But Mr.Mitchell immediately wrote to Professor Bond, at Cambridge, announcing the discovery.

On account of stormy weather, the mails did not leave Nantucket until October 3.
Frederick VI., King of Denmark, had offered, Dec.

17, 1831, a gold medal of the value of twenty ducats to the first discoverer of a telescopic comet.

The regulations, as revised and amended, were republished, in April, 1840, in the "Astronomische Nachrichten." When this comet was discovered, the king who had offered the medal was dead.

The son, Frederick VII., who had succeeded him, had not the interest in science which belonged to his father, but he was prevailed upon to carry out his father's designs in this particular case.
The same comet had been seen by Father de Vico at Rome, on October 3, at 7.30 P.M., and this fact was immediately communicated by him to Professor Schumacher, at Altona.