Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-05-29
TO 7HR EDITORS.
onsaavAronr, TuranAI, Arm IS. ls47.

ossRRvAroRr, TuEsDAY, APRTL %, Is47.
SEARs c. WALKER takes fling in Saturdays Intel
gencer and Of Withholding from him due credit
for his researches touching the planet.
Mr. Waller is mathematician, and conducted the first
researches which led to the important discovery that the
planet Neptune observed fixed star by Lalande in
l795 This he did while he belonged the Observatory II
was an achievement which required talents Of high order
II reflected credit upon the Observatory, well upon Mr.
WALKER; and regarded it quite honor that the duty
of announcing should be mine In that announcement
intended to give Mr. WALKER full credit for what he had
done and think did for in my official report Of Peb-
ruary 9Th upon the subject which published after alud-
ing to the length Of time that elapse before future obser-
vaons would afford requisite data for the elements Of the
panet-ae dwelling upon the Importance of using present
observations for the purpose Of leading discovery of for
mer observations upon the planet fixed s;ar--I say in
the report referred to above As soon as circumstances per
mtted the search undertaken at this and the
duty OF conducting Gssigaed 10 Mr.. Walker ch0 has ac.
quilted himself Cf The task manner higbiy satisactry "
his part OF the report not ialicised In the original
but think every body understood from the above that Mr.
Walker conducted the mathematical Investigations which led
TO the discovery for he has always been quoted both in this
country and IN Europe, az far have the author
OF these Investigations wherever the author has been referred
TO. II Is but just that he should be so quoted.
But Mr. Walker has recently been permitted to resign his
place o. the Observatory, ard may be imagined that he
little sore and passage from the history Of his connection
with the Observatory may assist your readers to form Opt
Mon TO the weight which should be attached to COMPLAINTS
from him against me.
Early in lsi6, Mr.. Walker, with whom had a mere
speaking acquaintance. called my Office told me tina: he
had been unfortunate in business aud was pennless He
asked for place at the Observatory. Glad procure the
services OF 50 clever astronomer Mr. Walker repu-
ed TO be, and touched by bis appeal my mpahies ap
pied io him ns one OF my assistants and such he
appointed
was at the time preparing for the great work of ca,alogu-
ing the stars which the Observatory has undertaken This
work originated with me, far such work originate
with any one for proposed planned and arranged it, This
Mr. Walker knew, for told him OF it. But sooner did
tel him Of IT. than he went TO the Secretary of the Navy
Mr BAScaoPT and proposed that he (M BancroD should
issue an order requiring TO catalogue the Nay,
mor be went further and drew up the instructions which he
proposed the Secretary should ISSUE This Mr. Walker has
confessed to me. When il was known that he coming
TO the Observatory warned that Mr.. Walker would
dcrmine and play false. lisregaded these warnings,
because thought him above tbs suspcion of mean
thing But that tamperng with " my stars" looks very like
an attempt TO curry favor at my expense and lay anchor
y wndwad for my place Such is tho who accuses me
10 the public prints Of TGbbng him Of honors And how
Because, orsoot in audng Of the results TO which
the operations Of the National Observatory have already led
should not always add in place and Of place. officially
and unoficially, these results are the property Of Mr.
WALKER.
In my opinion these results are tho property Of the Obsc
vatory, and not Of Mr.. Walker. Mr. Walker employed
by the Observatory 10 obtain them The Observatory furnish
ed him with and materials The planet observed
BY Page and Coffin, Maynard and Hubbard Amy and Eeih
and do not recoec how many others The work OF these
officers all placed In the hands Of Mr. Walker, and he
required his part these observations to
count This he did, before said with ability and
cess, and for which official public acknowledgment mad,
and credit given This that officer of the survey
veys habo but the chart IL coastsurvey chart, not the
surveyorsan exploring expedition chart not the chart
any particular officer. Buiy undertook the immense labor
preparing catalogue Of than eight thousand stars bu
he employed by The British Association various observ
and observatoes furnished the materials and yet Bay
himself called it not his catalogue but the catalogue Of The
British Association. And think there no just
complaint if in audng the results TO which the abos
myself and associates have led aude TO them in thu
Of any one, bot in the name Of the Observatory
Respectfully, &c N. j. MAURf.