Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-17
PROGRESS OF SCIENCE IN CHILE.

Recent measures of more immediate and general
utity-the great railroads and -four mills in Chile,
of whose progress the papers generally advise US
induce to refer to works paronsed by that young
Government not less interesting to portion of our
readers.
In 1888 authority was given NJ. CLAUDE GAY French
naturalist, to collect data for the compilation of work
embracing the political and physical histories of the
try in their widest sense OF the political history the
first volume appeared in 1874 One of botany followed
the succeeding year. and subsequently others have
been published, which embrace combinations of the
subjects and the former The natural history antiquities
CUSTOMS and scenery illustrated by about 200 superb
folio plates coored by the best artists The civil and
political history fills five royal Svo volumes, including
OF documents. OF the natural history similar
volumes have reached the United States and the publ
cations to embrace its geography and statistics still
in progress. This great national work, brought out in
Paris in the highest style of art would do honor any
nation Probably incompeteness has prevented it being
more generally known only three, at four
pies Of the portions published having reached this
try One of these presented to the Smithsonian In
| stitution by the Minister Plenipotentary.
Next we find her authorizing Typographical and geo.
logical survey under the direction Of graduate of the
Polytechnic School at Paris NJ Anne PIRRIs According
the report of the Minister of the Interior to Congress-
maps had been completed of the Provinces of Santiago
Valparaiso, and Acanoagua but yet only the text Of
the reports has been printed
Schools for gratuous instruction in the mechanic arts
in agriculture in painting and in music were organized
during the administration Of the late President General
BULNEs, and are now in successful operation.
Four years ago Government sent an astronomical
expedition to that country for specific objects and its
observatores erected Santiago than the
official paper Of Chile brought intelligence that appi
cation had been made to Lieut. GILLIss by the Minister
to instruct three young men in practical astronomy.
During the residence Of expedition interest for the
promotion of astronomy increased The climate is
surpassed for observations it would be just subject Of
national pride to establish the first permanent observa-
tory in South America. And when officers had COM
pleed their abors the Government Of Chile Immediately
offered to purchase every thing it stood Scarcely was
this effected before find decree directing Senior CAR
to obtain chronogphic registers aid their as
tronomer, DR.. MAsTA, graduate of the University of
Marburg and the last mail brings us information that
they have actually determined send Dr. MAsTA on an
astronomical expedition Peru 1t represented to
the Minister of Public Instruction. under whose direction
the observatory is that the physical phenomena attend
ing total ecpses of the had of late assumed
terest rendering it particularly desirable that the eclipse
of November 30th next should be observed by compe-
tent person. and there neither suitable nstru-
ments astronomers in Peru, the President Of Chile
promptly directed him to dispatch Dr. MAsrA for the
purpose.
Few nations, it will thus be seen have done much for
the encouragement of science and that founded by
PEDRO DE VALDIvIA, and we repeat what said on a
somewhat similar occasion few years since That per-
haps which most tends to elevate the national character
with contemporaries which receives from the living
tude and demands from postery admiration the pro-
secution of science for benetan ability and
disposition to increase and dfuse knowledge among
men,"