The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-17
DEEP-sEA sOUNDINGS.

To the Editors of the Union: @#
The communication of Lieutenant Msury, in reply to
YOUR Bn has not been responded to at
earlier PERIOD owing in part to conviction that it was
simply rehash (somewhat elaborated it is true) of the
unofficial report which had published in the Intelligent
cor OF the 18th u but principally because your cores
pendent was satisfied that the public mind required
other assistance than time itself would afford to arrive
lust conclusion the in controversy between the
parties particularly interested therein Your correspond
emit has changed his opinion upon either point but
some persons may be inclined to place different consruc
ton upon such disposition of the subject and conure
themselves into the belief that his battery had been
slenced by the superiority of the metal from that of the
Naval Observatory it may not be amis to exhibit some
evidence of his ability maintain his position by return
ing the salute.
Your correspondent assumed in his communication of
the 9th December last that the report Of Mr. Maury had
found its way into print Witom the authority Of the disin-
1aishsd head Of the Nary Department and in assuming that
position his object was afford the public clue to
the motive which prompted Mr. Maury In making what is
nrey extensively considered ungenerous attack
Lieutenant Bergman
Mr. Maury however in his ejonder says This report
did not as b. intimates, find its way into print without
autborityn Now if Mr.. Maury the world to un-
dersand by this negaon that contrary to Bs' nti-
nation, he had authority from the Secretary Of the Navy
for the publication of his report your correspondent
is free to admit that he has not only failed to show any
proper ground questioning the proprety of Mr. Maurys
motives in thus acting but that be has very ungraciousy
and unwarrantably interfered with that genemans de-
alterations and reflections most interesting subject Of
physical research But according to your correspondence
acquaintance with subjects of pathological research he is
confident that whatever Interpretation the public may
give to the well-guardcd Of this negaion Mr.
Maury himself idea Of denying thereby the correct
ness Of aB ntmaton in regard to this important matter
authority in other words that he does not thereby in
tend to say his report found its way into print with
either the knowledge approval authority Of the sscre
ary of the Navy But the world at large is not pre-
sumed be very with the principles of phi
ology and might well enough suppose from the Ian
guage employed that Mr. Maury had such authority is it
not incumbent on him put the matter at by posi-
tive armance or denial Of the fact? Taking it, therefore
for granted Mr. Maury has not mpeached the correct
ness of sD inmson in this regard the position which
he assumed in his first communication remains wholly
affected by anything in the rjoinder of Mr. Marry and
he therefore, indebted rather the facts ohe than
the cross nature of your correspondent for the reec-
tons he think have been unwarrantaby cast
upon his motives whilst he quietly and calmly
gagged Observatory in the prosecution of researches
involving deeply the great interests of mankind
Bat Mr. Maury discovered and evidently feels that
his attack upon Lieutenant Bergman cannot be justified,
unless can show of authority for bringing the
desp-sea soundings of the Arctic" within the official
cognssnce the Superintendent Of the Observatory and
not having the authority of the Secretary of the Navy for
this purpose he has been driven 10 the necessity OF falling
back upon old law enacted eight nine years
ago from which he concludes that he not only had the
right but that it his duty to examine and report
upon the work Of the Arctic That law however,
simply directs the Secretary Of the Navy employ "three
suitable vessels Of the navy testing routes and per-
fectng discoveries made by Lieutenant Maury in the
course of his Investigations of the winds and
Of the sea- but although the Secretary of the Navy
may have looked to this law for the authority un-
der which he acted in sending out the Arctic, yet
as that vessel was detailed for the different distinct
and independent object Of ssceaining the practicable
Iy Of telegraphic communication between Europe and
America and dispute confirm that text from Holy
Writ which declares that the wind bloweth where list
eth and hear the sound thereof he cannot tell whence
comeh whittier il goeth it follows pretty clearly that
Mr. aaury has signay Jailed in the effort he has made to
bring the work of the Arctic under his official cognzance
Having therefore, succeeded in establishing this import
ant point and thereby clearly that Mr. Maui
~ had no necessary proper conne1ion with this subject
nappears to your correspondent that Lieut. Bergman is
under further obligation discuss any of the questions
which Mr. Maury has raised either in his unofficial report
the rash of which appeared in the Union Of the LIST
INST Lieut. Bergman, however having made his official
objections taken by that gentleman.
The Arctic which put under his command by the
secretary Of the Navy sent out special duty, up-
Connected with the ordinary operations of either the Navy
department the Coast Survey, the Naval Observatory
a therefore all the objections which Mr.. Marry has
fN@S to the masRer in which the soundings made