Transcription:
2 the California Society of Washington, and with individuals. Mr Garner of the Civil Service now, but of the Forestry Department
recently, is very enthusiastic on the subject, and is talking it up with some who prefer Stanford etc. Dr Benjamin was a resident
of California from his birth until he was a man. He is compiler of biographies for the Smithsonean Institution and, publishing,
so is in line to be interested. He told my sister some time ago that he wished I would let him write General Bidwell's biography.
He his wife are neighbors and very beloved friends of my sister and Mr Alexander. Mr Johnston sent Dr Benjamin 3 The
Centurys containing General's account of his trip overland, and wrote a very kind note. So you see you have set in motion
a force of value in this matter. It is very strange that for the first time in my life, when East, articles have been sent
me about General which were very important for Dr Benjamin's paper, and will be important for his work, and are still arriving,
the senders wholly ignorant of their peculiar value at this time, to us. Mrs Cheney wrote to know date of General's death,
stating that the Unviersity of California is about to publish a list of its graduates and of