Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-17
Written for The Evening Star.
MEMOIRS OF HAssLER.
How the Coast Survey Had Its Origin and
Growth.

1 sAsC ~ooss survey haQ 4t4 Oflgtn ant
| Growth.
DURING VAN BUREN's ADMINISTRATION
FORMER HosPALIrIEs TO RoYALrY-A GUEST
ON ANALosTAN IsLANp-FANSY KEMBLE But
LER AND HER HUSBAND.
! have been favored with the loan of n con,
OF the memoirs Of the late Ferdinand r. Hassler
published at Nice, 1882. Mr.. Hassler was the
first superintendent of the coast survey, having
been appointed in 1907 on the recommendation
of Mr.. Jefferson and Albert Gallatin. No pro-
gress however, was made in the survey until
1916, and Mr.. Hassler was professor Of mathe.
matics at West Point and Union College from
1906 to 1909 In 1911 he went to Europe to pur.
chase instruments, and in 1918 Congress sus.
pended the work. The coast survey was for
Years bone Of contention in Congress. and il
is4l very lengthy debate. occupying several
days in which Caleb Gushing. Cave johnson
and George Il. Profit opposed its continuance.
and Henry A. Wise. Thomas Butler King. Ed.
ward Everett and Isaac c. Holmes of south
Carolina supported Mr.. Hassler and the survey.
The debate was renewed in the next session and
Mr. Mallory. father OF the presen. representa-
NV, i've OF that name. was added to the opposition
The debate became on one or two oc-
casions exceedingly bitter, and at one time per-
sonal. especially between Mr. Wise and Stanley.
Almost every session Of Congress when the an
preparation OF coast survey was reached in the
civil appropriation bill it caused a lengthy de-
Date The friends of the survey and Mr. Hass-
Ter generally succeeded in getting tho ap-
preparation, but the same debate was re-
newed at the next session when the
Item was reached There are very few
who can recall Mr.. Hassler as he was
when superintendent of the coast survey. re.
ys.xoy .la<rb
huge landau. so large and deep that the old
gentlemans head was not wholly visible above
the sides OF the vehicle. Ii was constructed TO
convey the instruments needed in the survey
writing and sleeping convenience, and. il was
said. larder. L have seen il many a time on
the avenue, and William Greason. who after
ward kept restaurant corner 18th and L
streets, was for years the driver Of this ark :"
as Henry A. Wise called it in the debate. The
naval officers engaged in the coast survey from
1884 to 1871, list OF which is given in
this volume, are all dead with the
exception of Admiral Jenkins, then lieu
tenant. and Admiral Almv, then passed mid
shipman. Reading over the list OF these Of
hcers l recognized many whose names were
very familiar in Washington and whose de-
scendants are living here. Midshipman Carlisle
+. Patterson. afterward superintendent Of the
coast survey; Lieut. ID. ID. Porter (admiraD.
Lieut.. c. W. Morris, Lieut Junius Boyle. Mid
shipman Sands (admiral), Midshipman L. S.
tiiiebr0wn, Passed Midshipman john Rodgers,
Lieut.. Il. w. Meade and Passed Midshipman
Washington A. Bartlett. That name will recall
the famous diamond wedding which years ago
created such sensation In New York and
throughout the country Mr.. Hassler was re-
garded as the first mathematician of the age in
which he lived.
FORMER Inequalities TO ROYALTY
In a volume published some years ago in
America by NJ. de Bacourt, the French minis
ter, during Mr.. Van Buren's administration, a
very spi.eful book. especially toward Washing
ton. he relates an interesting incident OF Prince
de Joinville, which is apropos just now when his
niece Is the guest OF the government of the
United States Prince de Joiuville's first visit
to America was in 1867. He landed at the
navy yard here, and on visiting Mr. Van Buren,
he received an invitation to dinner the next
dar. He excused himself and left for New
York. On reaching France he presented him
self at court and the king, Louis PHILIPPE. his
father, asked If he had seen the President
He said he had and told of the invi-
tation to dinner and his declining il. and the
king. indignant at such a breach Of etiquette
ordered him to return immediately TO America
and make amends for his want of respect NJ
de Bacourt relates with some humor his sur
prise at the speedy aud unexpected return Of
the prince, and was told that he had been sent
back to accept that dinner. If crowned heads
exact the ceremonials which surround courts
they readily WELD to the customs of the
country they visit The infanta will probably
be surprised to know her grandfather was for
some time the guest OF Gen. Mason on Analostan
Island, and the king instructed VI. de Bacourt
to visit Gen. Mason and convey to him thanks
and kind remenbrances OF the hospitality be-
slowed upon him while in exile. While De Ba-
courts book Is a very ungracious return for the
hospalities he received here, it must be con-
fessed nearly all be said was true, bat narrated
in an exaggerated manner.
The book is SO personal, and was written evil
IDENTIFY with no intention of publication Its
appearance caused a good deal OF surprise on
both sides Of the Atlantic. His niece is rcspon-
sible for its appearance. De Bacourt was the
literary legatee OF Talleyrund, and the pub
LEGATION OF his memoirs an, it was claimed,
INITIATED form created an intense excitement
abroad, and De Bacourt was severely condemned
for the manner in which he edited tie manu.
script left TO his care for publication after
certain number Of years. 1t was claimed be had
no authority TO alter or amend. which he was
charged with doing.
FANSr KEMBLE's PICTURE.
few weeks ago l spoke of having seen
picture Of Fanny Kemble Butler painted bv
Thomas Sully. Years had passed since had
seen it and forgot where I had seen il. but
few DAYS ago l met Mr.. John Martin, who told
metz me the picture was In his possession, having
II,
husband of Fanny Kemble. This picture is
very beautiful and painted from a sketch taken
OF her in the character of Julia in The Hunch-
back" by Sully from his seat in the orchestra
seats" reserved for the stockholders of the
Chestnut Stree. Theater. She was subsequently,
painted by Sully in 1854. ms she says ia her
journal. Mr.. Martin. who then resided in
Philadelphia. tells me that John and Pearce
Butler were the sons OF an eminent and wealthy
physician Of Philadelphia named Maize Their
uncle. Pearce Butler OF South Carolina, left them
his large fortune condition of taking his name
Pearce Butler was somewhat OF a bohemian in |
his habits, an habitue Of the thcater. and met
Fanny kefnbie soon after her arrival in Phia- /
delphia at the theater and married her, lncom- |
patiSility secured divorce s!ter a few wears Of
an unconSenial union. John Butler was killed /
Or died from wounds and exposure IN the Next |
can war. i was surprised TO learn that at that |
period Bristol, on the Susquehaunnh. was /
the Newport Of the dav. The residences of |
the wealthy people OF Philadelphia and else
where, the Craigs. Binghams, Daliases and Bid
dies. were palatial. and MIR. Martin has a col |
lection of engravings Of them from paintings by
Thomas Birch, q famed artist of his |
day. His marine pictures rank today |
With Stanfields and other distinguished artists.
james Cooper, the actor, had handsome re.i-
fencc there, and joseph Bouaparte, residing at /
Point Breeze, near Bordentown, was frequent /
visitor with his daughter Charlotte. Among |
the engravings in this collection are land 1
scapes and river views by this young ladv, /
signed by her. Mr.. Martin exhumed three in.
vitation cards to the Washington assemblies of l
o ka II A.