"You will recv. an invitation to attend a meeting of eminent men, friends of education, at Albany…to inaugurate the movement for our Agricultural College, and a University at Ithaca…

"I have modified my proposition so that it proposes to donate $500,000, for the erection of a college at Ithaca on condition that the state will endow the institution with the entire land grant fund…

"Assuming that Beers is satisfied that the Peoples College is a failure through Cooks refusal to carry out his promised aid, and that he will now go in for our project as I am told many of the Peoples College Trustees will, we want him to come also."

"We had a respectable meeting and harmonious action -- Greely was with us and is with us. If the Peoples College dont move soon it must get out of the way and let us pass…"

"In reference to the College Movement I am sorry that Ithaca was not represented by any of its invited guests, this is an indifference unworthy the importance of the subject…

"The enterprise expands from an Agricultural College, to a University of the first magnitude -- such as we have to go to Europe now to find. Agriculture and mechanic arts being among its leading objects. The annual income of our strongest (Columbia) College is $65,000, from that our other colleges in this state have incomes of $20,000. $10,000. $8,000, and down to $5,000 per ann. If our plans are successful, I feel confidence in being able to lay a financial basis which will give us an anual permenant income of $100,000. That to be expended at Ithaca yearly for all time to come is the material question to which our citizens are supremely indifferent, cant attend a public meeting when invited to promote such an object. May the Lord be merciful to them and grant them future prosperity and happiness.

"If my life is spared, and prosperity continues I shall be able to make a broad mark on the future prosperity of Ithaca. I shall promise less than I shall perform. If we secure this congressional college fund I am confident that we can make Ithaca the seat of learning in America…"

"Capt. D. Tarbell C.S. was taken prisoner by the rebels Sept. 21st 1864 and is now confined in the military prison at Danville Va. He writes that several officers have been exchanged of late by special application; and wishes me to address yourself and Hon. Mr. Schuyler upon the subject of getting the like favor himself…He is very grateful for the interest you have heretofore shown on his behalf and is sanguine that you can be instrumental in releasing him from his present `living death'."

"I see you dont appreciate stones. If we have a college or University we shall have to procure a cabinet of Natural History and this as far as it goes is the best in the state and best in the world of the history of the N.Y. rock.

"College matter looks more hopeful, but I shall not go into fits to induce the state to accept $500,000 of my money."

"Cornell University introduced and in hands of Committee of Senate Joint, Literature & Agriculture. Regents have sent a committee to Havanna to pump Cook. Brown says they wont raise any thing with all the pumping they can do."

"…and immediately I wrote to our Members of Assembly to favor the passage of the "Cornell University" bill, in very pressing terms."

"I am ashamed my dear sir to see any hesitation of haggling in the acceptance of your princely gift which I am sure contains the […] of priceless blessings to our State."

"I should feel delighted to have my name connected in the humblest way with the Cornell University. The question "Canst thou send lightnings that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are" see Job 38:35 is solved in our day to a good purpose. It is a happy thought thus to telegraph one's name to posterity, to be able to say to future ages "Here we are." while the lightnings are sent abroad from this institution through its pupils."

"The discussion of the C.U. bill in Com of whole brought out a stronger manifestation of feeling in its favor than was known to exist in Senate."

"On my return I was in the train thrown from the track near Susquehannah. We were running forty miles an hour and struck a broken rail. The two rear cars were thrown from the track down an embankment & ours dragged over the ties against a wood pile & yet we escaped. Some evil angels hang over my visits to Albany."

"It is the telegraph that endows the University…It is my desire to secure still further endowments so that the institution shall at no time be embarassed by want of means, and shall at all times be able to command the best talent in America or in the world. I have one or two hundred thousand dollars more in prospective, and shall hope in a few years to gather around the enterprise another million."

"Tremain addressed the committee two hours yesterday PM in favor of C. University -- made a splendid argument. Comt adjourned to 3 1/2 this PM to hear oposition. This delay of time is outrageous. It may defeat us."

"This week I received a telegram from Senator White threatening to drop the bill if a delegation did not appear. I think five or six will be there. I have spared Boardman with great difficulty: I must now do his work & mine too but I have told him to stay till the last minute you desire."

"My attention has been called to a newspaper paragraph which mentions your wish to form a Medical College for Women. As I have been for twenty years deeply interested in the medical education of women; and as, with my colleagues, I am now engaged in raising $100000 for this object, I feel a profound interest in your philanthropic purpose…"

"The Genesee College swindle is bad enough, but it will be worse for that college than for me…. Several members urged it to be stricken out and the amount to be divided among the members to pay for passing the bill without the amendment -- Others said $15,000 to members would secure the passage of the bill -- Others thought $10,000 would do it -- Still others thought $250. It seems to be conceded that we never had a more corrupt Assembly than the one now in session. The University bill has no stains beyond what appears on its face."

"I sent to you at the Astor House a batch of introductory letters to Professors in Columbia Yale & Harvard and hope you received and used them."

"I spent a little time at Harvard University a few days since and though too weak to explore much, got some new suggestions on certain points."

"In a few weeks I hope to present you with a report wh. shall be of service. I mean to visit New York New Haven & Cambridge to have a quiet confidential talk with Mr R[…] & leading scientific men to […] their having absolutely the best men they know with some sketch of their characteristics. But the Presidency. How about Gov. Andrew? He has declined Antioch College. Why may not we secure him if he is desirable? But above all do not let the Observatory depart far from your thoughts. Take no thought for the building. When may I telegraph the Associated Press that you have contracted for by far the largest telescope in the world for the Cornell University? I ache to do it. I cannot help thinking that it would be easier & simpler to take the Yale or small hall system or a modification of it."

"I declined the loan as I have now to borrow money for my own use."

"I send you the Rawligh paper Journal of Freedom whitch gives the procedens of the Niggro Convention…"

"I feel that I am fast loosing all ambition to do anything more of service to the world. …Robinson has been down to the oil regions & has petroleum on the brain. …That [Deborah] should come here on a visit and in less than two months break friendship with Mary & James family and get into a general Row all round is outrageous & scandalous to say the least. I have taken no part in the bickerings myself, but you ought to hear Phebe blow her out once in a while, she can do it 'as if written in a book.'"

"I enclose the copy of a bill, exempting from taxation certain lands, held by states, colleges &c for Educational purposes."

"But even if your judgment will not carry you as far as this at least I do think that Cascadilla Place should begin the University even if ultimately all the other buildings should be on the North side of the creek."

"When I learn whether your views correspond with mine in relation to the religious teaching at the University, I will write to you my ideas with regard to a few other fundamental matters connected with the plan of the University."

"I expect thus to appropriate the balance of my life, and the labors which I have selected, the building up of a first class University, will afford an abundant field. If, however the loyal men of the State should aquiesce in the partiality of my neighbors, and call upon me to discharge the delicate and responsible duties of Governor, I may feel bound to yield to their wishes, and should do my best to discharge the duties honestly and conscienciously."

"Your grounds at Aurora also afford a beautiful and healthy location for such an institution. …I shall venture a suggestion. It is this, that instead of building a Female Seminary at Aurora, which would be but one of an hundred like institutions scatered over our state, and which though it flourished while you lived, and it was fostered by your care and judgment, might soon dwindle and droop when your fostering hand was withdrawn by death, built at Ithaca, "The Wells female department of the Cornell University" and thus aid us to engraft female education in America."

"I have received a letter from Mr. Selkreg informing me that the men of Tompkins Co. will present your name to the Union Convention this fall for the office of Governor…"

"…I was still under the necessity of differing with you in your opinions regarding the connection of a female department to your University; in a few words I will say that the object of this institution is to make one of higher standard than those refered to in your letter & prepare young ladies to be wives & mothers to educate the rising generation who are to take our places & influence & direct the destinies of a great nation, feeling and appreciating a mothers influence attending through a whole life, has induced me to begin an institution to promote a higher standard to moral & intilectual culture than has yet been attained by the ordinary village & town institutions to which you allude, this has been a dream of my life…. I will then have an institution that will educate American girls to fulfil the duties & take the possition that a kind Providence has assigned to the better half of our race in this broad land & woman then can fulfill her mission without going to the polls or entering the areana of politicks."

"…I am hopeful that as you have a greater interest in the formation of a permanent and ample endowment for the Institution than any other individual, we may agree on some plan under which you can become the purchaser of the scrip held by the State, with such provision as to the disposal of the proceeds as will conform with what I conceive to be the requirements of law."

"I have heard of a new candidate for the Presidency of the University -- a Massachusetts judge of high standing. I confess that I would prefer some such man to a clergyman."

"The struggle is over at last and I have just mailed 200 pieces of land scrip to Mr. Woodward and have written him that we will start for the west by Tuesday the 14th…

"I will however say that at last I have got it to suit me, [and] fully controll all the land scrip for four years whither I take and locate the whole or not. Cook or the Peoples College, and other colleges are powerless to trick or trouble it. I now feel for the first time that the destiny of the Cornell University was fixed, and that its ultimate endowment would be ample for the vast field of labor it embraces, and if properly organized for the developement of truth, industry and frugality it will become a power in the land which will controll and mold the future of this great state, and carry it onward and upward in its industrial developement, and support of civil and religious liberty, and its guarenty of equal rights and equal laws to all men."

"I have just returned from a trip of three days in the pineries of the Chippawa sleeping two nights in such rude camp as we could construct of pine bows by the application of half an hours labor. Yesterday morning we were aroused from our slumber by the howling of a pack of wolves of a dozen or more counting by the noise and varying voices. They remained with us an hour and then mooved slowly on untill their howl was lost in the distance.

"…I have not time to write to Senator White. Please show this to him, and say that this land operation is going to be a success. It requires skill, hard work and capital, but all those it shall have, and the present and future youth of our State shall enjoy the blessings that shall flow from a richly endowed Institution of learning."

"…I then found that the land scrip would only sell for about fifty cents per acre in the large quantity offered, and I further proposed to purchase the scrip of the state, select good lands and locate the scrip thereon and sell the land as opirtunity offered, giving to the "Cornell University" all the profits arising from the sale of land, thus realizing two or three dollars per acre as we hope to do instead of fifty cents per acre by the sale of the scrip.

The Legislature accepted this proposition, and passed an act last session authurising the comptroller to sell the scrip to me on such conditions. In my agreement with the comptroller for the purchase of the scrip, I am to give him a mortgage on the land located as colateral security for the performance of my agrrement to pay the profits arising from the sale of the land over to the University, or to assign to the comptroller the Register certificate for the same purpose."

"I write to congratulate you upon the election of our friend Senator White to the Presidency of the Cornell University, and to express my sincere gratification that we are to have the benefit of his intelligence, experience and energy in that responsible position."

"I have thought much since arriving home upon the possible extension of time by the recent Act of Congress. We ought not to procrastinate to anything like the extent allowed by the law but we might put off the reception of students and the beginning to pay professors salaries for a year and be, I am inclined to think, in much better position for it…"