“Last winter I addressed a letter to Mr. Schumacher, acquainting him with the foregoing facts relative to the discovery, and transmitting to him the original letter of Mr. Mitchell to Mr. Bond, dated 3d October, bearing the original Nantucket postmark of the 4th.  I also wrote to Capt.  W. H. Smyth, late president of the Royal Astronomical Society of England, desiring him to speak to Mr. Airy on the subject.  He did so, and Mr. Airy wrote immediately to Mr. Schumacher.  Mr. Schumacher in his reply expressed the opinion, in which Mr. Airy concurs, that under the regulations it is not in their power to award the medal to Miss Mitchell.  They suggest, however, that an application should be made, through the American legation at the Danish court, to His Majesty the King of Denmark, for authority, under the present circumstances, to dispense with the literal fulfilment of the conditions.

“It is on this subject that I take the liberty to ask your good offices.  I accompany my letter with copies of a portion of the correspondence which has been had on the subject, and I venture to request you to address a note to the proper department of the Danish government, to the end that authority should be given to Messrs. Schumacher and Airy to award the medal to Miss Mitchell, provided they are satisfied that she first discovered the comet.

“I will only add that, should you succeed in effecting this object, you will render a very acceptable service to all the friends of science in America.

“I remain, dear sir, with high consideration, your obedient, faithful servant,

[Signed] “EDWARD EVERETT.

“To R. P. FLENIKEN, ESQ., Charge d’Affaires of the United States of America at Copenhagen.”

* * * * *

R.P.  FLENIKEN, ESQ., TO THE COUNT DE KNUTH.

  “Legation des Etats Unis d’Amerique,}
  a Copenhague, le 6 Septembre, 1848. }

“MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE:  J’ai l’honneur de remettre sous ce pli a votre Excellence une lettre que j’ai recue d’un de mes concitoyens les plus distingues, avec une correspondance touchant une matiere a laquelle il me semble que le Danemark ne soit guere moins interesse que ne le sont les Etats Unis; le premier y ayant contribue le digne motif, l’autre en

ayant heureusement accompli l’objet.

“Je recommande ces documents a l’examination attentive de votre Excellence, sachant bien l’interet profond qu’elle ne manque jamais de prendre a de tels sujets, et la reputation eminente de cultivateur des sciences et de la litterature, dont elle jouit avec tant de justice.  J’y ai joint une lettre de moi-meme, adressee a sa Majeste le Roi de Danemark.

“La matiere dont il est question, Monsieur, sera d’autant plus interessante a votre Excellence, qu’on peut la regarder comme une voix de reponse adressee a l’ancienne Scandinavie, proclaimant les prodiges merveilleux de la science moderne, des bords memes du Vinland des Vikinger hardis et entreprenants du dixieme et de l’onzieme siecles.