The New York Herald Newspaper, August 26, 1851, Page 6

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION | roR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. ALBANY MEETING, GFNERAL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY. The President, Professor Agassiz, announced the Proposed addition to the Standing Committee, of Prefeesors J. D. Dana, of Yale, H. D. Rodgers, of Philadetp » and D. M. Mitchell, of Cincinnati. ‘These nominations were confirmed. ‘The following communication from the Mayor of | Cleveland, Obio, was then read:— x Mavor’s Orrick, SLEVELAND, August 15, 1851 ‘To Prof. Lowrs Acassiz, Prest. of Am. Ass.:— Sin—By @ unarimous resolution of the City Council of Cleveland, | am requested to invite the Association for the Advancement of Science, over which you preside, to hold their next annual mee ing at Cleveland, and to aesare you that a place for the meeting will be furnished, and the proceedings Of the convention cheerfully published at the ex- nse of the city. Allow mo, sir, to indulge the ope that it may meet the views of the association to accept this invitation J remain yours, truly, Wot. Cass, Mayor. The Standing Committee will report upon this and other invitations The following list of new mombers proposed, was read, and they were elected, viz:— J.A Lintner, Schoharie,N.Y. Rev H.Bannister,Cazenoyia. GW Weyman, Picish’g Pa. CC. Citfany, Baltimore, ‘Dr. T. Goodsell, Utica, N.Y. J, D. Easter, do. Nev li Mandeville. Aibany. Dr. C P. Davenport,-Iowa. Rev.) R Davenport, do. Rey. BE. Davis, W'tfleld, Mass, Dr HD. Pane, do. ©. Hartwell, Lincoln, J. Lywan, Lenox, Mass, Rev J. 4. Nash, Amherst, « B.D liumpbrey, New York. W ‘ce tee 7 Ht. W, Kiley, do, Dr J.H.Gray.3p gficld, Mass, J.P Leeds, Brooklyn. Key N Munroe, Bradf'd, « D. 8. Pierce, albany. J. Scoville, Salisbury. | & W. J. McAlpine, Albany. Lt. A. Dalson, Cambridge, “ W. © Jobuson. Utica D. Summons, Paris Hill, N.Y. ‘A. 8. Johnson, New York. GW. Carpenter, Albany ©. Ti. Palmer, Romeo, Mich. N |, Ie. Dr. W. Kitebell, N. J. en A letter was read from the Secretary of the Hudson Bay Company, on co-operating with the | Swithsonian Institute in meteorological observa- ry ie Payee bed or beds are generally met with at the , and the overlaying sandstones are pria- cipally fine-grained and purely quartzine, but fur- ther west, partially bands are found in- terstrati! The rock is sometines ssroagly impregnated, over limited areas, with oxyd of iron, which is oceasionally found in their seams or beds, in @ pure statg, as red hewatile. Mr. Hunt explai d these by refereace to the for- ruginous springs, which are still found issuing from the crystalline rocks, and which often cemon large areas of gravel with the deposited oxyd, and sometimes form beds of limenite and iroa ochre On Lake Huron, the floor upon which the siluvian rocks were deposited is about 200 feet higher thaa upon the Si. p Pema and at Matchedosh Bay, the formation in question is represeated by a very small thickness of greenish sandstone. Farther north, on the lake, ave about forty of reddish and greenish saadstone and marls, quite caleareous towards the top; and at Sault Ste. Marie, there is a considerable mass of reddish sandstone, in somo rts, conglomerate in character. Hitherto mo tossils in this formation ha@ rewarded our seareh, other than those described and figured by Mr. Hall, until a year since, whea the attention of Mr. Logan was called by Mr. R. Abraham, of Mon. treal, to certain footmarks upon the beds of this sandstone, at Beauharnais. Casts of these, and specimens of tie stone itself, bearing the foot prints, were carried, last winter, by Mr. L: and submitted to the ical examination of Pro- fessor Owen, whose ex; opinion that they ace those of a reptile, and probably a chelonian, is well known to the members of the association I have only to add that this season similar tracks have been discovered in numbers in differeat beds, and at distances several miles apart. Thero is a great diversity in their size, but they agreo in their general eters. The beds containing them are } ata very small angle, and are over- laid by ted calciferous sandstone, containi: the lus unianpulatus, and the maclure figured by Mr. Hall, while to this formation suc- gee renton limestone with its characteristic fossils. covery of traces of a reptile in the lowest rocks now | recognized, to be fossiliferous, was a new and start- | ling fact for those who have supported the idea ot | progressive developement, it was one for which the progress of modern cology had, to some extent, prepared us. He alluded to the remains of fishes | which, about twenty years, were unknown below the coal, but have been successively brought down | through the Devonian upper and lower silavian tions. It was announced that an herbarium would be exhibited at noon. A letter was read, inviting the association to Wisit the any Gallery of bine Arts. | Another letter of invitation, for the next annual was read, from William Prescott Smith, ore, in behalf of the Maryland Institute, | 1g that it be held there. | hese announcements were made that the a3so- | ciati its excursion to Troy to-morrow, would | hho!d a session there in the morning; that the an- | t dress would be delivered this evening, by | sor Bache, inthe Assembly chamber; that | es of the members are invited to accompany | &Loim to morrow; and that members of commit requested to be ready to present them without Gelay | Professor Prrrce, of the committee apooiated | by tbe association to examine Professor Mitchell's Bew astronomical apparatus, and to repor: thereon, wead a report, stating that tive of the eight mem- bers of the committee had personally examined the Bpparatus, and were convinced that the claims made for it by Professor M. had been fully sub- Stantiated by its performanves. They ree>nmend- that the ass ciation should memorialize Uongress to furnish funds to enable Professor M. to prose- cute his Jabors to greater advantage. They had requested Profesor to accompany thisreport by an explana sien to the members of bis instraments and toeiradvantages Professe ITCHEL!, came forwar the assoc - He first said ¢ doubted whether the repetition, on the oft re the Ladi and addressed it had been Same night, beervation of a star was of anyvalue. In | to give the opinion of an impartial astrono- he read an extract from a letter from Profes | Challis, of the Observatory at Cam! . | 1si9, who writes for England, dated November 21, that in bis opinion a repetition on the sane | might of the observations is very essential. ’rof. M. now began minutely to explain his in- struments, and observed in the first place that he | had not as yet brought them to completion; bat, | dike others, he was highly gratitied at the s < already obtained. His greates: difficulty had been | in devising means to get rid cf the slight variations Observed; andthe task was more diilicult as the differences were more minute. |p to the present time ; be bad not obtained observations of declina- tions directly, but d nees of decliaation. He ations made upon the _ an acount of his obser ameter of the sun since the New Haven meeting, and showed by their accuracy the capabilitics of his instrument. He then showed its power of Mweasuring stars far apart, aud that the work of | different nights could be recorded in the most per- fect manner on the same plate. The observations of one night were recorded on five of ten wires; vix: | Grst, ete., and on the succeeding night, ob- | Servations were recorded on tho alternate wires; the Second, fourth, ete, and with the most beautiful exactness Prof. Prence, from the committee on Prof. Coak- | Jey’s tables of Neptune, reported agains: their printin; Un motion of Prof. Henry, a committee was ap- | ted om meteoric observations, viz: Profs. Bache, | edield, Henry, Guyot, and Le Foy were nomi- “pated é The Association now divided, as yesterday, iato | ‘hyo sections. } Section 1 —Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry. | Section 2. —Geology and Natural llistory. | Section 1 - Prof. Henry took the chair, and Prof. MeCulloch was named as Secretary. } The first paper read was on ‘he p Epa or Tue Caemicat Constrrution oF + Boorrs ro Stour, by Peor. E. N. Horsvorp, or | fas ea k f oxidi sw very long paper, treating of oxides, YFeroxides, acide, eo. &e. PRs Gesign was to doter- | mine the extent of general principles in the colors | of metals, &e. lL copy only the concluding part:— * Conc! usi ¢ color of bodies depends upoa il particles or groups | ‘Transpareney depends upon the arrange- st of lesser atoms in certain order, constituting Jargs groups. Whiteness depends upon such extent of surface of the grains of atoms as shall reflect a Jight ; or upon the number of tin pl produced by pulverizing transparent bodies as will reflect all the light ckn pends upon the subdivision of grains t it Bo longer reflect light ; or, by produ oe, destroy Heat, by subdivision, causes darker shades * Remarks were made on this paper by Dr. J. L. | Smith, (University of Louisiana, ) and Dr. Ilaat, of | the coast surve { mmittee from this section were. on motion | fessor Pierce, appointed to examine a tele ¢ exhibited by Mr. Lyman. The Ch | t. Maury, and Professors Mitchell | and Casw ‘The second paper was rie PROGRESS & system or Merroroto- IND TeD BY THe Surra- aneously te bad comm the meteore w first step had b “alrea ty places for observation thro, fe now mort need facts Profe correct theories. fystem ted, the various intstruments employed, and exhibited the printed forms for registers Upon conclusion of Profesor G., De. Hane Philadelpbia, made remarks © * statement of the former, that meteorological subjects was chietly due to a want of observations. Dr. Renwiex made some inquiries concerning the instruments, aud spoke of their probable in- hairman, Dr. lieary, ynian Jnstitation) re- correctness of his state- | Mments. Some discussion arose, and ia order to | thoroughly investigate tne subject, aa adjoaranent | ‘Was made of » pert of the section to another room, ‘Where it was examined in detail, and the operations of the Smithsonian Institution mest cordially ap- Proved in a resolution to that effect The third paper, and last of this morning's ses Sion, war read by Edward G. Squier:—On the Aborigines of Amerien On Litnooeicat THe AND PALARONTOLO@IOAS Cnagacrers or THe Potsoam Saxpsroxe, ny T. 8. Bont, or tar Growow JOMMISSION OF Canapa. Mr. Hunt spoke of the form the Eastern part of Canada, + t; as exhibited in it i« overlaying unc onform: the erystalline rocks of the north of the S:. Lawrence, from Mai Hie, thirty leagues below Quebec, * Upon the same rocks at Potsdam, New York,on the wosternevast of Lake Champlain. [xtensive exposures of it are met with upon the St. Lawrence, below King where, a# before, it is seen laying horizontally upon | the crystalline rocks, Upon Lake Huron, it is me: | with at the Northern extremity of the lake, rest ‘upon the unconformable Huron rocks, as we have called that series of quarts rocks interstratified with ites, Li — found overlaying the crystalline rocks of the Laurentian m ine. It also ooours oe Georgian Bay Asm southoust extremity of (Jeorg' m . diffe at te nde: | announced | the base of t | limite of this s ston, | | Helocrberg limestones mestones, and conglomerates, which are | formation: ¢ remains of fishes are more recently which are Sedgwick, but which may be considers gues of the lowest portion of our silavian rocks, if we regard the Potsdam sandstone as the representa- tive of the obulous sandstone in Kussia, and the lowest Cambrian rocks characterized by singulw and fucoids. The rare occurrence of anim: mains ia these sandstones which, in Russia and Seandinavia, as Pow form fossiliferous, is, per! hitherto been wtb ‘ions hitherto recognized as one reason why they have 3 dating from the very commencement of animal existence; but when we | remember that the superior sandstones of the silu- | vian rocks, the old and new red, are almost e aly destitute of animal remains, we are inclined to loo! for some other reason to explain their absence from silieious ites. The remains of vegetables are not unfrequently found in them, and the bony skeletons of fishes embalmed in the bituminous pro- duct of the decomposition of their integuments are | found ina nigh state of preservation; but the phe- nomena which we have to explaia is the absence of the caleareous coverings of wallusces and crustace- ous. | the action ef atmospheric waters charged with car- bonie acid, which are capable of taking into solu- | tion a considerable quantity of carbonate of lime. The abrading act: | is also to i taken into account, which, where it does not destroy the shells, renders them more easily affected by the solvent. Such being the case, it would — which either centain a portion of finely divided cal- careous matter, presented to the water ina readily soluble form, that we might expect to find tne shells escaping the dissolving action; and conform- ably to this, we find that those beds of the Potsdam sandstone which are somewhat calcareous, contain, in great profusion, peculiar fossils. Those consi- derations, coupled with the abundance of faroidal remains and the footmarks wen discovered, per- mit us to suppose that this lower formation was not, after all, so destitute of organic life as has hitherto been imagined. And when I add, that our forth- coming report will furnish most undoubted evidence ts Londoa, | ‘Mr. Hunt remarked that although the dis- | in America, are found at | And this, I think, may be accounted for by | ion of a sharp silicious sand | be in those beds — ofthe sedimentary origin of the crystalline lime | stones, and syenitic rocks which underlie these saad- stones, it will be conceded that neither the inferior porition of the formation, nor the paucity of organic remains, can be edduced as arguments against the supposition that its epoch was one prolific in living existence, and, aged long subsequent to the commencement of life upon our planet. EVENING SESSION. Wronrspay Evexivc, Aug. 20, 1851, GROLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY —COMPARISON OF THE 8 TA OF THE SILUVIAN BASIN OF MIDDLE TEXNESHER WITH THOSE OF NEW YORK OF THE SAME AGH. Prof Wall commenced by stating that our previous knowledge of this region had been derived mainly from, the published reports of Prof. Troost, and from a map of Dr. D. D. Owen. From the fossils published by Dr. Troost, it would appear the lower and upper siluvian, devonian, and even carboniferous species occurred together in this bain. The lists of fossils given, and which had been cited in foreigy publica’ ions, showed that there had been noat- tempt made to distinguish the successive groups as they were elsewhere recognized, and particularly in the State of New York. The only subdivisions of the lower strata attempted in the west had been into blue limestone, and clifi limestone; the rocks above these being ail of carbo- piferous age. Prof Il. said that for several years past Pref J.M. Safford bad been making examinations in this part of the country, the general result of had presented in a geolog yap. showing not only the ‘ian basin, but also the subdivision which be propored to make and which were characterized by certain fossils. The fossils collected by Prof. SaTord amounted to seme 200 species, about ove half of which were identical with those known in the rocks of New York. In general terms we might say that the rocks of nearly the whole of thir basin corresponded to the lower riluvyian limestones of New York. Inthe lower portion of the series in this basi: rot Safford recognises three divisions, From the lower of these divisions, he has | | | sandstone Condagalli grit, the lower aad upper decberg, are eolads end thus the three lims- Stoves vo widely separated in New York. bsenms physi- cally one in Tenpessee Prof. H showed that cach of these periods in New York were marked by the presence of than three hundred species of rossils, and that ve of these passed from one group to the me xtshow! that they were distinct forma: tions, and tinot creations, lie re- aud succeeding collection of fosails . this afforded some evi- dence of the influence of Latitude upon the developement — of onimal life, and that climatic influences bad prevail- ed at that carly period as weil as in subsequent ones, Of the lower silavian species, one half were mew, or ua- known in the rocksof New York of the same age, from wi four hundred species were already Knows. to ing the proportion of new species from the aorth- and northwestern localities, there were scarcely | than ten per cent of new species, while at the sams tance to the southwest the proportion was ten tunes as great. Whetheror not this proportion would hold — true on further examination, it could not now be deter mined, but, since so many specimens had been collected, and over such wide areas, it was evident that there were most incontestible proofs of the occurrenye of a larger number of species in localities of'the same extent at the south than fa northerp localities, ‘This difference was therefore to be accounted for either from climatic agea- cies or from other cireumistances more favorabie to the developement of species in the southern than in the northern localities. ON THE ZODIACAL LIGHT—BY PROFRSSOR D, OLMSTEAD, OF YALE COLLEGE The Professor submitted to the association the results | ofa series cf observations on the zodiacal light made at Yale College during ®x years, from 1833 to 1989. He ad- verted to the general ignorance prevalent respecting this body, and enumerated several causes which remder con- tinual observations difficult, such as the presence of clouds, of the moon, of Venus and Jupiter, as also the low angle which the direction of the zodiacal light makes with the horizon at certain seasons of the your, He next offered an accurate description of that body, and a draw- ing exhibiting the phenomenon as it appears at the time of the vernal equinox. ‘he Professor next proceeded to inquire into the nature aud constivution of the z>diverl light, as its lereth. its direction, its motions, and the material of which it is constituted. It appears that the | length, or elongation ‘rom the sun, varies much at dif- ferent seasons of the year, and not only apparently, bat realty, being sometimes below 60° at one time, and again reaching, in a few and rare instances, to 12°. An elou- gation of $0° from the sun implies that it reaches to the earth’s orbit, and it must of course sometimes reach fur beyond it. The direction of the axis of this body was suppored, by Cassini and others. to be that of the solar equator; but the Professor showed that that direction varies at different times of the year, the verten some- times termipating in the ecliptic The inotions of the zodiacal light are such as to indicate a revolution with the views of La Place, The material of which this body is comstituted appears to have great analogies to that which forms the tails of comets, included under the its tenuity, ys or shape, acd even shade of color, Finally, Professor 0. jed to the question whether or not the zodiacal light is the origin of the pe- ricdical meteors of November and August, particularly those of November? He says that he does not assert poritively, that this is the body which affords the me- teoric showers. He had ivferred, from all the facts of the t_ meteoric shower of November 15th, 1833, inde- ntly of all hypothesis, the existence of a nebulous Foay; and now the question is, is the body in question su to identify it with that’ In answer to this question, he, with great deference, offered the following presumptions in favor of the idea that this is the body which affords the periodical meteors. 1. It is a nebulous body. 2. It lies over the earth’s orbit in such | the earth | the meteors 3. Like the supposed “nebulous body,” it revolves about the sun. & position that it as the time of | with the earth's period. 5. Finally, the meteors actually are seen to come from | the visible extremities of the zodiacal light. The mevnbere of the association, and the representa- tives of the press, were hospitably entertained, this evening, by Erastus Corning, Esq, at his residence in | sg street. His Excellency Governor Ifunt, and the ayor, | of hi manners, fally sustained the chatacter I had | always heard of him. The guests were sumptuously _ regaled. At about ten o'clock the supper room was thrown open, when there was displayed on the tabl magnificent service of silver. consisting of a massiv rue, eight cover dishes, pitchers. forks, spoons, &e., valued at $6,500, and presented to Mr. Ke I by | the Utica and me oe ge A Railroad Company, of whic! Te had been President ¢ its first formation, The silver was now used for the first time, and could not have been “ christened” at a more appropriate time than in the presence of the learned members of the ‘Association. The supper consisted of both deli substantial fare. and the exeelient band from Governor's Island, which accompanied the Montgomery Gaards to Albany from New York, played several airs in front of the houre during the evening THE ANNUAL ADDRESS. At balf-past seven o'clock this evening there was a very numerous attendance of ladier and members of the Association, in the Assembly Chamber at the Capitol, for the purpore of bearing the annus! address of Professor A. D, Bache, Superintendent of the Coast Survey and President of this Association, for the past year. ‘The President (Profeseor Agassiz.) announced the ob- ject of the meeting and Professor Bache delivered the following address which was lirtened to with marked at- | silver _ | tention :— ADDRESS OF PROFFSROR A.D. BACHE. PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN AfsoctaTion, Fon THE vRAan 1851, on Retin ING PROM THY DUTINS OF PRESIDENT. Professor Bacus. stated that, on retiring from the Advancement of Science, he submitted, in conformity with usage, to its members, a few remarks in relation to the circumstances attending its organization and its pro- gtese, and some considerations of the direction in which ite greatest usefulness may be looked to. The condition of society and science of the day seems to have called for the organization of general associations for the promotion and advancement of science in nearly every country where its cultivators are numerous, zealous, and not closely gathered in one community—the precur- sors of more general unions for the same good purpose. To render such meetings practicable. modern facilities of brought eight epecies of fortile, and of these eight spo | cies five are of species characteristic of the birdseye aad Black River limestone in New York, and the other three appeared to be new or undeseribed species. From the seroné division fifty-right species had been ecliected, of which twenty eight wore identical with species kaowa in New York, and mainly those eharactetietic of the Trenton limestone, a few species only being those which cecur io the birdeeye and Back Kiver lime- svones. In the upper of these sub ms sixteen epeciee bad been jound, of which eleven were known a+ characteristic of New York strata, and nearly all of the Trenton limestone Among the (easily here enumerated were the ornioceeas. the g meotecas. and the end ree as The crthoeess fulsiform, and other remarkable and cha racteristic species of lower silavian ag», and particular ly of the Binek river and Trenton limestones, Prof, if nid that be had collected the goutoceeas auceps, (9 co in the Black River time- d ite cecurrence in the pbaliped of peealiar structure stone of New Vor®. and had tr m ; rame geological position as far as the Missiseinp! river. nd ifseearred fico in the basin of Tentessee. In ali the localities it was associated with orniocecus oF o2- tinocecas. columeria, and other fossils which were as din the seme geological position in New York. emed, therefore, rearcely possible to avoid t melusion that thie lower limestone of Tenness 0 the equivalent of the Black River Ikmetone of York, ood that perhaps also @ portion of nestone was iueluded with it. in third ¢ivisions there were about furty common to those rocks, and to the of New York making the coaelasion t the strata of these two portions of " ». In the sams inannot the f limestones, which Prof. Saf- ordinate groups, dentical w th thone of New Vora ith those ea common to the Trea wp, that the eoucla were of the came age. Trenton epecton 3 ork, and Black Kiver, and 1 in Ton. northeast. ted meetions gical map an \« farther to the ofessot Hall exhi ms from a g and of the t imestores River, and Tren westerly directi on (he north phy mn. All they ore cf Lake Michigan and the west shore a 6 thet in Wiseonsin they ware leo than feet thick. and at the Falls of St. Ao t C were lex than fifty feet thick the sam: , were 200 feet thick, and the bese had not been son In Wi Hudeon River group gradusily thine d north weet, its mandy portions diee p West, and though wight handred feet thick in New York, is less than two hundred on the north shore of Lake Michigan. and dirappears entirely ingWisconrin. Im Tennessee, the rorks o position eropeatiy ail limestone and hare a thickness of about three feet. The strata succeeding these lower eiluvian limestones, are known as the gray lime. stone. From this two species of fues bad been collected, of which twenty-seven were known pecier. and commow to the rocks of New York, as welt Tenmeseee, But what was very remarkable, was the fact that, of these twenty-seven species, several were of the Megara group, or thore known only in the rocks that period. Salts otaere ware Beows at. in the | in the Upper Helderberg limestones, or en He gpen] — a ti upper silevian period | pericd were here united in one ; was altogether so subdivision could group of New York, feet, has entirely Pi and lower ing in communication are indispensable. and when these shall brought Berlin and New York as near as were Ber- nd Paris at the close of the Inst century, we may pass fram our nt local organization to something charace teristic of the day of railroads, and the dawn of telegraphs As the want seems to have been universally recognized, 0 it bas been modified essentialiy by circamstances. In Germany, the cultivators of seieace have met in a social way. communicated aad dispersed. Lo Great Britain aa imposing permanent organization has kept the British Asrcolation always active, even when not Uogetier, Our own association has rearerly developed & decided track; its end the advancement of scierce; bu! the road to that end. left to the results of reconnvisance, widely inade on each side of the beaten path. to explore pew wayr around or through the obstacles. Such associations cannot stimulate into being a New- ton or « Cuvier, but who ean say how much more they would bave enabled Newton or Cavier to do, by removing the lead of epposition to their diseourses, by bringing up the cultivators of selence, as a body, at once to the level of their knowledge, and by causing many minor lichts to shine for the benefit of the time, either by reflection, or by the er kindilog of a new fame from their fervid influence’ Who will say that they do not return wiser, better, more x according to Knowledge, from a merting with b Humboldt, with Gauss, with Brewster. with aday.and their comperrs; or to come nearer home. h llenry, Pierce, ot Agessiz A ten must be beyond provement, indeed, whom such eomy Te euch aewe because there f Men of ef all other manteing tp raid. if they will r Pi humana in olionvae » ‘The werld ts mace vp part of ecmn ense mens ecliected Aegist ¥ neekert part of the foun: Von Buek, or by men fs warmed into ae opement by euch inf os, the tr it, which m Anscoiatins ie raised by slow dep meuptains by uphears as a ponaces. bul only in lent. They aprenl to come of the stronget ar tives of our nature Let us briefly and rapidly glamor a eral con dition «feclence among us print to an w he Of an association, the obstavies which were 4 to its organization and the mode of \ts forma In the colonial period of our eo professors of rath: matics and natural philosophy eotresponded with the leading rcientific men of Great Britain. «me of them intimately. They looked for sesistance in their pursuite (ebie fly there of astronomy) to them. end for direction when «pecial occasions of interest rendered their eo oper desirable, Winthrop of Macsactiuvtte and Rit. tenhoure, of Penns$lvania, bad the fall advantage of such communion. At a later day, Franklin, Canton. and Priestly were in md corresponded familiarly ‘The ge peration whieh grew up during our revolutionar, stropgle and after cur independence Was actaowledze raturally did not eneceed to these connections of fri ehip ¢ prosecution of mathematics relence was neglected. indeed, barely Rept alive by the calls for boundary and land surveys cf the more extended clase, by the exertions necessary in the lecture room. o isolated volunteer «forts. As the pb ‘and settled, the unworked mine of ‘was Inid open, and the attention ef almost . science was turned towerds tite developement of ev asas tan pened” is the pursuit whiel phaticaily marks tl io its exponent. may be taken the admirable descriptive mineralogy of Cleaveland, which seemed to fll the measure of that day, and be. as it were, ite chief embodiment. appearing jast the era was “ | —_ do not propore by tracing the influences whieh bave turned the attention, in America, to a wider | and deeper purewis of matere!, Poysicn, aud matarme 4 physical untry Was ex. | career which we are how following, of tl tical sclenes. What we are here, at Bay tive, ae more in present circumstances than in Vue story ; aud we rhare the geveral movement of time without thos stropgly conservative powers which, in other countries, exist 1m institutions of science and learning of a past day. ‘The calls for mechanical Knowledge, aud for the aoe: cat.on of physies, of mathematies, and of natural scieabe, have, without a doubt, thrown us irresistibly the and which in its oljvets, aims, and results, partakes of the general dires- ticn of the setenee of the world. The beginniag of this movement was well pigh stifled by etapericism ia forms h which threatened the very life of r . ened by the absence of accredited tri- | bunals to try its claims, it proffered boldly its pretensions | to public notice, calling itself by the respected mame of science, and to outward seeming entitled to its use iL country town in France, as the worshippers pouring from the Cathedral church, I saw drawn p on the public square on which thy builling froated, a large barouche, transformed for the time into a stage, from which man in a dress imitating that of the eouct of the last century, invited the issuing worshippers to try ble skill in pharmacy, in mediciae, aud in surgery, while a trumpet sounded occasionally, © alarums” to ask attention to the Master Oharlatan, This was the old fashioned character—hardly deceiving any but the most ignorant, though withal exhibiting a power of tooth drawing ‘uch as Would have challenged admiration, had it been real. Our Charlatans carefully doifed the dross, and laid aside the tools and stage, and their trumpet was blown by the kind spectators. They pretended, nevertheless, like him of the village, to that which they did not Know, and, invited like bim, the examination of powers which they did not profess. Had this association originated at that time, they would have usurped its | seats, and bave outrooted the devotees of science in the election of its officers. This picture may seem overcharg- ed, but I appeal for the esential truth of its features to these fears, which cannot yet be forgotten, of those who shrunk for many years from an Cy per ae lest, with the form of science, it should want its spirit ‘Tae strite, though nota publicand avowed one, has net been the less strenuous, and, if renewed from time to time, the ground gained by true science is too well occupied by defengive works to render any new attack of avail, Qa? real danger lies now from a modified Cnarlatanism, which makes merit in one subject an excuse for asking authori- ty on others or on all, and because it has made real pro- gress in one branch of science, claims to be an arbiter in others, Sometimes this authority is thrust on men who, | as to their real claims, inquire the cause they would fain promote by betng too impressivie, Merit thus moulded ‘assumes the form of the impressing body. Whether the authority be seized or accepted, it is unlawful—the usurp. ‘ers wear the shoes and buckles. if not the whole costume, | ‘This form of pretension leads men to appeal to the triou- nals, for the decision of scientific questions, which are in no way competent to consider them, or to appeal to the general pubsic voice from the decisions of scivatific m+a, orecientific tribunals, in matters which, as they only are around the sun, and this point was shown to be accordant | apg appellation of nebulous matter, being like that | 4. Like that, its periodic time must be commensurable _ were also present. The Governor, by th: amenity | office of President of the American Association, for the | in possersion of the knowledge nec: toimake a right decision, so they only can give one which is valid. In a | country where every thing is free and every one may ob- tain a bearing, notoriety is often dearly purchased by the sacrifice of some portion of real reputation. Let us | firmly discountenance the wearing even of buckles. If we would count reputatiea by votes atoue, the voice of one man of science is sure to be followed by many votes from the general throng. One of the best lecturers in the world, confessed!y so, made as great a failure, in his first attempt, as there is on record. and no one could detect the gem of one of our most brilliant lecturers, in the unpromising envelope pre- sented at a first lecture. I remember well the chilling effect produced upon me, when young, by the remurk of one of our leading litersry | men, applied to a distinguished scientific writer, that he was nota “ mere dry man of science’ The remark was intended for advice, and I Perhaps I did not despise dryness as I ought, for the observation was drawn out by ny unwillingness to un- dertake a notice of the first volume of Bow: caniyue Celeste.” some ten days after it appeared. Delighted with the idea of having the rich stcres of that incomparable volume placed within the reach of a reader | of the differential and integral caiculus, I thought it pro- j : eness to pretend to have read it in so brief a time, | It was not then, and itis not now, the prevailing fault of our science to be dry, nor is dryness one of cies of our association. I have sometimes thought there was dar ger of the opposite. ‘There is nothing wore marked, in different countries, than the difference in facility of expression; nothing, certainly, struck me with more force than the contrast between the happy influence with which the Irish of science brought out their ideas. and the di which marked ren on the other side of the Channel. Some of the most brilliant discussions which I heard were in the French Academy. where the absence of dryness certifies that dryness is not, as in bitter reflection I may have ony sed, & test of soundness, we worl « self- complass Stayirite could show it in writing. we may well pardon is in oral communications. Manner is sometimes the in- dex ofmental workings, but not always. Much self-re- liance may exist under a modest exterior, as apparent forwardn+rs of manner may co-exist, with @ modest opinion cf one’s self. Lev us be tolerant, unless we see buckles. I propose now, though conscious that the diseursion must be a very limited and imperfect one, to add a re- mark to what has already been said on the benefits of associations like our own to discuss the special adv: tages of our meetings; pointing out, as well as I may, | those directions most likely to lead to our object, and some which I think. however aliuring. should not be followed, But firet a few observations on the ordinary modes of promoting science, in connection with which L would throw out, for your consideratioa. some reasons which induce me to believe that an institution of svience, supplementary to existing ones, is much meeded in our | country, to giide public action in reference to scientific | matters. With us two philosophical societies only ba a deep and wide their roots. The Americ: Philo- sophieal Sceiety, of Philadelphia, and the American my. of Boston, and several societies fir the en- gement of ural history e been eporeen f useful, Not one of these associations is well endowed. For our only endowed institute (the Smithsoniau) we are indebted to the liberality of a foreigner, and had it five fold its present endowment, it would not be ale to meet the actual demand upon its funds for purposes embraced in what its learned Secretary has classed as } its “active operations’ for ~ the increase and ditfusion | of knowledge.” , ‘The Institute of France gives its m Ts a moderate support that the country may have the benefit of their labors. The other institutions afford means for the pub- lication of researches, but not,usually making for them; nor, except incidentally, in the persons of their officers, do they support their members. Every man of genius seems, on setting out from the mental level where education and circumstances have track laced him, to be capable of acertain amount of effort ia | - bis “journey to the sters,”’ and no more. Evenanimal- natures are educated to view railroads without fright first, and then without emotion even of curiosity. No professcr iggy vies lives, that studies his pupile, who has not been ppointed at some time, after the elaborate preparation of & new experiment, to fad how coldly i wes looked upon. It was new to him, but to. his class all was new--the same level tucluded the motion of a | needle by the galvanje current thy, miguotism of oxy- cen, The next generation will stat from the level of the stwumboat, the railroad, the phototype, and the tele. | ph. On warm and sunny afternoon. I saw the company in & railroad car, prepare a shade before leaving the depot. by raising the blind«on the east side, beeause some one vbo bad bis turued,set theexample. The value of the example which we would emulate or im‘tate may consist fn the circumstances, on the side where the sun ts. Let us take up some of the leading objects, to which other nssoclations have usefully devoted their energies ard see whether they constitute leading marks for our Ove of the most useful labor, is in making. dizectiug, of furnishing the s of experiments and observations, the plan of d out beforehand, anf whied it is emi- to atdertake, tinguished ttself by ditecting nd coasiderable appropria- it necessary expenses, The f membership im that aserciation ts large, the nua. r cf members is very large. We ¢ ulste it, in ovr peouniaty means. Th been relieved by the liber taken from its funds, and executed by lis committee con cessfuliy form part of the regular busine- aesociaticn The stending committer of the association and o' organised to act during the meetings, have always d much work The members devote themerives to the neeceiation sedulously during the days of meeting. Why not init ourrelves generally to those subjects and mat- ters which cur committee of mecting’ and why not give time for committees to te. therate? Do We hot press matters too much for the nterest of the atscciation? After close observation. I believe that we do. We ought $0 allow ourselves time to do well what we underta f reasoning would lead me to some mputacions to be made under the direction ot the atscciation. Another fleld of . fulness whieh the Britich aesociation has fully eutered into, attaching its nai > the most extended and best arranged cata. qgue of the stars whien bas yet been pad Liebe a. If we would attempt tep ‘The # ecnelusi on the progress of selenes like these which w perseverinzly aut alairab.y kept wp by the iliuet:ious Beeretary of the Swedi«h aca demy. or like those which have emanated from (ne com- mittee Assoctation wa are on pre-cceupied ground andof pecuniary resources in our owm lapguege abroad, but home (the § ynian). which 4 among us, bas fully entered up oo usetultest i4, exeept ia epecial ogoasiont w Objects of our gesociation are to he considere! ay direcuy to incteace the amouat of sow: itectly by the eflect ou the assy wotings, of the comuumities wacrs 4 published record cf our doings, tis eT-c! of on would be limited to the memiers wa, maceting® amy the Laportaager! pub vd og our associa' abwoded jhe | not having the force to enlighten those who press them | pondered over it. | iteh's “ Me- | immortal work was noticed by a more rapid reader. | the tenden- | mon | e expression of thought by thelr bret | philosopher, Humboldt, speaks of the | t diffuseness"’ cf Aristotle; and, ifthe | ids of associated, | d appliances for experimental researches, Chere | The | ‘an transact during the period | - | reetion of publi bas beem recognized in the informal arrangements, from year to year, in reference to it The seal of the local committee at Charlaston and Cincinnati, not only re- lieved the association from the expense of publishing the volumes, but carried them rapidly through the press. To the local secretary at Charleston, Professor Lewis R. (ibbes, and the permanent secretary of the association, Protessor Spencer #. Baird, we are indebted for the promptuess with which the volumes of the Charleston aud |. When the meetings be time, it is hoped, to per: mit euthors to examine the roof sheets of their papers. ree Sam despatch is gained at the expense of 00 s It is hardly possible that the publication of our pro- coedings should interfere with the transactions of other learned societies, Our material consists essentially of abstracts, or of brief cemmunications of accounts of re- | fearches often in ress, apd motes which differ en- tirely from the elaborate memories appropriate to such transactions. The memoirs of learned societies, hive always been published at considerable intervals of time, and I am uot aware that the intervals have been increased since our orgauization, There is unmistak- able evidence in the activity of the American Journal] of Beience that we do not interfere with ic. At our meetings have been presented 838 communica- tions, of which 108 have been on the subject of physics and mathematics, 32 on chemistry, 98 on geology and miveralogy, 83 on natural history ia its various eee efpecially zoology, and 23 on miscellaneous subjects. ‘The absence of a minute subdivision in the pursuit of science, the prevalence of general lecturing on various branches, the cultivation of the literature of science rather than of science itself, has produced many of its evils under which American science has labored, and which are now passing away. You have so much ground to clear, said an intelligent foreigner, that you cannot ve all your time to one garden spot. We, though still farmers, begin to garden. While a general knowledge of | vrious branches of science is useful in developing even a single branch, it is still certain that subdivision is es- sential to advancement. An Admirable Crichton rather sue attention om his own perfection than perfects any a Lecturing, and the pursuit of science have, up to this time, been very closely connected with us. [t has beea necessary toteach and generally to lecture in order to obtain means to pursue research, and the advantage | which results from investigation is even now not so clearly seen as it ought to be, by those who direct our | institutions, They have yet in many cases to learn that the {real estimate of a professor's services is not al- ways the number of his hours in the college. Lec- turing is, of allthe arts. one of the most easily asquired, at least by our countrymen. It is, undoubtedly. useful | and most agreeable, but should not be the object and end of a man'scareer. It is not necessary to found in- stitutions especially for its encouragement, nor should the pewer to diffuse science in successful courses of lec- tures be considered as a substitute for exertion in its ad- vancement. Wheh the first effort was made to establi-h ageneral American Associaticn for the promotion of science, it is certain that it met with considerable opposition. ‘There were various reasons for this. From close communication with many who are now active members of the associa- tion, I know why this fear pret over their hopes | of the usefulness of such an institution. The opposi- | tion came not more from who were habitually con- servative, than from those who, being earvest in regard to the progress of science, are uiually in favor of all pro- gressive measures. It proceeded from no under esti- mate of the strength which there was among the culti- | vators of science. Some of us had studied the work- ings of the British association, and had been convinced of the absolute necesrity for the attendance there, from | year to year, of the men of the universities, to give a tone to the Proceedivgs, ‘and were alarmed perhaps at the forays into the domain of science which had there been | witnessed in some of the less powerful sections, »nd even | into the park of section A itself, So far from having been trained in the same schools, we scarcely knew each | other personally. How could we irregulars venture into the confiict when the files to our right and to our left ‘were strangers to us, and when the cause might thus ; have suffered from the want of discipline of its volun- | teer supporters. It was ver Prudent! left for the geologists to begin ry ck, 1 see no reason to regret that the work. king uch counsels prevailed The geological surveys making in several States, rendered meetings of those in | them very necessary for comparison, disc | tematic effort, for counsel, aid, and mutual improv. A classification, or the basis of one, was to be mad: | only by discussion in such a body, it be formed. In that association, positive work was the test of considera- | tion. To be heard, a man must have done something, and the more he had done, the more patiently listened to. Thus, far deeper morally than ol tive =. which they explore, the geologists laid tl foundation of the American association. The natacalist associated themselves with the nucleus taus afforded, and the association became one of geologists and natural: ists. Chemistry occupied, from the ning, & portion of the attention of the association, in its necessary con- | nection with geology—at first a small, then a more | tended part. Meteorology, which the circumstances of our country have made necessarily one of the branches | of physics, most successfully pursued among us, assisted in the further developement; wad, calling in the votaries of general physics and mathematics,the association was expanded to its present dimensions, and became the American Arsociation for the advancement of sc! May the care thus taken in gradually raising the edi forin a firm foundation, secure in its duration | “One ofthe modes, apart from education, by common | consent, by which science has been promoted, has been by the organization of societies, holding meetings, and pobtishing transactions and proceedings. Local insti- | tutions of this sort exist in ‘all parts of the civilized | world; sometimes endowed by the government, some- | times by individuals, and sometimes supported by volun- | tary contributions. ‘To affirm that these institutions are not useful, would be to contradict universal exp-rience ‘To withdraw our support from them, because t! had | failed to do all the good desirable, would be utopian. The | present condition of science in France, is ina great de- | gree due to its Institute, which took the place of a less tflectively organized body when the nation determined | to be the immediate patron of science. The departments | have their rocieties, and some, as those of Lisle and Lyons, with considerabie vitality. In Great Britain there | is no large town without its Philosophical or Natural History , and in all the more important cities there are as many societies as prominent d+ partments of eclentitic research, In London the subdivision is still | more minute, apd some branches have more than one | association devoted to their advanceaent. Science can- ‘not, in its wri of research, appeal to the mass of ge- neral readers, and must be furnished by association oren- dowment, with even its means of publication. Applied science is profitable in @ pecuniary sense, but abstract tciense, on which the other is not remunerating. | Yet how inany applications flow from one principle. The world would gain, in @ very high ratio, by bestowing ays it. its rewards fcr principles instead of for applications. ‘The means furnished for educational purposes are those, generally, which enable the votaries of abstract science to live. Where there are richly endowed univer- rities and colleges. governed, by the academic b vy itself, the facilities are ro extended as to require few others, | Where institutions depend mainly upon the fees of pupils for their support, cr being endowed and governed by those who take narrow views of the labors of scientifis | men, the professors are so loaded down with labor that neither body nor mind is capable of effective research, How very many there are who wantanly time and mrans either directly or indiree! fused, the good ts pon a t! verpment may lose & most important advantage. decision is left to influence, or to imperfect knowledge, lar “te ote Gea follow, uch a would supply a place not occupied existing institutions, tae ‘Vbich our own fs, from iB temporary and voluntary character, not ubie to supply. Astronomy cbiefly, at first, from’ its comnection wi nevigation, bas been the science which all goveramenta, ovr own inclusive, have selected to encourage; fostering thus one of the Bizbest branches of theoretical aoienoe on account of its practical applications. It may be truly said that we know more of the laws which govern the motions of the distant bodies of the universe, than we do of those which regulate the constitution of bodies around. us. Would not the same results, or assuredly similar ones, flow from a systematic encouragement for a long period of any one branch of science? The experiment is cer- qinly worth trying. If meteorology could be encouraged with a world wi patronage, like astronomy, what practical and theoretical results would not be derived ? results of the vartial effort made in behaif of sae ani meteoro- logy is encouraging. Brief as the term has been, the ma- terials are gathered, ov gathering, from which important conclusions are daily derived, and which await the mas- ter mind to weave into new principia, & new mecanique, @ new theoria, Tt has seemed abroad and with us in the United States, that something more was wanting to keep up the bealing motion in the waters of science than was obtained from the existing institutions already alluded to. That with- out interfering with their usefubisbors, good was to be galnedsb; peinaisg their members together in one gene- ral association, holding its meetings at different places, in part to give facilities for attendance to different per- sons in turn, and in part to stimulate loca! exertions by the influence eo important in social as well as chemical action of Presence. ‘Are fuch assoolations destined to any enduring existence, or are they only to be temporary fn Wagis gotten Ia thew antmanion to ¥e son ae to be from time to time suspended? If the want which they supply is temporary, they will die; if intermitting, they will bave epring time, summer. winter. If hav- ing fulfilled their end, they pass into other forms of stitutions better adapted to the wants of science, we will not regret their longer or shorter life, nor hold them lees in vencration that they died. The good that they may do cannot be lost. Separated by ¥: smaller communiti ence in the United sta’ bers, at any one point p: violation. ‘We feel cut off from the world of science, and sink dis- couraged on account of the isolation, or having a posi- tion in the community about us, we become content to evjoy this and forget that we aduty to the world outside ; that we ought to increase as well as to diffuse ; to lubor'as well as to enjoy the labor of others. Our ecuntry asks for other things from us than this, and mem of science of this day will, «8 in times past, labor for tig We will hope to have “American methods” in other branches of science, besides practical as- t distances, ecattered in larger or , the daily avocations of men of aci- ping asunder our small num- uces ali the bad influences of proved themselves of value in other countries, and have commanded the support of all their most active and erainent men of science, s0 ag to continue the meetings year after year, there is none where they could have promised to so important to the interests ¢f national science as in the United States. Organization here, for gocd or for evil, is the meana to the end. While ecience is without organization, it is without power. Powerless against its enemies, open or secret, powerless in the hands of false cr injudicious friends. Not wedded to existing forms, this country is alive to everything which promises improvement; and the public mind, in this or that place, or in the whole country, made almost a physical point by the electric telegraph, runs irresistibly in one course, the result of wise or evil ccunsels, of knowledge or haif knowledge, Honor to that great statesman who, passing beyond limits cf our political and social institutions, came for- ward, on our national anniversary, to direct the mird of the people in tracing the progress of our country by its education, its religion, its literature, and its science. Many of our Btates ure anxiously alive to the promotion of science, both direetly and indirectly; and it is of tne greatest importance that in moving they should go rightly. ‘The legislative and executive branches of our government are called upon often to decide questions which belong rather to scientific than political tribunals. A timely recommendation, by # scientiic congress, would frequently be a relief fcom serious embarrassment and insure the most beneficial results to the ego of sei- ence. The abuse of such er is less to be expected im this than in other bodies, use reacting immediately upon tke body itself. ‘Thus far mo single recommenda- tion made by the American Association, has falien power- _ wig have both done positive good, and averted positive evil. In looking at the labors of associations like our own, we naturally desire to emulate them, and the spirit of imitation is second nature. We are prene to think that what is well done and successfully by othera, we should prove our own ability to do, and that omission is a con- fession of inability. These remarks 1do not at all apply to cases where means are furnished by public or private munificence; the question is merely to direct a plan of operations. We can, assurediy, to advantage, direct the researches of others by suggesting what it is desirable to do, or how itrhould be done. If experimente on the change of Jevél of our coast. on the rediments of rivers and estua- ries, and the like, are oS geol ; if special collections are desired by naturalists, and there are pud- lie works to which there matters appropriately belong; or private individuals who desire to see them carried through, this arvociation is a very proper body to eug- gest the observations and to furnish instructioas. For these publications, I am of opinion that we have drawn in part from material which had accumulated. We bave consumed more than the supply of the year would furnish, and will, at least when thrown upon the re- sulte of a single year, find our proceedings fess abun- dantly supplied than hitherto, still, while our gathes- ings sre numerous as now and similarly coastituted, there will be interesting matter, and to spare, Matters in progress will be brought before us, the full results of which will be pubdished elsewhere. But have any papers or memoirs beep actually pro- duced by these mectings, which would not, without had been brought before the public? Of this I tain not the least doubt. 1 , I know Without the stimulus of preparation for t ‘weuld not have reen the light ; some of whi could not where. ings of propriately bave been brought forward else ¢ desire to add to the interest of the moet. has been @ powerful stiuulus to exertion oa the part ny. This wit! continue, perhaps intermittingly; joealities change, and new members atteod Combi ste and mathematics had the leading natural history, and especially ; Cincianatl, logy and its kindred branches. Each one character- ized by communications of a very high order of iaterest; Coch aneeting is distinctly characterized as the pact of the country in which it was held; each one, excelleat in pd ay, exhibiting (like our own Union) uuity in diver- sity, For the good effect from our mecting on local science, T appeal unhesitatingly to those who bave been with us ge and New Haven were meetings at whieh phy- rt; Chariestom, for trseateh to advance thore departments in which they now merely impart the doings of others, Will nota more healthy tone of opinion arise in time on this sub- | ject. from our intercommunteation, and the candid ex pression of temperate and mature opinions? Scme of our institute, and prominently among them the Franklin Institution of Pennsylvania, have faruizhed wetns for experiments om important subjects, and en- listed their most zealous members in researches. But | even bete the Isborers were without hire, though neither they nor thelr work were deemed un- worthy of it.” Some of these researches remain to this day unpublished, from the necessary withdrawal of mem- | belie to other sphere. of active exertion, requiring all their time and thought, avd will, if they have not already, be- checlete, from the progress of the branches to clorg. Among the obstacles tof:he progress murt be reckoned as one cf the largest ct rupport for its eultiv eh believe. a common mistake to assoiate the ide nd institutes with monarehieal instita- Verbow.in this. as in many other things, the prejudice of our st. We have among us the two | sremes of ated nationalty, and of excess A nath n. with her rich werfal universities. Repul- | | lieen France has «ty seeking rather extend than te sporiions. Oac et aril ercal secretary that it is horizon to idlumine auother be ow the lea of a necessary con teen d institrite strike me asa valid one, ef which the mombers belong, in idely scattered States, working at nee, and reporting their result 8 foe special purposes ; n researches self-direoted or dereried by for by Covgtess, cr by the ex- ah the means for the inquiries The han organization covid be marked out s0 ag (Meieney without ceutralization, and constant jt ech their places of re alde mA ting enly at particular ti erarged the bedy ew ith ite oppropriate results, ‘Tne public treasary | woud be raved many times the support of such a council | | Uy the scund advice which it would give im regard to the various projects whiew are constantly forced upoe | their note yell and iv regard t> which they are now com- Jo. without (he knowledge which alone ean ire a *ixeconelasion, The men of science who ate at of government. either constantly, or tem- © tco much ceeupied ta the «pecial work, which heir official occupations to answer such a pur. pene; besides tb tional responsibility which, if they were called te . they must ovcessarily bear, would rove too great a burthen, eomsilering the fervid zeal, and might amost say fercenese, with whi ations of im: erestere pureued, and the very extraordinary means tte te, to wring about a successful conclusion. If it ible that I should go into detail on this eub- prove the economy of @ permanent consult- ody like Uhie, ‘This if, however, a lower view than by avoiding mistakes, and misdi- snot uragement, and by loss of oppor. tunity of encouraging that whieh is really useful. I should subject the association to some eriticiem, if 1 folded thie subject specially. partioularizing the errors be rally alluded to; and I abstain, merely remark- itg that the emount which would heve been saved to one apartment of the govert ment alone. from the applica tion of tbe principle cf the equality of action and rene- tien ld bave supported such a counetl for twent year ding the fornishing of means to show experi- iwntaiiy t pileations of the prineiple to th y in new undertakings would t important. but they would be ation in regard to existing ones, erviceable in advising ia doubtful ccuntry is making such repid progress in material that it t# impossible for etther the tr utive departments of our gowe to . cofontaily, if not directly, being involved in tho ot aw specification It is u or military concerns, the customa, the { i houses, (ur publig lamds, post offiges, post ropds | burhels and gallons conforming to the gener | have | worel since the new organization. We know that such good has resulted. We ean point to those who have found new motives to research in attending our meetings We can point to one institution founded and endowed in pert through our action cn public sentiment. May we be able, at po dietant day, to also say of another which ix an ornament to the last noble city where we assem- Died, that it, too, has been endowed in consequense, at | least in part, of our inflaence. ‘There are some subjects which only an artociation like this * competent to grap- ple with, The subject of regulating Man dards of weignts aod mearures; and the seales of barometer and thermo- meter, and the prime meridian, are of this kind There is now no other relentific body to p int out explanations desirable to be made on land or water, to #1 ‘yeoms of extended meteorclogical observations, plans of surrey4, geccrapbien!. geologienl or others Congress, after changing the money standard and re- Zulating the coinage, seems to have stopped sho: ater along agitation of the subject of the stand Weights aud measures, to have lett it, in very w. The whole effort towards uniformity has simply been to prepare material standards of quality accordiag wich the demands of the science of the day—pounds. these incommon ure, aod derived from EB: acide innovat he commonly received v muitip) tiples, L have bem gvatified to ee a sp ry eu smeng the members, believing that vowbere tial ges or reforms fu the whole syst powerfully discuseed than bi Aa individual perhaps, some leading legislator. who would pose charges at this time in our ec ’ Would but waste hie time and his determined, in Cincinnati, to ‘tion of Chis #0 nected with it are the regula used with iusirumests, whieh length measure, or arbitrar, time set apart at this or soni div cussion of this mat! partly opened at Cambridge. ‘The world is absolutely ripening fur a general suprle- ment cf there questions, and as intercommunication strengthens, the adv ge of one system of measures, eral prime meridian wilt gain jection of the weights and mes- remeters and therme f to see & subsequent meeting, for er, which tries re} ¥ rerented in strong relief the necessity thing better adapted toa world's use. As far as these questions affect scientific men and solence in the United States alone, they are entirely withia our control, and the recommendation of this body woul undoubtedly, lead to the adoption by our brethren tuch standards of weights aod measures, such linear unit for the seals of the barometer, and such seals for the thermometer as would be recommended, Those who use these standards would be the first to becom» familiar with them, from actual sight and use,and [know the great case with which one becomes used to measure? and wetghts, the employment of which seems at first entirely sicange if ever we may expect a combined series of mo- gical observations with exact instruments, and ob- servers. Whose business it shail be to make the observa. tions. it must be in consequence of a recommendation of this arecciation. The stations shoul 1 be selected so as to furnish the best results for cli mate and the laws of storms, ard not left to the determination of circumstances foreign to the considerations «f the object sought. If we could once communicate to New York haroor the coming of a northeast storm in tine to prevent vessels from leaving it, the full benefit of there researches would come home to the commercial community of the cova and means lo extend the observations would be f furnished. The resommendations already made by the association have met with signal euccess, Among these | may note the sppropriation for the publication of the report of Professor H. D. Rogers, on the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, by the Legisiatuce of that State; the law for a geological «urvey of Ohio; of the setentifie explorers attached to the Mexican BounJary Survey, weder Com. missioner Bartlett, and of the expeditions nnier charge of Lieutenant Maney for examining special questions con- nected with winds end currents, It has been dowhted whether i was expedient for (as air, would for somes