May 28, 1901.
I am afraid I have seemed very negligent, but my varying illness made it very difficult to tell you, and now I do not want to go away without telling you my deep gratitude for all the great, helpful, affectionate kindness you have showed me. And about the “Reminiscences,” which I hoped would be our pleasant joint work, I have a large collection of material which I give to you for your own property to use as you please—with the requisite paper [dated 1st March] with it. I believe myself the end may come any time now, but I go in happy hope, and that it may please God to bless you is the prayer of your affectionate friend.
June 4, 1901.
I pencil a few lines to say what a delight your visit yesterday was to me. I longed very much to see you again, and also I was wanting to give you the various documents about the “Reminiscences.” To-day Miss Hartwell has been rummaging out for me what I think must be nearly all the material I have more, including the “Edinburgh book” [relating to the LL.D.], which please accept from me as a keepsake. It was left you in my will, so will not there be a hunt? And now I should much like to write more, but I feel too weak, and with every good wish.
P.S.—Please notice I give you all the contents of the box sent to-day—as well as the documents we looked out yesterday.
June 8, 1901.
I was delighted with your letter—that you had a nice talk with Mr. Newman—and besides such an interview with Mr. Murray. This is a great pleasure. I am miserably weak, but I am trying to do as the doctors tell me, and lie here waiting for—what I am sure will be for the best.
My very kindest regards. Yours most sincerely,
Eleanor A. Ormerod.
[The Times of Saturday, July 20, 1901, published an admirable record of her life and work in the sympathetic obituary notice, from which we have made the following brief extract: “We regret to announce the death of the accomplished entomologist, Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, which took place at her residence, Torrington House, St. Albans, after a severe illness. She had been gradually sinking for the last six weeks from malignant disease of the liver. Her loss is not to this country alone, but to the whole civilised world, though the farmers of the United Kingdom will feel in a special degree that a trusted friend has been taken from them. Many people will feel that such a magnificent record of unselfish work as she has left behind ought to have received some official recognition of a national character. Nevertheless, almost the last honour bestowed upon her, that of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in the University of Edinburgh, was peculiarly grateful to her,” &c., &c.