218 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



months since, I felt a strong hope and belief that his persistent and un- 

 clouded mental activity, and his enthusiastic love of nature, by leading him 

 into field and wood, and obliging that out-door activity so essential to the 

 valetudinarian, would ultimately conquer the disease he suffered, so that 

 many years of usefulness might yet be spared to him. The news of his 

 death came therefore as a shock. All who knew him will mourn his loss, 

 and it can be said of few as it can of him tliat he never made an enemy — 

 never did a wrong ! Pray, tender my heartfelt condolence to his bereaved 

 parents and relatives, and believe me, 



Yours, respectfully, 



C. V. RILEY. 

 C. H. Preston, E. P. Lynch, H. C. Fulton, 



Davenport, Iowa. 



From Hy. Edwards, Entomologist and Editor of ^^Papilio,'" New York City. 



185 East 116 Street, New York, December 22, 1881. 



My Dear Sir: It was with no common sorrow that I received the sad 

 news of the death of my valued friend, whose loss you must all so deeply 

 mourn. To offer consolation at such a time is I know useless, but one always 

 longs to say a word that may relieve the anguish of grief, and I can only say, 

 that I feel, most truly in the depth of my heart, that "There is no death; 

 what seems so is transition," and that he whom we loved, is as much with us 

 now as he ever was, working as earnestly as ever, patiently as ever, bend- 

 ing his energies to his self-imposed tasks, and appreciating and returning 

 the affection and care which always surrounded him. A few years more, 

 and we shall all pass the bai-rier which divides us from that "unseen land," 

 and then we shall clearly see that the life here to which we cling so fondly 

 was but the beginning of our existence, a school to prepare us for the truer 

 life beyond. * * * * 



I have written a short biographical sketch for " 7^/^m7w," which I will 

 send you when printed. 



Believe me, my dear sir. 



Yours, most sincerely, 



C. E. Putnam, Esq. HY. EDWARDS. 



From Prop. B. Pickmann Mann, Entomologist, WaefaingtoD, D. C. 



Washington, D. C, December 26, 1881. 

 Messrs. C. H. Preston, E. P. Lynch, and H. C. Fulton, 



Committee of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences. 

 Dear Sirs: Your invitation to me to be present at the meeting to be held 

 January 6, 1882, in memory of the deceased President of the Davenport 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, Mr. J. Duncan Putnam, is received. I regret 

 that I cannot be present in person, to testify to my deep respect for Mr. 

 Putnam, and my sincere friendship for him. No words of mine, however, 

 could add to the genuine admiration of his character and attainments which 

 must be rife in your midst, where he was best known. For many years I 



