Correspondence (incoming) - D-E

most perfect specimens, no [water?] [worn?] or broken shells. It is the work and study of over thirty five years. There is a large library of rare books. Many being out of print.

Any further information concerning this collection can be obtained by addressing [Wm?] Dell Hartman [M.H.?] West Chester, Penna. I remain very truly yours H.H. Edwards

May 1887 West Chester Mr. Stanford Dear Sir I understand that you are interested in promoting education and learning.

I wish to attract your attention to a collection in Conchology which is the finest private collection in the state of Pennsylvania, and in two departments the

Collection of shell for sale.

Most complete and unique in the world. The British Museum, or the Berlin Society of Natural History can not compare in the Achatinella or Partulae. This part of the Collection has been sought after by the Societies in New York and Phila. BUt the gentleman owning them is desirous that the Collection should be placed

[?] you make essential. Now my question is this: can education for the people be complete without provision for the [widest?] investigation of the inquiry as to whether the Bible is reliable as making such a claim? In other words does not your purposed provision for instruction on these doctrines make it necessary for you to provide for the study of evidence that the Bible, so far as these doctrines are concerned, is of divine origin and authority? Must not Apologetics as understood in its broad meaning be included in the curriculum? If you should declare this and so provide. I am convinced that your University wuold meet all reasonable wishes and as you desire would soon command universal patronage. Please excuse so long a letter. Only my hope for you most complete success is my apology. Yours very sincerely. James [Eells?]

James Eells [Lane?] Seminary Cincinnati Ohio Endorsing the endowment of the Leland Stanford Jr. University

Lane Seminary Cincinnati Ohio December 11, 1885 Hon Leland Stanford My dear Sir. I have just read with pleasure which I cannot express, the plan and your address in explanation of it, so far as these have been published of the great University you have so marvelously endowed. My first impulse was in full sympathy with the expression of one of my friends who said "God continue to bless a man who knows how to use money wisely!" My second impulse was the occassion of very careful thought, and then of this letter which I believe you will not regard as an impertinence. I am delighted as I confess I hardly expected to be with the general and thoroughly

practical plan of the University. I am delighted that it is not in any sense to be sectarian, while it will be religious. I would not have such an Institution limited by any mere church lines if I could. With the recognition of one additional item which I will suggest because you have invited suggestions. I believe it will command the cordial interest and patronage of the most intelligent and reliable friends of education on the Pacific Coast. As proof of this I quote a sentence from a letter this day recieved from a friend in California whom you know and respect: After commenting on the unprescedented gift, and saying what he hoped would yet be associated with its general regard for religion he says: "it will render unnecessary for years at least a Presbyterian College." You may know that in view of what is true of the State University such a College had been very seriously proposed by the Presbyterian Church. You could hardly state more comprehensively the essential truths of religion independent of creeds than when you provide "that there shall be taught that there is an all-wise, benevolent God and that the soul is immortal." I assume that the most profound and conclusive proof of these fundamental truths will be furnished. What I desire to suggest will be in the form of a question, preceeded by a remark which may properly introduce it. There can be no more conclusive proof of the existence of God, and the soul's immortality after all other proof from philosophy and facts and other testimony has been gathered [than?] the declarations of the great God Himself if He has made any. There are multitudes of the most profound and learned men in the world who with various interpretations of some statements in the Bible, believe that at least it does contain the declarations of God direct and infer-

President Stanford University Dear Sir Will you be so kind as to furnish us with a list of the numbers of the Faculty of your institution together with their respective departments, and oblige Yours Truly [Effingham?] Maynard & Co. H.