secret, or to pronounce judgment; but in their secrecy they have adjudged me unworthy of promotion.
This Board was composed of fifteen officers, of whom ten were Captains or Commanders, none of whom had any scientific attainments—indeed, some of them have publicly condemned all science in the Navy. To this feeling—and a feeling of displeasure by no means uncommon to the old Commanders—that I, a Lieutenant, have dared to establish a reputation somewhat honourable in spite of them, I ascribe their finding. I have supposed that the value and the merits of an officer were to be determined to some extent by the fruits of his labour. . . . By this measure, not one of the ten Commanders, except Perry, has as yet made any mark upon the service that will be recognized as a reminder of their excellence when they are gone. And "P.," I am told, has never felt any satisfaction at my services at the Observatory, but the contrary.
The excuse which they will offer for the slur they have cast upon me will be, I suppose, that I am lame. Mere bodily activity, in an officer of my rank, is comparatively of little value, when taken in connection with the mental activity. Officers are expected—at least, it is generally so in the upper grades—to work rather with the head than the hand, and, moreover, I am bodily as active as a majority of the Board, and if broken legs disqualify, at least one member of the Board should have borne me company, for his leg was broken twice over. . . .
General Scott is crippled in the arm, yet it does not appear to have unfitted him for the Army. Besides, this Board has left untouched other crippled officers, both above and below me. . . .
I find, upon re-reading the above, that I have expressed myself strongly, but somewhat, if you were not very much my friend, egotistically. Therefore, I hope you will pardon me for repeating the injunction as to the confidence of this writing. I wanted to put you in possession of all the circumstances of the case. . . .
Excuse me, my friend, and believe me to be, with affection,
Yours,
