“Referring to my journal I find these words:  ’Maria will not consent to have me announce it as an original discovery.’

“The stipulations of His Majesty have, therefore, not been complied with, and the peculiar circumstances of the case, her sex, and isolated position, may not be sufficient to justify a suspension of the rules.  Nevertheless, it would gratify me that the generous monarch should know that there is a love of science even in this to him remote corner of the earth.  “I am thine, my dear friend, most truly,

“WILLIAM MITCHELL.”

* * * * *

HON.  EDWARD EVERETT TO PROFESSOR SCHUMACHER, AT ALTONA.

“Cambridge, 15th January, 1848.

“DEAR SIR:  Your letter of the 27th October, accompanying the ‘Planeten-Circulaer,’ reached me but a few days since.  If you would be so good as to forward to the care of John Miller, Esq., 26 Henrietta street, Covent Garden, London, any letter you may do me the favor to write to me, it would reach me promptly.

“The regulations relative to the king of Denmark’s medal have not hitherto been understood in this country.  I shall take care to give publicity to them.  Not only has Mr. Bond lost the medal to which you think he would have been entitled, [Footnote:  Mr. Schumacher had remarked to me, in his letter of the 27th of October, that Mr. George P. Bond would have received the medal for the comet first seen by him as a nebulous object on the 18th of February, 1846, if his observation made at that time had been communicated, according to the regulations, to the trustees of the medal.] but I fear the same has happened to Miss Mitchell, of Nantucket, who discovered the comet of last October on the first day of that month.  I think it was not seen in Europe till the third.

“I remain, dear sir, with great respect, faithfully yours,

“EDWARD EVERETT.”

* * * * *

HON.  EDWARD EVERETT TO HON.  WILLIAM MITCHELL.

“Cambridge, 18th January, 1848.

“DEAR SIR:  I have your esteemed favor of the 15th, which reached me this day.  I am fearful that the rigor deemed necessary in enforcing the regulations relative to the king of Denmark’s prize may prevent your daughter from receiving it.  I learn from Mr. Schumacher’s letter, that, besides Mr. George Bond, Dr. Bremeker lost the medal because he allowed a single post-day to pass before he announced his discovery.  There could, in his case, be no difficulty in establishing the fact of his priority, nor any doubt of the good faith with which it was asserted.  But inasmuch as Miss Mitchell’s discovery was actually made known to Mr. Bond by the next mail which left your island, it is possible—­barely possible—­that this may be considered as a substantial compliance with the regulation.  At any rate, it is worth trying; and if we can do no more we can establish the lady’s claim to all the credit of the prior