Letter from Governor Andrew to
William Barton Rogers, March 9, 1861

Boston March 9/61

My dear Prof.

The Board of Ed. will meet next Wednesday morning.

I hope you will come & advocate the claims of the Nat. Hist. & Inst. of Tech.—but, no one else should speak. Be thou the advocate. Take time enough. Cover the ground to suit yr.self. Several speakers wd. do harm. At least I fear they wd. And you may say from me, that I wish one complete argument, & that no other be made.

Between ourselves I know you wd. have a powerful effect, left to yr.self.—& I fear some one else might come in, & weaken it.

Yours faithfully
& fervently
John A. Andrew