316 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
the previous Commissioner. His extraordinary abrupt dismissal 
upon the incoming of the present Commissioner, following a course 
of vexatious treatment to which, he states, he was subjected by 
scientific men in the present administration of a department in 
which they eecanllty feel much interest.” 
The tenure of any appointment in a government office, with 
Soe usages, is precarious enough under ordinary circumstat- 
; but here a scientific man is dismissed with far less notice and 
a nde than is due to a household servant. The Commis 
meee, just established in his office, writes to Dr. Parry, Sept. 27— 
“Sir: Your services as botanist of ‘this s department will not be re- 
quired after this date ;” and this letter is delivered at the close of 
the day. 
Now, apart from the recognized official usages, there is one rei 
son which m ight have * suggested — - —— in this instance 
was transferred to the ee Bureau under an arrangement 
between the Secretary of that Institution, and the late estimable 
and enlightened head of the Bureau (Gen. Ca pron)—who seems not 
to have though ht an herbarium and an “herbarium botanist” “ f 
tically unimportant.” And we understand that the Secretary 3 
the Smithsonian Institution stipulated that the herbarium shoul 
be in the charge of some sa acceptable to him, and 8 sho ont 
put into proper order; and that Dr. Parry was appointed er 
his recommendation. It ig ane — Piet sheet ‘ 
change necessary, he would have mae or with the Secretary, « 
the Institution ; while the delay of a week or two needful for “_ 
so, would have ‘allowed the incumbent he was se pcre no m0 
than the customary eee uaa the lowest cler 
office may expect to rece the 
Evidently, this prpeipitele dismissal of his subordinate by ye 
ommissioner, as it would seem to be justifiable only ry itself 
— of gross misconduct of the former, so it would 01} im- 
m to imply misconduct, And the Commissioner makes the 
Sdindtion explicit at the next stage of the proceedings, name 
his reply to the memorial of the botanists who solicited i for 
sideration, and that gratuitously, as the memorial does not ask 
the reasons. When informed that they were of a nature “0 
greeable to utter and likely bt disparage Dr. Parry i the oh for. 
tion of his frien ds,” they were of course immediately # ask pe 
The claim for them was ib castenk to; and it only remains t0 
siderwhat the Soom turn out to office, 
irst, the Com ssioner, on «taking pa a oi his. peyond 
“found that atthe at all had been done by Dr. P oS yithout vihon 
his attention to the preservation of the her Faria : " 
