SKETCH OF ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 695 



SKETCH OF ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL. 



WITH the year 1842 practically commences the history of astro- 

 nomical science in America. In that year, Ormsby Macknight 

 MiTCHEL, a young graduate of West Point, and Professor of Mathe- 

 matics at Cincinnati, having met with success in lecturing before his 

 classes, was invited to give a course in the college hall. So successful 

 was he in this course, and so great was the interest that he awakened 

 in the subject, that he resolved to turn it to account, and enlist his 

 hearers in the work of building an observatory. As the wealthier 

 cities of the Eastern States had not yet moved in the direction, his 

 plan was regarded by many as impracticable, but, after vigorous per- 

 sonal application, he succeeded in obtaining sufficient subscriptions to 

 warrant a commencement of the work. The enterprise took shape by 

 the organization of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society. Professor 

 Mitchel had no observatory to model from, no practical knowledge of 

 . astronomy, and no instrument-makers from whom to purchase instru- 

 ments or object-glasses. All this must be taught in older countries, 

 and he resolved to go to Europe to this end. In order to husband 

 his resources, he proceeded first to Washington, in the hope that he 

 might be given some mission from the State Department, the remu- 

 neration for which would pay his expenses. Mr. Webster, then Secre- 

 tary of State, informed him that his request was impossible, and 

 nearly everybody, including President Tyler, was inclined to sneer at 

 him as an impractical enthusiast. There was one notable exception 

 — John Quincy Adams spoke words of kindness and encouragement. 

 His application failed, and he proceeded on his journey, crossing 

 the ocean in a sailing-vessel. Upon arriving in England, he looked 

 for an object-glass, but found none worthy of his attention. From 

 England he proceeded to Paris, and called upon M. Arago at the ob- 

 servatory there, who received him kindly ; but, not finding what he 

 desired in France, he proceeded to Germany, where he found a fine 

 glass in the Frauenhofer works at Munich, which he purchased. Re- 

 turning to England, he entered as a student in the Royal Observatory 

 at Greenwich, and for some months devoted himself to the study of 

 practical astronomy. Upon his return to America, he applied himself 

 vigorously to the work of getting his observatory building ready for 

 the reception of the equatorial telescope that he had ordered in Mu- 

 nich. He desired to secure the services of Mr. John Quincy Adams 

 to deliver the oration at the laying of the corner-stone, and went to 

 Niagara, where he learned Mr. Adams was sojourning at the time, 

 to induce him to go to Cincinnati for that purpose. Notwithstanding 

 the opposition of Mr. Adams's family, on account of his advanced age 

 and infirmity, and the difficulties attending so long a journey in a 

 stage-coach, so great was the ex-President's interest in the matter, and 



