In consequence of Miss Mitchell's diffidence, she would not allow any publicity to be given to her discovery till its reality was ascertained.

Her father, however, by the first mail that left Nantucket for the mainland, addressed a letter to Mr.W.C.Bond, director of the observatory in this place, acquainting him with his daughter's discovery.

A copy of this letter I herewith transmit to you.

The comet was not discovered in Europe till the 3d of October, when it was seen by Father de Vico, the celebrated astronomer at Rome.
"You perceive from this statement that, if Mr.Mitchell had addressed his letter to the Danish minister at Washington instead of Mr.Bond, his daughter would have been entitled to the medal, under the strict terms of the regulations.

But these regulations have not been generally understood in this country; and as the fact of Miss Mitchell's prior discovery is undoubted, and recognized throughout Europe, it would be a pity that she should lose the medal on a mere technical punctilio.