Maria Mitchell: Life, Letters, and Journals Part 30

"I have lately been making interest with Mr. Schumacher to cause the king of Denmark's medal to be given to Miss Mitch.e.l.l for the discovery of the comet to which her name has been given, if I mistake not, in the journal of your society as well as in the 'Nachrichten.' She unquestionably discovered it at half-past ten on the evening of the 1st of October; it was not, I think, seen in Europe till the 3d. Her father, on the 3d, wrote a letter to Mr. Bond, the director of our observatory, informing him of this discovery; and this letter was sent by the first mail that left the little out-of-the-way island (Nantucket) after the discovery. The _spirit_ of the regulations was therefore complied with.

But as the _letter_ requires that the notice should be given either to the Danish minister resident in the country or to Mr. Airy, if the discovery is made elsewhere than on the continent of Europe, it is possible that some demur may be made. The precise terms of the regulations have not been sufficiently made known in this country. As the claim in this case is really a just one, the claimant a lady, industrious, vigilant, a good astronomer and mathematician, I cannot but hope she will succeed; and if you have the influence with Schumacher which you ought to have, I would take it kindly if you would use it in her favor."

CAPTAIN SMYTH TO MR. EVERETT.

"3 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, 10th March, 1848.

"MY DEAR SIR: On the receipt of your last letter, I forthwith wrote to the astronomer royal, urging the claims of Miss Mitch.e.l.l, of Nantucket, and he immediately replied, saying that he would lose no time in consulting his official colleague, Mr. Schumacher, on the subject. I have just received the accompanying letter from Greenwich, by which you will perceive how the matter stands at present; I say at present, because, however the claim may be considered as to the technical form of application, there is no doubt whatever of her fully meriting the award.

"I am, my dear sir, very faithfully yours,

[Signed] "W.H. SMYTH."

G.B. AIRY, ESQ., TO CAPTAIN SMYTH.

"Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 10th March, 1848.

"MY DEAR SIR: I have received Mr. Schumacher's answer in regard to Miss Mitch.e.l.l's supposed claims for the king of Denmark's medal. We agree, without the smallest hesitation, that we cannot award the medal. We have in all cases acted strictly in conformity with the published rules; and I am convinced, and I believe that Mr. Schumacher is convinced, that it is absolutely necessary that we do not depart from them.

"Mr. Schumacher suggests, as the only way in which Miss Mitch.e.l.l's claim in equity could be urged, that application might be made on her part, through the American legation, to the king of Denmark; and the king can, if he pleases, make exception to the usual rules.

"I am, my dear sir, yours most truly,

[Signed] "G.B. AIRY."

HON. EDWARD EVERETT TO R.P. FLENIKEN.

"Cambridge, Ma.s.s., 8th August, 1848.

"DEAR SIR: Without the honor of your personal acquaintance, I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject which I am confident will interest you as a friend of American science. You are doubtless aware that by the liberality of one of the kings of Denmark, the father, I believe, of his late Majesty, a foundation was made for a gold medal to be given to the first discoverer of a telescopic comet. Mr. Schumacher, of Altona, and Mr. Baily, of London (and since his decease Mr. Airy, Astronomer Royal at Greenwich), were made the trustees of this foundation. Among the regulations established for awarding the medal was this: that the discoverer should, by the first mail which leaves the place of his residence after the discovery, give notice thereof to Mr.

Schumacher if the discovery is made on the continent of Europe, and to Mr. Airy if made in any other part of the world; provided that, if the discovery be made in America, the notice may be given to the Danish minister at Was.h.i.+ngton. It has been deemed necessary to adhere with great strictness to this regulation, in order to prevent fraudulent claims.

"On the first day of October last, at about half-past ten o'clock in the evening, a telescopic comet was discovered, in the island of Nantucket, by Miss Maria Mitch.e.l.l, daughter of Hon. W. Mitch.e.l.l, one of the executive council of this State. Mr. Mitch.e.l.l made an entry of the discovery at the time in his journal. In consequence of Miss Mitch.e.l.l's diffidence, she would not allow any publicity to be given to her discovery till its reality was ascertained. Her father, however, by the first mail that left Nantucket for the mainland, addressed a letter to Mr. W.C. Bond, director of the observatory in this place, acquainting him with his daughter's discovery. A copy of this letter I herewith transmit to you. The comet was not discovered in Europe till the 3d of October, when it was seen by Father de Vico, the celebrated astronomer at Rome.

"You perceive from this statement that, if Mr. Mitch.e.l.l had addressed his letter to the Danish minister at Was.h.i.+ngton instead of Mr. Bond, his daughter would have been ent.i.tled to the medal, under the strict terms of the regulations. But these regulations have not been generally understood in this country; and as the fact of Miss Mitch.e.l.l's prior discovery is undoubted, and recognized throughout Europe, it would be a pity that she should lose the medal on a mere technical punctilio. The comet is constantly called 'Miss Mitch.e.l.l's comet' in the monthly journal of the Royal Astronomical Society at London, and in the 'Astronomische Nachrichten,' the well-known astronomical journal, edited by Mr. Schumacher himself, at Altona. Father de Vico (who, with his brothers of the Society of Jesuits, has left Rome since the revolution there) was at this place (Cambridge) three days ago, and spoke of Miss Mitch.e.l.l's priority as an undoubted fact.

"Last winter I addressed a letter to Mr. Schumacher, acquainting him with the foregoing facts relative to the discovery, and transmitting to him the _original_ letter of Mr. Mitch.e.l.l to Mr. Bond, dated 3d October, bearing the original Nantucket postmark of the 4th. I also wrote to Capt. W. H. Smyth, late president of the Royal Astronomical Society of England, desiring him to speak to Mr. Airy on the subject. He did so, and Mr. Airy wrote immediately to Mr. Schumacher. Mr. Schumacher in his reply expressed the opinion, in which Mr. Airy concurs, that _under the regulations_ it is not in their power to award the medal to Miss Mitch.e.l.l. They suggest, however, that an application should be made, through the American legation at the Danish court, to His Majesty the King of Denmark, for authority, under the present circ.u.mstances, to dispense with the literal fulfilment of the conditions.

"It is on this subject that I take the liberty to ask your good offices.

I accompany my letter with copies of a portion of the correspondence which has been had on the subject, and I venture to request you to address a note to the proper department of the Danish government, to the end that authority should be given to Messrs. Schumacher and Airy to award the medal to Miss Mitch.e.l.l, _provided they are satisfied that she first discovered the comet_.

"I will only add that, should you succeed in effecting this object, you will render a very acceptable service to all the friends of science in America.

"I remain, dear sir, with high consideration, your obedient, faithful servant,

[Signed] "EDWARD EVERETT.

"To R. P. FLENIKEN, ESQ., Charge d'Affaires of the United States of America at Copenhagen."

R.P. FLENIKEN, ESQ., TO THE COUNT DE KNUTH.

"Legation des Etats Unis d'Amerique,} a Copenhague, le 6 Septembre, 1848. }

"MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE: J'ai l'honneur de remettre sous ce pli a votre Excellence une lettre que j'ai recue d'un de mes concitoyens les plus distingues, avec une correspondance touchant une matiere a laquelle il me semble que le Danemark ne soit guere moins interesse que ne le sont les Etats Unis; le premier y ayant contribue le digne motif, l'autre en

ayant heureus.e.m.e.nt accompli l'objet.

"Je recommande ces doc.u.ments a l'examination attentive de votre Excellence, sachant bien l'interet profond qu'elle ne manque jamais de prendre a de tels sujets, et la reputation eminente de cultivateur des sciences et de la litterature, dont elle jouit avec tant de justice. J'y ai joint une lettre de moi-meme, adressee a sa Majeste le Roi de Danemark.

"La matiere dont il est question, Monsieur, sera d'autant plus interessante a votre Excellence, qu'on peut la regarder comme une voix de reponse adressee a l'ancienne Scandinavie, proclaimant les prodiges merveilleux de la science moderne, des bords memes du Vinland des Vikinger hardis et entreprenants du dixieme et de l'onzieme siecles.

"Je prie votre Excellence de vouloir bien soumettre tous les doc.u.ments ci-joints a l'oeil de sa Majeste, et dans le cas heureux ou vous seriez d'avis que ma compatriote, Mlle. Mitch.e.l.l, puisse avec justice revendiquer la recompense genereuse inst.i.tuee par le Roi Frederic VI., alors, Monsieur, je prie votre Excellence de vouloir bien appuyer de ses propres estimables et puissantes recommandations l'application des amis de la jeune demoiselle.

"Je m'empresse a cette occasion, Monsieur, de renouveler a votre Excellence l'a.s.surance de ma consideration tres distinguee.

"R.P. FLENIKEN.

"A Son Excellence M. LE COMTE DE KNUTH, Ministre d'Etat, et Chef du Departement des Affaires Etrangeres.

TRANSLATION. [Footnote: This and the other translations of the French letters are printed as received in this country.]

"Legation of the United States of America,} City of Copenhagen, September 6th, 1848. }

"Sir: I have the honor to communicate to you a letter from a distinguished citizen of my own country, together with a correspondence relating to a subject in which Denmark and the United States appear somewhat equally interested, the former in furnis.h.i.+ng a laudable motive, and the latter as happily achieving the object.

"I commend these papers to your careful examination, being well aware of the deep interest you take in all such subjects, and of the eminent reputation you so justly enjoy as a gentleman of science and of literature. They are accompanied by a letter from myself addressed to His Majesty the King of Denmark.

"This subject will not be the less interesting to you, sir, as it would appear to be a returning voice addressed to ancient Scandinavia, speaking of the wonderful achievements of modern science, from the 'Vinland' of the hardy and enterprising 'Northmen' of the tenth and the eleventh centuries.

"I beg, therefore, that you will obligingly lay them all before His Majesty, and should they happily impress you that my countrywoman, Miss Mitch.e.l.l, is fairly ent.i.tled to the generous offering of King Frederic VI., be pleased, sir, to accompany the application of her friends in her behalf by your own very valuable and potent recommendation.

"I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your Excellency the a.s.surance of my most distinguished consideration.

[Signed]. "R.P. FLENIKEN.

"To His Excellency THE COUNT DE KNUTH, Minister of State and Chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs.