Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-29
$tauntott Spectator.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 90, 1873.
The Mccormick Telescope.

och Lie MCCORMICK 1eleScOpce
We observed, in reading the proceed
ings Of the House of Delegates of Fri
day last, that Mr.. Bocock had presented
the memorial of the Rector and Visi'
tors of the University of Virginia, in
regard to the Mccormick Telescope,
and joint resolution in relation thereto
Upon inquiry, we have ascertained
the following to be the facts of the case
In the latter part of December, 1877,
Mr.. Leander J. Mccormick, a native o.
Virginia, but now resident of Chicago |
by letter addressed to Hon. A. Fl. H
Stuart, Rector of the University of Vir
GINA, made formal tender of his mag
nifcent Telescope to the State of Vir- |
GINA for the use of the University, pro |
vided the sum of 900 was appropri
ated to erect SUITABLE building to re-
ceive it and make the proper provision
for its profitable use. ......
% On receipt of this letter, Mr.. Stuart
addressed communication to Profs.
Smith and Venable, whose departments
are most nearly connected with the sub
ject of astronomy, requesting them to
report to him all the knowledge they
might possess of the size, cost, and value
of the instrument, and their opinion of
its usefulness in imparting instruction
to students, and also in extending the
circle of human knowledge.
In reply to Mr.. Stuart's communica'
ton, Profs. Smith and Venable made a
long and able report, giving full infor
nation upon the subject in all its as
poets.
A memorial, on behalf of the Rector
and Visitors, was then prepared, to
which the letters of Mr.. Mccormick,
the communication of Mr.. Stuart to
Profs. Smith and Venable, and their
report in reply, were. appended, which
was forwarded to Mr.. Bocock, who is
one of the Board of Visitors of the Uni
versity, to be presented to the General
Assembly.
We understand, further, that the Tel
escope is the largest and finest Refract-
ing Telescope in the world. 1t not only
excels the instruments used at Harvard
University and the University of Mich
igan, but is superior, in size and power,
to that in the National Observatory at
Washington.
This Telescope was constructed by
order of Mr.. Leander J. Mccormick,
who is gentleman of culture and in
telligence, with decided taste for nat
ural science, at a cost of nearly FIFTY
THOUSAND COLLARS in gold, and is now
rendered to Virginia, not merely as q
splendid tribute to the cause of science
but as a memorial of his devotion to his
native State. ..
We cannot commend too highly the
munifcent and filial spirit which
prompted Mr.. Mccormick to make this
gift worthy of an Emperor, and we hope
it will be responded to, as aproud moth
er should recognize the liberal offering
of generous and affectionate son.
81. We know that the finances of the
Otdtc dIC Ill I'LL CLlOh1A6 ooSo SOANAeAOa
and that it requires some nerve on the
part of Legislators to add to the already
heavy burthens Of our people. Bu
this is an exceptional case. 1t addresses
itself to our patriotism and our Stat'
pride. We had almost said that it ap-
pealed to an enlighted sense of economy
It must be remembered, that if the Leg
islature should make the appropriation
of 1000, it will not be SO much money
parted NTH, spent and gone, but merely
a conversion of $4,000 of money into
$4,000 worth of real estate, which
will still be the property of thu
tive investment. The moment it ii
made, it will secure to the State, as it,
property, the Telescope, worth nearly
$4,000 in gold; and, moreover, by it
attractions it will draw from all sec
lions of the Union additional number
of students to the University, and there
by add to the pecuniary wealth OF thu
State, besides affording facilities of al
NEST priceless value to Virginia students
who may desire to explore the siderea
systems of boundless space.
As mere matter of dollars and cents
therefore, it strikes us the investmen
would be paying one, but in its scien-
tiflc and educational aspects, who car
: measure its value.
BY the liberality of Mr.. Lewis Brooks
and w. w. Corcoran, the University o
Virginia is equipped with almost every
appliance necessary for the highest edu
cation. She has splendid Museum o
Zoology, Mineralogy, Geology, ane
Natural History generally. If our Leg
islature will now secure for her the
Mccormick Telescope" it will place
our University ahead of any on this
continent, and abreast of the most re-
nowned seats of science and learning in
the old world.
FRUITS OF PUBLIC FAITH.-A writer
in the Alexandria (Va.) Gazette against
reputation justly holds up Maryland as
an example for Virginia, and Tennessee
also, at this juncture. The writer well
recalls the fact that when reputation
was talked of by some short-sighted PEG
pie in Maryland thirty odds years ago,
and tn bonds of that State were down
to 40, the sentiment of the State was
turned against such course and its
faith was resolutely maintained. Now
we have the spectacle, the writer contin-
ues, only on the other side of the Poto
mac, of the proposition in the Legisla-
ture of Maryland to erect monument
to the memory of Governor Pratt. who
was styled by Hon. Montgomery Blair
"the defender of the faith" of Maryland,
whose bonds by lesoIute adherence to
right, have risen to ITO, and whose
credit is unimpeachable. Maryland, the
VUritor of ho time II cot ifS