New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-15

than . quarTynsu gives to those be m'kes iors
blsstng-cntrdge. Most Of ~, even if We did
rot know. would be careful TO find out whether the
instrument We pointed at WAS meant for the meas
urement Of petitions or for looking at the stars
before We talked Of painting for the unfolding
"elores il was expected to reveal even sup
posing that painting was fsvorable condition te
permit ones self TO get ioto for ntronomi-
csl cb,ervators. We stould not al, Is
is to be hoped, iupu~ precision aud
{" TRANSFER dental exactness" a. fault to
an astronomer, or Jump to the conclusion tisf
be mutt be either boy or rogue because he had
o use for clocks Of various sorts which We could
rot possibly understand; and it is to be hoped that
il the msjority Of men there would be fcunf 90
much Of humility as would prompt them to mis-
trust their own jud gment on questions of science OF
which they ought to know that they were utterly,
not to say ludicrouit ignorant But, neverthe-
less, tie popular knowledge Of astronomy aud par
ticuary Of astronomical observation and the manip-
ustion Of astronomical instruments, is very small
though rot perhaps quite in that state Of de'titu'
ton that Mr.. Olcott's display of virgin ignorance
stng to it, therefore, the popular Judgment must
await the direction of those whose lives have been
devoted 10 it, artuOus study. In contest between
such men, and men the very nature OF whose
charges sgainst another, as in the case OF those
Of the Trustees against DR.. Gould. show that
they are too ignorant even TO talk intelligenty OF
the inject they profess to understand 1t is impos
sible when such is shown to be the fact, that any
question can remsin as to which is 10 the rlgnt'
The charges that are absurd are necessarily false
and will move our ridcule when time enough h.s
elap,ed TO cool our indignation. In the mean tine
we take our belief on trust in some measure, on
the assurance Of men Of science whose personal
integrity has never been impeached.
That tie popular sentiment Of Albany ha' taken
this righteous direction mu,t needs rejoc, all who
feel an interest in the progress of learning among
US. Notwithstanding the respectability and the
mary estimabe qualities which, we have no doubt,
the majority of the Board possess, ard which en-
title them to the respect of their fellow citizens
these fellow. citizens, accepting as soon as 1t Is
known, the decision of the Scientific Coun'
Gil, pronounce a very positive condemnation
Of the prosecution to which DR.. Gould has
been exposed. So emphatic justification
of that gentleman, such an a7owed deter
mipation to support the Council, aud such an
upequvocal avowal Of disapprObatiOn Of the colrse
of majority, must needs, We should think, bring
those gentlemen to sense Of how false and ab-
.urd the position is in which they have placed
themselses. They can retire from it gracefully
now by sguation leaving their places to be filled
by those who can act in harmony with the minority
of their own body, the whole of the Council, the
Director, and the principal donors. TO persi'
in the opposite course will be to give themselves ar
4" Immortality" of few months, such as theil
President Fever painted for in his widest dreams.