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Longfellow's Father about Establishing National Observatory; "it is important that the nation should do something for the promotion of science."
Longfellow's Father about Establishing National Observatory; "it is important that the nation should do something for the promotion of science."
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Longfellow's Father about Establishing National Observatory; "it is important that the nation should do something for the promotion of science."

"it is important that the nation should do something for the promotion of science."

In this fascinating letter, freshman Maine Congressman Stephen Longfellow writes to Professor Parker Cleaveland, with whom he attended Harvard and who was a professor at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

He discusses Cleaveland's proposal to establish a national observatory in Brunswick and mentions meeting with President James Monroe about the matter. After asking Cleaveland for more information about the advantages and costs of an observatory in Brunswick, Longfellow concludes by asking about his sons at Bowdoin College, including sixteen-year-old Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, already a poet and later a professor at Bowdoin and Harvard. While at Bowdoin, the younger Longfellow met future novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), who became a lifelong friend. Another student at the school at the time was future President Franklin Pierce (1804-1869).

In his first Annual Message to Congress in December 1825, President John Quincy Adams called for a national observatory. Later, as a Congressman, he unsuccessfully advocated using part of the bequest of James Smithson to establish a national observatory. Not until 1842 did Congress pass a law establishing an observatory in Washington, D.C., and appropriating $25,000 for its construction. The result was the U.S. Naval Observatory, completed in 1844.

STEPHEN LONGFELLOW, Autograph Letter Signed, to Parker Cleaveland, January 18, 1824, Washington, D.C. 4 pp., 7.75" x 9.75". Expected folds; some small edge tears; hole in final page from removal of original wax seal on opening, affecting three lines; tape on left edge from mounting.

Excerpts
"It is generally supposed that the life of a member of Congress is a season of leisure & indolence, & truly it may be made so, by those who are regardless of duty, but those, who are disposed to investigate for themselves, & understand what is passing, will find employment for every moment. So various and multifarious are the concerns on which we are called to act, that a new member, who has been unaccustomed to the business of legislation, will find it impossible, with the utmost diligence, to obtain all the information, which is necessary for the proper discharge of his duties."

"The subject of a northern Astronomical Observatory is certainly entitled to great consideration, and if one is to be established, it is very desirable that it should be at Brunswick. I doubt, however, whether it will be possible to get a law to erect one in any part of the United States. There are two very excellent sets of instruments, which are now in a great measure useless, and it is important that the nation should do something for the promotion of science. There seems to be a general ignorance, & consequent indifference, on this subject.
"There will probably be an effort to establish an observatory in this place and there is an apprehension that an endeavour to erect more than one, will prevent the erection of any; and it is also suggested that, though it is desirable to have observations in different places, it is important to have duplicate sets of instruments in the observatory here.
"Truly confessing my ignorance on this subject, I will thank you to give me a full communication respecting it, & particularly in answer to the following questions, viz.
"1. What advantages would result to the nation from the establishment of one or more observatories, except the aid it would afford science in general?
"2d Would any benefits result from the establishing a National Meridian & considering our commercial connexion with Great Britain & the other nations of Europe will it not present much confusion, to continue to make our calculations from the meridian of Greenwich?
"3. If but one observatory is established will any, & if any, what, advantages result from having that established far North, in preference to this place, or further South
"4. What advantages will result from the establishment of more than one observatory? And if more than one is established, what advantages will result from having one far North, instead of South
"5. What will be the probable expense of building an Observatory in Brunswick? It is said that the foundation must be laid 15 feet below the ground, & the building should be about 30 feet high.
"I have had a conversation with the President on the subject. He said he had recd a communication from D. Vaughan but could not lay his hand upon it then. He did not seem disposed to say much respecting it, but observed that he [loss] made a communication to Congress, relative to the [loss] of the Capitol, which was connected with [the?] subject of Observatories, & Something would probably be done respecting it at this session, and that he should be disposed to execute the wishes of Congress, whatever they might be. Indeed I thought he was, from some cause or other, averse to saying any thing on the subject. Can you conveniently furnish me a copy of Dr Vaughns communication? The Presidents communication above mentioned was not read, but was immediately committed, & no report has yet been made, so that we remain ignorant of the nature of the communication."

"I must however inquire how my sons are doing?"

Stephen Longfellow (1776-1849) was born in Maine and graduated from Harvard College in 1798. He studied law and gained admission to the bar in 1801, when he began a practice in Portland, Maine. He married Zilpah Wadsworth (1778-1851) in 1804, and they had eight children, including the poets Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) and Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892). Stephen Longfellow served as a Federalist member of the Massachusetts General Court in 1814 and 1815 and was a delegate to the Hartford Convention. He was elected as an Adams-Clay Federalist to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served a single term from 1823 to 1825. He was not a candidate for reelection, and he resumed his law practice. He served as an overseer of Bowdoin College from 1811 to 1817 and as a trustee from 1817 to 1836.

Parker Cleaveland (1780-1858) was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College in 1799. He served as a tutor in mathematics there from 1803 to 1805, when he became a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Bowdoin College, a position he held until his death. He was also a lecturer on chemistry and mineralogy. His 1816 treatise Mineralogy and Geology earned him the title of "Father of American Mineralogy." His scientific interests also included astronomy, biology, conchology, the collection of natural history specimens, and instrument design. In 1806, he married Martha Bush, and they had eight children.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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