Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-08-07

THE LIEBIG CONTRIBUTION. - The
following from the Williamsport Bulletin
in regard to the action of the American
Chemists, at the recent meeting at North
umberland, will find a response in the
breast of almost every citizen of this section
of the country. We had previous to the
meeting, thought Of suggesting to that
body, the propriety of a subscription for
monument, not to Liebig, but to Priestey,
whose great discoveries opened to the world
the wonders of chemical science, and point
ed the way for such distinguished scientists
rs Labig, Davy, Faraday,an others. Why
they should neglect the remains of man,
whose distinguished services and discover
les they assembled TO commemorate, and
at the same time contribute 10 rear a
column to the memory Of another wko fol-
lowed him, is one Of those mysterious acts
that sometimes surprise US but are not
readily explained:
"On Saturday the American Chemists,
at Northumberland closed their centennial
celebration of DR.. Joseph Priestly's dis
covery of oxygen. The exercises were con-
Quoted in national spirit, but one act in
the final drama was anything but aprro-
priate-the contribution of money for
the citizens of Northumberland, and espec-
! iallv to the descendants of the great Chemi-
/ cal discove1er. In that village they assem-
/ bled to pay homage to DR.. Priestly, oxtoll-
! ing his great work in the field Of chemistry,
and Grating over bis remains for two days.
! Right well they knew that nothing but an
| ordinary slab marked the resting place of
the great discoverer. The defendants Of
! this noted man had opened wide their
| doors to the nations scientists, and gener
ously invited them to the hospitality of
their roof They had partaken OF it, and
! lust upon the eve Of adjournment they
contribute their hundreds Of dollars to be
/ invested in 4 foreign monument, and leave
! the remains of DR.. Priestly TO rest upon the
! hillside above Northumberland, with moth
! inc but an ordinary stone TO indicate to the
visitor where rests one of Gods noblest
specimens. 1t is a shame, and we are bold
! TO declare it-especially when that body of
! educated men resolved upon n committee
70 invite foreign chemists TO the nation's
centennial, with the hope that they would
visit the grave of Priestly. BY all means,
before the Fourth Of July, 1876, in North
cumberland cemetery, and over the grave
of DR.. Joseph Priestly, should be erected a
slab rejecting honor upon American chem
lists, and one worthy the great tbeologian
and chemist that lies sleeping that sleep
| that knows no waking. Until then, invite
no foreign chemists 10 the banks of the
! Susquehanna. Let the sentiment expressed
/ during the Convention be carried out by
fitting memorial, and then send money
| abroad to erect monuments for the dead
II the memory of Priestly is held so sacred,
why should he be forgotten in the closing
hours of Convention called to revere his
name, and one who sleeps upon a foreign
shore be brought up in preference ? There is
something radically wrong about H. Had
they proposed a Priestly monument Sl0,0 600
could have been raised, and the reliable
farmers of northumberland seated in that
hall on Saturday last would have responded
/ by donations Of hundreds. But theiT
mouths were closed-they felt the wrong,
and remained silent. There is but one
way to amend-and that is by speedy
contribution for Priestly monument.