New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-07

and his dafy ss Drector II the Observatory, or
else assume position which they would oonstrue
as uncivil He WA true to himself and hii post,
and suffers accordingly. The nciviHty, however,
as tuch is the name given to it by the Trustees-ws
solely in the act, and not in the manner OF it. Ia
language and bearirg far IS We can zee from the
correspondence, DR.. Gould WAS always courteous
and deferentiL. Let US explain:
In the latter part Of May we find that the Trus-
tees passed series of resolusiC as, one Of which
directed that the 0bservst)ry grounds should be
thrown open to the public from O'clock g. N. to :
O'Clock p. n. and that everybody should be admit
ted except children unaccOmpsaied BY their parents
or nurses. By another resolution DR.. G )uld was
directed to have set of duplicate passkeys to the
Observatory and every room in it, for the sole aud
exclusive use Of the Trustees 80 that at any and all
hours, whether with or without friends they might
have free access to the whole establishment To
this order Dr. Gould returned an ans wer, couched
in the most respectful language but urged in earn
est terms, aud with the strongest reasons precisely
such as any man who has only seen so much OF
astronomical operators the setting of sun dial
upon post, would suppose be would return. He
e1postulated against such use of the Observatory
and its grounds He pointed out TO the Trustees
how completely the object Of the institution would
be lost if the operators and their instruments we're
at all times exposed to the intrusion Of the public
He reminded them of the universal practice IN
Observstories everywhere else in the world, as one
arising from absolute necessity when astronomical
studies and observations were to be made. 10
short, be presented the subject as every scientific
man knows he must have presented it, or else have
been completely forgetfal Of his duty; ani We
can assure the unscientl6c reader that the
provsrbiaI "bull in a China shop "a bull
even whs was perpetually breaking into
fresh China shop-is but the faintest type of Whist
an astronomical observatory, with its instruments
of ofexceedng deicscy, and its observers needing the
utmost abstraction aud uninterruphon, would be
with public lie: loose upon it, and headed by
board of fussy, assuming authoritative Trustees, so
deplorably ignorant as not to know they were where
they had no business to be. It was DR.. Goud's
great misfortune that he was compelled to instruct
these gentlemen in matter Of which schoolboy
would be ashamed to be ignorant, and to show them
by argument, drawn from reason and experience
that il was impossible to have apubic garden and
an Astronomical observatory within the same walls
and Enclosures. We have no doubt that he would
acknowledge readily enough that playground for
the babies of Albany, and place of gossip for
their nurses was desirable thing; but he objected
to the Dudley observatory being used for that pur-
pose. He would no doubt welcome the Trustees
to observe his labors at proper times and explain to
them his progress; but he naturally enough objected
to risk of constant intrusion which at some unucky
moment might destroy the labors and observations
of months if not of years If the Trusees IN SNORT
supposed it possible to have good watch and a
we'll filled snuff box in the same case, DR.. Gould
knew better. He had 10 teach them accordingly, and
the necessity implied on their part such gross gno
rance that it is very evident, they have never for
given him. DR.. Gould felt that scientific insttu-
ton was under bis care. The Trustees supposed,
with its psss-keys, and free entrance to the public
that it was gigantic plaything, for the use of
which the public would thank them. The difference
was irreconcilable, and the only answer the Board
could give to DR.. Gould was his dismissal. Such,
we think, will be found to be, at least one of the
influences which have been at work to effect his
removal.
We publish elsewhere the resolutions of the
Council, and we trust that they will be fully sus-
tanned in the position they have assumed by the
sympathy OF the public. We hardly think that there
is scientific man in the country who under exist
ing circumstances, will venture to step into DR..
CouId,s nls "a NJ the call Of the BOARD of Trustees