“Le soussigne s’empresse donc d’assurer votre Excellence et en meme temps de vous prier, Monsieur, de vouloir bien faire parvenir cette assurance a sa Majeste, que cet acte signale de liberalite ne peut manquer d’etre dignement et hautement apprecie par les institutions scientifiques des Etats Unis, par Mlle. Mitchell qui est l’objet de cette distinction genereuse, et par les nombreux amis scientifiques de cette dame; enfin, par tous ceux qui prennent de l’interet a la reussite heureuse des recherches astronomiques.

“Le soussigne ne peut terminer cette communication sans exprimer a votre Excellence (en la priant de porter aussi ses sentiments a la connaissance de sa Majeste) sa vive appreciation de ce noble et eclatant acte de justice, si promptement et si genereusement rendu a sa jeune compatriote par le roi de Danemark, et il saisit avec empressement cette occasion de renouveler a votre Excellence les assurances de sa consideration tres distinguee.

“R.P.  FLENIKEN.

“A Son Excellence M. LE COMTE DE KNUTH, Ministre d’Etat et Chef du Departement des Affaires Etrangeres.”

* * * * *

TRANSLATION.

“Legation of the United States,}
Copenhagen, October 7th, 1848. }

“SIR:  The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s communication of yesterday’s date, conveying to him the gratifying intelligence that His Majesty, from an examination of the evidence which you obligingly laid before him, tending to establish the fact of Miss Mitchell’s having discovered the telescopic comet of October, last, has been pleased to consider it quite satisfactory, and has ordered a medal to be struck for her as a mark of distinction to which his Majesty deems her entitled, notwithstanding her omission to comply with the prescribed conditions of Frederic VI., who instituted the donation.

“The undersigned, therefore, begs to express to you, sir, and through you to His Majesty, the assurance that this eminent act of liberality cannot fail to be duly and highly appreciated by the scientific institutions of his own country, by Miss Mitchell herself, who is the object of this generous distinction, and by her numerous scientific friends, as well as by all who feel an interest in successful astronomical achievements.

“The undersigned cannot close this communication without expressing to you and to the king his own unaffected appreciation of this noble and distinguished act of justice, so promptly and so generously bestowed upon his unobtrusive countrywoman by the king of Denmark, and avails himself of the occasion to renew to your Excellency the assurance of his most distinguished consideration.

[Signed] “R.P.  FLENIKEN.

“To His Excellency THE COUNT DE KNUTH, Minister of State, etc., etc., etc.”