Under strong pressure at a later date, Miss Ormerod delivered in the same hall a course of ten lectures in five consecutive days, on the “Orders of Insects,” and these were reproduced in full in her “Guide to the Methods of Insect Life.”
The organisation was defective, and very small audiences assembled. Professor Axe and others who gave special lectures in the same course had the same experience. Only £10 was paid to Miss Ormerod for her share of the work, a sum which did not cover outlays, and apart from the annoyance of the bungling the fatigue was great.
About this course, Professor Huxley wrote on November 11, 1883:—
“Dear Miss Ormerod,—I am very glad to welcome you as a colleague—and I wish I could come and hear your lectures, being particularly ignorant of the branch of Entomology you have made your own. I shall be very glad if any of my students can find time to profit by your teaching—but I suspect that their hands are pretty full. We shall be very glad to have your sister’s work and thank her for the trouble she has taken.—Ever yours very truly,” &c.
When a copy of the book reached him in the following January he again wrote:—“Many thanks for your ‘Guide to Insect Life.’ I know enough of your portion of work to be sure that it will be clear, accurate, and useful, and I hope that the public will show a due appreciation of it. With best wishes, &c.
“T. H. Huxley.”
Sir Joseph Hooker also wrote as follows:—
Royal Gardens, Kew,
January 11, 1884.
Dear Miss Ormerod,—Pray accept my best thanks for the copy of your “Guide to Methods of Insect Life.” I have read the first 50 pages at intervals of my work with great pleasure and interest. I was an Entomologist before I took to Botany, as was my father before me, and I do enjoy in my old age the account you give of the forgotten habits of the friends of my early youth. I think it is capitally well done and suited to its purpose, and I shall hope to interest my children with it in the holidays. With united sincere regards to you both, most truly yours,