New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-24
PETTY ASsAIL.tNTS OF THE sANTO DOMINGO
COMMISSION.


To he Edifor Of The Tribune.
SIR: IN attack on the SantO Domingo Com
mission has lately appeared, showing considerable per-
f0na feeling against Of the gentlemen engaged.
A. to the origin OF the feeling and ttworhiness of the
personal remarks, will I'm the absence Of the persons
attacked slate onc Or two facts which " from
the best authority. -@'--. .-..'-. .......-
gentleman was engaged by the Secretary Of The Com.
mission assistant make foundations, duplicates,
Sc. As as he fairly at he declined to 10
any duties assigned 10 him Dy the Secretary, even the
simple duties for which he was employed. The seere-
tary notified tho Commissioners OF this state Of facts,
and the gentleman discharged paid for his services
in full, and furnished with free passage TO the United
states At the time Of employing him it considered
es:enta that gro doing the duties Of assistant TO the
Secretary should have no connection VIA any newspa
ton whatever. When he received his discharge, how
ever, he proclaimed himself assistant editor Of The
sun. At that time he complained of other grievances,
such his having had to sleep in hammock and de
clared his intention OF returning to York imnedl-
ately and OF pitching into the whole thing" Now as
the article in question i stated To come from geuie
man who accompanied the expedition, and who returned
this Uort by way Of 81. Thomas, the North Amer
ica" 1t seems probable that the two gentlemen are one
and the same person ana that ms views OF the Com,
mission and Of lie object may be tnged with personal
feeling.
styles SecrctaryOlhe Secretary Isl the only person
conyersant with spanish This gentleman returned to
New-loik In the North America, aud then adds that
Prof Crane who Is OF the Assistant Professors Of the
Languages of Southern Europe In the Cornell University,
does not speak Spanish that no.One except Mr. Rebco
either speaks understands IL from which t iuers
either that the requirement Is considered useless here,
that Mr. Crane has been sent to santo Domingo TO learn
IT, Allow me 20 that Spanish II and has always been
taught here, that several Professors beside Mr. Crane
understand IT, Of whom two teaching have taught
IT, and that Mr. Crane taken from here because he
understood and spoke H. he having been for many
spanish scholar, having studied 1t In Berlin and in
Madrid aud being engaged at the time he left In pepar
ing Spanish grammar for publication.
much for the nngs at the Uniyersy and Mr. Crane,
IS "A NJ
day need Endorsement Of his Spanish scholarship.
As for the preposerous description Of President White
IAN inofensyc quiet, gentlcmanly man. slightly dog
matte, dicat0rial, selfOpiniOnatcd." leave him well
defended he IL ny public services and his well known
carnesness In behalf OF everything noble, The story of
his having been nominated to Mr. Motley IL
probably untrue. though " true 10 would be- very much
10 his credit well ~ TO President Grants but he
certainly not In Washington at that time, "a The
SIMS article states, the whole account IL probably "a
mistake. Yours respectfully,
WILLIAM G. russell, Vice President
Cornell Ut,i,ersify, Feb ~, 1871.