minding my business-, than by laying before them in person discov- 

 eries only half finished and theories based upon too slender a founda- 

 tion of facts. 



A month later, when the entomological season was nearly closed, 

 I attended the Fair of the State Agricultural Society; and on con- 

 versing there with many of our leading Agriculturists and Horticul- 

 turists, I found — much to my surprise — that it was the universal 

 opinion among them, that if I went on, fairly and honestly and to the 

 best of my ability discharging the duties of State Entomologist till the 

 next Biennial Session of the Legislature, the Senate would then un- 

 doubtedly confirm my appointment by the Governor; and I wa3 

 strongly urged and advised to take this course by all these gentlemen. 

 I may add that the officers of the State Agricultural Society proposed 

 to me in private, to have the same sum appropriated in my behalf on 

 the part of their Society, which your Society had already appropriated 

 for a similar object. This offer, however, I respectfully but thank- 

 fully declined ; for I had already made up my mind to go on and dis- 

 charge the duties of State Entomologist for the whole period of two 

 years for which the appointment was tenable, and to trust to the future 

 liberality of the Legislature to reimburse me for my work. • 



I therefore, shortly after returning home from the State Fair, 

 took care that the people of Illinois should be informed unofficially 

 through the Public Press of the course that I had determined on; 

 and I further, by the advice of friends, notified the Governor officially 

 of what I proposed to do. I also informed your President, both by 

 letter and personall}', that I did not ask any pecuniary assistance what- 

 ever for the present from your Society ; but that, if the Senate failed 

 to confirm my appointment in the llegular Session of 1868 — 9, then, 

 and then only, I purposed to call upon your Society for the payment 

 of the sum, which had been so liberally appropriated in the first in- 

 stance to meet a temporary necessity. 



This whole matter is so complicated, and the misunderstandings 

 respecting it have been so general, that I hope that I shall be excused 

 for the publication of all these egotistical details. In justice to the 

 Society, and in justice to myself, I could not well. say less; and I have 

 felt throughout, and still feel, a repugnance to thrusting myself for- 

 wards — without explanation or apology — to undertake functions, to 

 the performance of which I am not legally and officially called. Time 

 will show whether the people of this great State will endorse and ap- 

 prove what I am doing ; or whether I am to be treated as an impudent 

 pretender, who has been assuming a title to which he has no legiti- 

 mate claim whatever. 



