Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-10-16

of the retired Ones it is true; but may il be o the
Board also. Ii may be said, that they have sought
the cover 0i secrecy 10 wrrak vengeance, ana glu'
malice against their fellow -ofcers-and what mcaner
than that can bc said Ot any body! The members
ul the Board il 10 themselves to have their pro-
ceedings male public. If liey kept no journal, then
they hal better ask leave TO sit again, and keep one
Better ask Ia do work over again, and do 1t right,
than be blamed for having done it wrong. Who
caused this sccrecy The act of Congress does not
order it. Mr.. D"bbin owes it to himself and to our
party whose confidence lie eIoys, 10 publish his in.
structl0ns Ia the Bourd that the country may BEE
who has caused this damned spot ON her honor
which will not ont" Ii inei fear nothing no~ have
they no frnr nj impartial history
Messrs. Editors Will ask the favor of you to pub
lsh, together with this, the enclosed piece, which
was cut from the National lntelliSencer Is It not
strange t!ni paper GENERALLY 80 accurate us the Ill
tclgencer, should commit such b!under MS to sup
pose that Lieut. Maurv il any more permanently Fix.
ed at the Observatory nor, than he was before the
Board condemned him as unseaworthy! The Secre-
tary may turn him out OF the Observatory to-mor.
row, II he chooses
A FRIEND OF THE NAVY.
From the National Inclli. .cnocr, Oct.
HONOR TO AN AMERICAN OFFICER.
We learn that the Russian Minister yesterday wait
ed on Lieut.. Maury, at the National Observatory, to
deliver, by command of his Government, an auto
graph letter from the Grand Duke Constantine, Who
II VIII be remembered, is the Commander-ln.ChIet OF
the Russian Navy. This letter is written III French
but, under the belief that many OF our readers will
derive us much pleasure from lis perusal as We have
done, We give publicity 10 Il translation OF 1t:
ST. PErERsRURGH DEC. IL, (22) 1851.
Tn Lieutenant MAURY:
SIR: Ii Is now long time since the eminent sci-
ohiir works, for which navigutnr> Of every nation
are indebted to your zeal and your talents, attracted
my attention. Recently again the Imperial delegates
to the BRUSSELS Conference have rendered me COM
l'ric report, in which have taken tho most lively
interest. should rejoice, sir, present you with
testimonial Of my esteem but, knowing the laws OF
your country which do not permit you TO accept any
thing from foreign princes, must conne myself To
the expression OF my sentiments. They are rs ex-
allied your merits; and. in my official capacity,
may sny TO You that you do honor to the profession
10 which You belong, well To the grcat nation
which you have the honor to serve.
Receive, sir, the assurances of my goodwill and
esteem, CONSTANTINE.
This is high but deserved compliment to Lieut.
Maury, who, we feel well convinced has been
lIcye,! from Ccve duty in the Navy that hr may be-
permanently retained in his present exalted and re-
sponsibc position Chief of the National D0scrva-
tory, where his services in the Of science and
nautical improvement will he much more important
and valuable t,ahis country und the world than they
would probably prove, however eminent they might
be, III any other position.