A Discourse Read is a commemorative address delivered on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the Hopkins Observatory of Williams College. Written by the observatory's first director, this address offers valuable insights into the history, significance, and achievements of the observatory. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of astronomy and scientific education in the United States. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.