Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-12-12

We take pleasure in repubshng the
ence 1t Davis is avouraby known our citizens as
member of the Commission appointed examine and report
upon the Cape Fear Bar.
From the Boston Transcript
Scientific.
We publish the following correspondence with
great pleasure. The letters explain themselves and
the matters to which they relate are highly konora
BILE 10 all the parties connected Herewith:
NAUTICAL ALMANAC OFFICE
CAMBRIDGE, November "A, 1856.
COMMANDER C. H. DAvIS-DEAR S1R:-Now that
your official conneXon with US has ceased and Won
are about 10 leave and assume 10 duties which have
been assigned you by the Navy Department, it will
no. he improper Tor those whom you have associated
with yourself in the preparation of the American
Ephemerls and Nautical Almanac to give formal ex-
preston to the opinions and sentiments they have
long entertained You viii therefore pardon brief
review of the past.
! The establishment of an American Nautical All.
manac after the Coast Survey and Nautical Obserya.
tory seemed fitting additional step in our CONNER
clel and scientific progress; and although ii might
not have been considered as an Immediate national
necessity so long as should consent to be under
obligation to the British Nautical Almanac, still it
was felt by the most eminent scientific men of the
country to be particularly desirable not Only rs sub
serving our great commercial interests, but also as a
stimulus 10 the study of geographical nautical, and
| astronomical science.
You were among those who held these opinions
most strongly and the prominent part you acted
must justly be regarded the principal cause which
! led TO its establishment.
Your appointment the first superintendent TO
carry out the patriotic and generous intentions of
the Government, by nauguraing so important q work
and laying its foundations the testimony award
cd you by common consent.
The difficulty and responsibility of the situation
would have been materially lessened could you at
once have drawn 10 your assistance a sufficient num-
bel OF practical astronomers conversant with and
pert III the complicated and labJriouS computations
necessary in the preparation of the work but the
reverse was the case. Many of your assistants need
ed to be educated in the practical details of the work
before their services could be of much use.
Neither should it be forgotten, in view of such
difficulties how easily you might have reduced you
assistants TO the level of mere computing machines
ms cad of nstjtuting that enlightened and sagaciou
policy which has been The soul of your admnisra
ton, and which, with the greatest economy has con
trbuted so much to stimulate and encourage the cu
tIvaion of those very sciences upon which the Alma
nae It's highest usefulness depends.
1t is sufficient to add that many of your scientific
brethren throughout tn" country have given your la
bors their unqualified approval.
And now, IN conclusion, permit US to express Il
you the sentiments OF esteem, gratitude, and affection
to which your daily kin mess and courtesy, for 81
many long years so eminently entite you.
You will 60 to your new post of duty with oul
best wishes for your health and happiness with The
sincere hope that your life and usefulness may ions
remain 10 your country, and that you may return t.
the bosom of your family and to your friends will
that fame you cannot ta to earn, and which will b.
the common pride of all.
Please accept the accompanying edition of the En-
cycol edia Britannica slight token Of all we fai
TO express and believe ever your faithful frend
and obediGnt servants,