Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-02-01
For the 1ntellIzeucer.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
M ILEIl,E- IN IIRY.

pTaCblCal bCleuCes
For the 1nteiIzencer.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
AND LIEUT.. &NfAURY.
It ia undoubtedly true that mans knowledge
il everywhere in advance of his practice. This
has been the case ever since the hour, when, in
his fall, he preferred knowledge to duty. To
practise is lsborious and involves self-denial: to
theOrize is easy and gratfes the pride of intel
lect Incidence shrinks from cultiysting those
possessions which intellectual ayarice continual
" extends, and it is oitenleft to the uneducated
and humble to prove their fertility by expert
rnent or to some casual observer to discover the
rich treasures which lie beneath the surface
Hence it is that the domain Of science iscontin-
ually enlarged without corresponding benefit
to society. New regions are explored and an
nexed, but the vast territory remains unoccu-
pied and almost unproductive. Itmay in itself
be truly valuable and the title to it undisputed,
but it needs the hand of patient industry, and
tho judgment Of tho practical mind, to render it
available to useful purposes. Thus while the
world makes great advances in science collects
vast stores of materials, and accumulates extern
siVe libraries OF recorded facts and inyestiga-
tions the practical applications Of all this knowl-
edge are comparatively few, and the consequence
il that We are often at a loss for remedy for
practical evils which mock US by their apparent
simplicity, while they infict the most serious
losses How inefficient have been all the sppl-
Snces of scientific men in their efforts topreyent
the potato-rot; the rust, the smut, the fly in
grain; to detect and ueutralize the lurking mi
ssm, or arrest the march of the derouring pes
thence And all this, not perhaps from want of
scientific knowledge, but for want Of that prac-
tczl Sagacity which knows how to make use Of
the science and means of research we already
have
have been led to these reflections by reading
IN late No Of the National Intclligencer there
marks Of Prof Henry of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition, in relation to Lieut. Aaury and the sys-
tenn of meteorological observations he has pro-
posed to agriculturists. Prof Henry modestly
announced himself as merely representative Of
the Smithsonian Institution, statedits origin and
its object ito increase and diffuse knowledge
among men," and went on to speak of system
of barometrieal observations which it had car
ried on, and on which it had already expended
about $4,000. This system has for its primary
object to solve the problem Of American storms,
and materials had already been collected, suffi-
cient, as the Prof thought, "to settle the ques-
ton as to the character of these storm, whether
rotary and onward according to the theory of
Redfeld, OF upward and onward according to Es-
py." Heregretted that the Institution had not
the means of publishing its researches on this
subject, and deprecated in advance any appro-
priation by Congress in aid Of 1t Maury S plan,
crsto be under the direction of any individually
He thought this plan ought to have been made
out by Commission" of scientific men. He
admitted the talents of 1t Maury and that the
result of his labors was important. He said,
pie matter and involved no great scicntic attain
ment and certainly inferred no peculiar ability
to apply meteorological systom for the seas, to
tho land for ogrieulturst purposes" He himself
expected no personal credit for what was done
by the Smithsonian Institution. but he said that
on the contrary, whatever 1t Maury had done
was in his own name, although atthe EXPENSE Of
the Government, &c, =
Without having the slightest wish to deprice.
OF ofthe Smithsonian Institution, cannot but
regret this attempt to enhance the claims of sci.
snce, scientific men and institutions, by dispar-
Gging those of;Lt. Maury, and especially that he
should have insinuated that the latter labors for
his own personal honor at the expense Of the
Government. Prof Henry proposed merely to
represent the Smithsonian Institution, and to be
mere reflector Of It's radiance, and It is very
evident that he WAS chagrined, that any one in
the National Observatory should presume to
Anime by his own light. Ifheis sincere in thus
seeking to merge his own merits and those Ofthe
Institution, he judges perhaps to humbly Of him.
self and very differently from others who are
possibly In better position to decide. For our
part, wehaysno idea that scientific men should
depend on the institutions with which they are
connected far any part Of their reputation. We
think they should rather shine than be shined
upon, and,seek by their own merits to do honor
to their institutions. And il they can do this
without first making taemselsss conspicuous and
distinguished, va must confess We can form no
espcop6Ou Of the method. Cen Prof Henry
mako the Smithsonian Ins6tuhcn distinguished
in any othe way thsn By distinguishing him
selfi hbishght 70 be hid under. 3 smitlsonl.
an hushel, o. Is this Institution GIumdaleHteh
70 coysE with an e1tingaishsr one who might
elsewhere be reckoned sSsia1sIs II, indeed, The
learned Professor has really discovered a way OF,
giyinghght without shining, nc win, ii ssiiteegS
DIS dseossTg, coger6oth himself anGIt gIssii-
Glss9a With slcsy in ulakirg itkneva