From F. W. Farrar   5 February 1866

My dear Sir,

Accept my grateful thanks for your kind & prompt reply to my bold request.¹ The certificate shall be sent to you, probably in a few days.² Among many others, Mr. Crawfurd, Prof. J. Clerk Maxwell, Prof. T. Hewitt Key, Gen^l. Sir A Scott Waugh (of the Indian Trigonometrical Survey), & Mr Evans will be supporters of my claim;³ & as the names of gentlemen eminent in many different branches of science will be on my certificate, I have authority sufficient at least to justify my candidature if not to ensure my success.⁴ One of my qualifications will be a steady endeavour to promote by every means in my power the study of science (& especially of botany) at our Public Schools. The little “Flora of Harrow” which I forward to you by post, & which is entirely the work of Harrow boys under my guidance & encouragement, will I hope be some proof of this fact.⁵ Pray do not take the trouble to acknowledge its arrival.

If I should succeed I shall attribute my success far more to the influence of your great name than to any other circumstance.

Believe me, my dear Sir, | Sincerely and gratefully your’s | Frederic W Farrar.