in addition to the $25,000 which had been already expended in the
construction of the building. The letter was received with shouts of
applause, Prof. AGASSIZ rising and leading the vast assemblage in three
vehement cheers in honor of Mrs. DUDLEY!

ALBANY, Thursday, Aug. 14, 1856.

_To the Trustees of the Dudley Observatory:_

GENTLEMEN,--I scarcely need refer in a letter to you to the
modest beginning and gradual growth of the institution over which
you preside, and of which you are the responsible guardians. But
we have arrived at a period in its history when its inauguration
gives to it and to you some degree of prominence, and which must
stamp our past efforts with weakness and inconsideration, or
exalt those of the future to the measure of liberality necessary
to certain success.

You have a building erected and instruments engaged of unrivaled
excellence; and it now remains to carry out the suggestion of
the Astronomer Royal of England in giving permanency to the
establishment. The very distinguished Professors BACHE, PIERCE,
and GOULD, state in a letter, which I have been permitted to see,
that to expand this institution to the wants of American science
and the honors of a national character, will require an
investment which will yield annually not less than $10,000; and
these gentlemen say, in the letter referred to,--

"If the greatness of your giving can rise to this occasion, as
it has to all our previous suggestions, with such unflinching