The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-26
For the National Era
PROF. PIERCE AND THE AFRICAN
RACE.
aI.etius,ice be done. ,hougb n. !,


Prof Peirce, in his lecture Wednesday night,
made sweeping assertion, that there has
never been a mathematician of the African
race. | understood him to declare, emphati-
cally, that not solitary person of that race has
ever as yet been known to possess mathemati-
cal science. Indeed he seemed to lay it down
as thing impossible for there to be mathe-
matician of that race.
Now, justice to the memory of Benjamin
Banker, whose mother was native African,
and his fathers father also, seems to demand "a
word or so in his defence. He was doubles 5
one of the most extraordinary men who hay e
arisen in our country; do not say the mo st
profound, for | am not capable of Judging
but, considering the circumstances, he certainly
was one OF the most extraordinary men, in re-
spect OF science, an has so0y-and which has
among as, hitherto, been regarded as rnathe-
matical-of his day.
lie fiourished IN the latter part of the last
and first part of the present century. His place
of residence was Ellicott's Mills, Maryland.
With little or no education from teachers, he
made all the calculations for the almanacs pub
hshed in this region of country. He detected
an error in Ferguson's calculations, for which
he received, through Mr.. Jefferson, highly.
complimentary letter from the savans of France,
and was complimented by our own Government
with an invitation to aid the commissioners in
laying out the seat of Government of the Uni
ted States, which he did.
do not suppose Prof. Peirce was ignorant
of the biographical sketch of Benjamin Banni-
ker, published by Mr.. Latrobe in 1916; hence
we must conclude, as he made no exception,
that he does not consider the science of Banni-
ker mathematical science. For my own part
nd Annh al a
would be highly gratifying, if the Professor
would, in future lecture, state the distinction
between that science which enabled Banker
to calculate eclipses of the sun and moon,
places of the planets, the various changes of
the moon and the tides, to correct errors in the
work of distinguished mathematicians, to ascer-
tain latitude and longitude, and practically to
lay out cities, DC, and mathematics.
The biographical sketch of Banker, by Mr..
Latrobe, may be found in the number
of the Atrican Repository for l845.
Yours, &C., J.F.P.
CELEBRATION OF FRANKLIN's BIRTHDAY IN
BosroN.-The birthday of Franklin was com
memorated in Boston, on Tuesday evening, by
the Franklin Typographical Society" before
whom Hon. Edward Everett delivered an ora
ton on the early life of that distinguished
printer, prefacing his remarks with most
beautiful and feeling allusion to the catastrophe
at Lawrence, and adding:
Nor can we fail to take melancholy pleas.
ure in rejecting that the indescribable horrors
of the scene were relieved bydispays of Chris.
tan resignation and saintlike heroism in the
humber walks of life, not to be surpassed in
the history of our race. The poor child who
cheerful and unsel6sh, refused to be rescued
till Mr.. Nash was saved, and who was crushed
before her turn came the little girl, who, when
she perceived that her own escape was impossi-
BILE, held out her due-bill to her more fortunate
companion, amidst the scorching flames, say.
ing, You will be saved /; | shall not carry this
to my poor father needed no further prepare
ton Tor the company of the angels, to which,
like the prophet of old, they were caught up in
a chariot of fire."
Mr.. Everett also briefly referred to the death
Of Macaulay, the historian, and eulogized his
talents and writings.
VINO Is FOR CoAT OF TAR AND FEATH-
ERs?--Probably there are few of our readers
who would like to be smeared with tar, and
then equipped with a covering of feathers
Nor would many of them, we fancy, be much
delighted with receiving thirty nine Iashes with
a cowskin, well laid ON. A ride on a rail might
be less unpleasant, but we doubt whether many
of them would think it an agreeable diversion.
To come down to matters of less moment, we
do not suppose that they would take pleasure
in being summary expelled from the country
for the offence of speaking their minds respect
ing a political institution which they desired
to reform, or that they would be even satisfied
to have the newspapers for which they sub
scribed, withheld from them by the creatures
Of the Government. A reasonable man. let
him live in what part Of the country he might
would, we are sure, pardon any of our readers
for not taking fancy to be treated in either
OF the ways we have enumerated.
In saying this, we brt state some of the OBJ
jjections to the txtension of slavery which have
not hitherto rece vel the attention they de.
serve.-M +. EU. Post.
IowA.-CENsUs or l859.-Governor Lowe
delivered his last message to the Legislature of
Iowa on the 9th instant 1t is document of
great length, but gives a very clear and salts
factory statement of the present condition and
necessities of the State. From census, taken
by State authority during the past year, the
population is put at 642 ,532, being an increase
of l23, les since l856-and will probably reach
100000 before the Federal census is taken.
The agricultural statistics, taken at the same
time, but which, of course, refer TO 1853, show
that over 100000 tons of hay were cut, over
100000 bushels of wheat harvested over
23,000,000 bushels of corn cribbed, over
100000 bushels of potatoes dug, nearly
10000 gallons of molasses manufactured from
sorghum, beef cattle and hogs sold TO an amount
exceeding $5,000,000, and exported wool and
lead to the value Of $250,000. The Governor
thinks that in the year 1859 the beef and pork
would show an excess over 1858 of 20 to %
per cent, while the corn crop would not fall
short of 50,0O0,000 bushels, and the value of
the sorghum crop would reach 100000,
STRANGE wINp.E The Indians on Fraser
tell of a wind which suddenly oYertakes or river
meets men in that region, which is SO overpow.
eringly cold as to freeze one 10 death In a few
minutes, The TRAVELLERS has certain premoni-
tons of it's approach, and prepares TO weather
it or die. He can only weather it by killing
horse or some other animal on the instant, cut.
ting him open, and crawling into the palpitating
vitals. The wind soon passes over, and before
the carcass Of the dead beast becomes cold the
life of the traveller is saved. VIA, reliance
may be placed or ,!-,s statement We leave to
the philosophers to determine, Such q wind
you'll seem TO be the very opposite of ,hat
fierce and bljgbting wind which passed through
some OF the Southern eepntles Of this State last
GUNNER, burning up all vegetation, roasting
green fruit upon the trees, and striking animals |
dead with the heat upon the plains Marys. |
nile (Cal.) National Democrat
MAINE.-The now State valuation will run
up to about $l75, 600, 000-which is an increase
of seventy-6ve per cent. in ten years. Very
fair for State generally considered among
last young men as slow country to live in.
Portland goes from seven up 20 twenty-five
millions. Bangor fraln $39OO,OOO to over
80, 09GG00. Lewiston from $6sO,0O0 up to
s2,400 600. Cherry6eld has gone up 40 per
cent. Calais is about 60 per cent. in advance.