Lord Wrottesley says that they in England are ready to follow our lead about the meteorology for the farmers. He is President of the Royal Society. Papa had a letter yesterday from Mr. Wilder, saying that he wished to see his plan carried out, and asking him to address the Agricultural Society, of which he is President. It meets here on the 9th prox. All send love, and wish you and yours a merry Christmas.
Ever your affectionate cousin,
To the same.
| Dear Frank, | Observatory, Jan. 11th, 1856. |
I attended the U. S. Agricultural Society yesterday, by invitation, and spoke to the resolution about the plan meteorological. I had a regular scientific fight, and though the result was all I could have desired, yet it was utterly disgusting to encounter such miserable signs of jealousy and small feeling. You know that I have been after this "Meteorology for the Farmers" persistently since 1851, and that the Brussels Conference urged it; and you may recollect my telling you that I had an interview last year, before leaving the city for the summer, with the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Patents in favour of their taking it up. Three or four weeks ago an article came out in the Tribune, saying my plan was intended to act as a rival to that of the Smithsonian. I knew that the notion would be injurious to the working of the meteorological plan if it got out, so I wrote a letter to the Tribune in my own name to show what Henry of the Smithsonian was after, and what I was after, and that the two plans were no more rivals of each other than the astronomical observatories which are springing up in various parts of the country are to this one. So far from being rivals, they are quite the contrary, &c. Nevertheless, you can see how my plans for the public good may be embarrassed. It is time for scribe and scriber to dress for the party, and for the scribee to undress for bed. Goodnight.
M. F. Maury,
- ↑ Transcribers note 2012: Matthew called his wife Nannie. One of his daughters with curly hair like her father was called Nannie Curly.—wmm (Wikisource contributor note)
