The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-30

ton Tor several weeks past When II VIII suosioe,
and what will be the result-whether 1t VIII stop
short at the saccharins, or go on to The acetous
stage, time alone can disclose. The chief aRltatlng
causes are certain pecuniary difficulties involving
the necessity of retrenchment, and the re-
ductlon of salaries, and the appointment OF a
professor of mathematics in the place of Mr..
Anderson, who has resigned the chair, which for
twenty years he has filled with so much credit to
himself and TO the institution. Mr. Anderson re-
signs, we understand, with the intention OF going
TO Europe, where he will probably reside for some
time. His resignation is a subject of general re.
greet, although his place can be perhaps supplied.
still greater subject OF regret, is the necessity that
comPels to consideration of plan for retrench-
ment, by reducing the salaries of all the professors
to about fifteen hundred a year. However, econo.
my is the order of the day-beef and bread have
come down, and why shouldn't learning?
For the chair of mathematics, there are num-
Der OF candidates. We will briefly enumerate the
claims and chances, as far we have been able to
ascertain, OF the most prominent.
First, there sthe reverend and eloquent MIR. Peck,
assistant pastor of Christ Church. Mr. Peck's
plety is supposed TO be fully equal to his science. If
he could succeed in establishing the converse of
the supposltlon he would stand pretty good chance
Next, there is Mr.. Gill, professor of mathematics
in ST. Paul's College, Flushing; thorough mathe-
matician.
Thirdly, there is Mr.. Sylvester. This gentleman
is no doubt in every particular splendid mathema-
tcian. He is an Englshman, of Jewish descent,
and was not long since appointed to the mathemat-
cal chair in the Virginia University, principally, we
have been informed, upon the recommendation of
Babbage and Sir John Herschell. He had not been
long in the chair. when he got into some difficulty,
the circumstances of which we have not been able
to ascertain, with his students, and not being sup
ported by the faculty, he resigned. Mr.. Sylvester
may have been right, and we think that is quite
likely, that he was; but this fact, together with the
fact of his being foreigner, will perhaps operate
against him.
A fourth candidate is no less person than the
present distinguished professor of chemistry and ma
tural philosophy, Mr.. Renwck. 1t seems that with
degree of dsinterestedness worthy of all praise,
he is willing to brush up his mathematics, which
must have got little rusty, transfer himself to the
chair of mathematics, and allow his son to come in
asprofessor of chemistry. AT least such is the re-
port. The arrangement would have the merit of
being kind of practical solution of the general
equation such an one as Blot or Babbage never
dreamed Of
A fifth candidate is MIR. Anderson, a younger
brother of the recent incumbent: We don't know
much about him but the name presupposes clever
ness.
We come now to!the two principal candidates,
between whom the result of the contest is supposed
really to hang. Professor Ross and Professor
Hackley
Professor Ross at present fills the chair OF Mathe-
mates at Kenyon College, Ohio. He is graduate
Of West Point, and we believe, held for some time
the position Of assistant professor of mathematics
in that institution. He has all the West Point in
fiuencs, and as one of the military magnates was
heard few days since to say she'd be id if
Ross shouldn't have it," suppose he stands a
first rate chance Mr.. Ross is undoubtedly an ex
cellent mathematician and further ''deponent saith
not.'
Professor Hackley is also a graduate of West
Point, and for some time also held the position Of
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, from which he
was appointed Professor in the University of this
city. This chair he held for several years until
the memorable blow up in that institution, when
the whole faculty resigned. He is the author of
several minor mathematical works and papers, and
OF most excellent treatise upon plain and sperial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT it is reported that he has for a
long time been engaged upon an elaborate his
tory OF mathematics. He Is also something
more than mathematician. He has pursued
a course of law study, is a clergyman of the
Episcopal church, has delivered lectures upon
history, moral philosophy, and architecture; and
like the distinguished mathematical professor of
Dublin University, has dabbled, and with good euc-
cess too, in almost all the branches of the human
II xvl e1U lie a Al l. Il
est, and unlike some of his competitors in getting
over the pons assenoran, he has never jumped into
the fons.
The contest then may be considered to be be-
tween these two. Ross is perhaps the best in pure
mathematics, Hackley in the mixed; Ross is the
best algebraist, Hackley the best geomeer and the
best teacher. One thing, however, is certain that
which ever of the candidates we have mentioned
getsit Columbia College'wi get full asmuch mathe-
mates as the mathematical school,, par excellence
West Point ever had.
AT the last meeting of the board of trustees the
Rev. Mr.. Haight, pastor of All Sainls Church, and
professor ofpulpit eoquence in the Episcopal Semi
nary, was chosen trustee. We think that no one
will dispute the proprety of this appointment, either
on the ground of eloquence, piety, talent, learn
ing.
REFORMING tributes from all parts of the
country, to the superiority of our arrangements for
reporting the Grafton at Bunker Hill, and the salts
factory manner, in which our reporter discharged
their duty, continue to accumulate. Amongst other
Acknowledgements, we find the following in the
Boston Notion -
Ma WERsrKRs GRAFTON As REroRTED New
YoRK HERALp-Mr Bennett of the N T. Herald deserves
the greatest credit for the arrangements which he made
for presenting his readers with the earliest and best
port Of MIR. Webster's Bunker Hill oration-arrange
nens which, thanks TO the talent and fidelity of his
porters, were completely successful portion of the
press however, has done him Injustice The fruits
OF his enterpze have been adopted and their quality de-
rded by the perers Some papers stole without credit
Others who published inferior reports, contented them
selves WIN ABUSING ms. In Justice 70 MI Bennett we
the only complete and report Of the Grafton
poksnand candid person who heard the address and
and has compared the reports published refuse