The native American., 1840-03-21
CO NJ M u MIC A TION S
For The Native american.
e. w. FEATHERSTONHAUGH

Iflc pung6nt remarks OIL your correspondent
i" Pro Bono Publico," in relation TO the spy,
whose name is placed at the head of this ari-
Gle. As the pen of that able writer has been
silent for several weeks, fear THAT he has re-
tired from the field where such laborors are
few. With his patriotic indignation at the
employment Of foreign adventures and inter-
lopers, to, the exclusion of native talent and
genius, fully accord, and regret that it did
not fall to his lot to make known to the public
the facts and circumstances which are embod-
led in this communication.
The title of "United States Gcologist" was
assumed by Featherstonhaugh,- such office
was never created by law However, a high
sounding name is as easily taken us modest
one, and is far better weapon in the arts Of
imposition. A few years ago. an appropriation
for some public purpose was made, perhaps
to complete or continue Typographical surveys
but a proviso was inserted that five thous-
and dollars of the sum appropriated should be
expended in making meteorological and geo.
logical surveys in Michigan and Arkansas.
AS soon as the bill became law, Featherson-
haugh, who had been nOWlse sparing in his
aattery upon certain head ola bureau in the
War Department, was appointed to make the
surveys contemplated by the appropriation.
He now fancied himself the dictator of Amer
lean Science, and the country was promised
a geological map, and an elementary work,
upon the science Of geology, through the
medium of his reports. Two reports were
made to Congress, and such reports too, rs
even DR.. Buckland himself could scarcely
comprehend There was in them mass of
confusion, of hasty generalization, which rem
Jaral RI a. tba ,,ar,c,1 nf RI
incomprehensible by an adept. should, how
ever, except the portions of those reports which
he quoted from the publications of the day,
and the information he derived from the
learned gentlemen he met with in this coun-
try. The manner in which he ascertaned
the constituents of certain mineral waters of
Virginia, and claimed the analyses us his own,
illustrates his tact in profiting by the labors of
others. In one of his excursions, he met
with the learned and accomplished Professor
w. B. Rodgers, of the Virginia University,
while this gentleman was pursuing his inves-
legations as Geolog list oftLat State. Feather
stonhaugh soon found that Doctor Rodgers
was analysing the mineral waters, and
became very DESTROYS to ascertain the re-
suit of his labors. DR.. Rodgers, whose mod
esty is equal to his extensive learning, and
whose amiability is in striking contrast with
the naughty, superciious air of Featherston-
haugh, made the latter acquainted with the
results of the analyses. Some months after
this meeting, DR.. Rodgers communicated to a
Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, the
contents of the mineral waters of Virginia,
and you can readily imagine his surprise, Mr..
Editor, when he was informed that he had
been anticipated in every thing which he
had communicated, by Featherstonhaugh,
who claimed the anal Uses as the result of his
own investigations. A note was made OF the
means by which Featherstonhaugh obtained
the analyses claimed as his own, and now
stands recorded on the books Of the Society.
Mr. Mather publicly accused him Of claim
ing map which he (Mr. NJ. had drawn.
Fcatherstonhaugh wrote, and secretly crcula-
ted pamphlet in reply to Mr.. Mather, and
repeatedly denied having done So when asked
for copy The clandestine pamphlet, how
ever did not heal his wounds, and he resorted
to the law for redress. In his declaration for
alibel against Commodore Rdgely, Captain
Perry, and others, (the Committee of pubIica-
ton to periodical in New York, in which
Mr. Mather's letter appeared as an appendix
to a critiuue OH one of Featherstonhauyb 's re-
ports) he styles himself "A SUBJECT OF THE
QUEEN OF GREAT BRITIAN;' and that, too,
after he had, for several years, rejolced IN the
title of '!UNITED STATES GEoLoGIsT."
To the present Secretary Of War, believe,
the credit is due Of Kidding the country of this
quack and imposter, whom the Government
paid SO literally to act as spy uponus.
l find that this communication, to contain
all that intended to say, would be extended
to too great length. shall, therefore, stop for
the present; but may, at future day, give
some other facts, to show you how we'll the
late English Commissioner understood the art
of HUMBUGoLoGY. DETECTOR.
We are obliged to An Old Subscriber for
4l,o La ,,r;nr artinlas. Az ue do not exchanre