Hervé FAYE (1814-1902), astronomer. Autograph letter signed to Urbain Le Verrier. 1 p. ½ in-8, no place or date [England, (Cambridge?) Second Empire period]. About a controversy between Le Verrier and the British astronomer and director of the Cambridge Observatory, George Biddell Airy (perhaps about the controversy between the English and the French over the priority of the discovery of Neptune, a discovery made at the same time by Le Verrier in France and John Couch Adams under the direction of George Biddell Airy, at the Cambridge Observatory in England. This controversy lasted for years, including the naming of the new planet.) Hervé Faye was sent to England to see Airy in order to settle the matter. "I didn't write to you yesterday because the day before everything was going well and I wasn't expecting any setbacks that evening. This setback has had a bad effect here. Mr Airy even said that we should probably consider the matter finished. But I went to fetch your letter; I read it to him and reassured him in every way that you were making this operation a capital affair. I urged him to send you a short dispatch, convinced that you would take it to the minister or even to the Emperor in order to obtain the lifting of the obstacles, which are no doubt very ridiculous in essence, that are being put in your way. Finally, I said that the government itself would be annoyed if you did not succeed in an affair that involves the cooperation of both countries, especially at the moment. Mr Airy has easily recovered from his bout of discouragement and you have nothing to fear on that score. Everything will be fine. I think I can assure you that Mr Airy is keen to please you [...]".