write so kindly on the subject. I enclose you a copy of the letter which I have sent to the Secretary, which I have endeavoured to express with the friendliness which I feel. But, much as I regret leaving, I find that, independently of the considerations which I told to you, when I come to the real working my health does not allow it. If I am over-pressed it brings on (without being unduly explicit) troubles both of health and sight, and I am very thankful that, beyond your exceedingly kind expressions, you do not press my remaining too hardly on me.