The New York Herald Newspaper, August 26, 1851, Page 7

¢ ' SEs HE igss if &5 5F i E 5 a i Hi for avoiding . Instead of stati formulary that it gives no totaion, fl ve it guide opinion by forming its owa mature conclusions, giving them when with all the of its authority. ‘hether the association should be the arbiter of ques- tions of priority occurring between its members, is much i more doubtful in my mind. It would be of great value to scientificmen to have such questions which anhappily often arise, careful dispassionately settled. When | both parties tedse toe arbitrement, I think it should be assumed as a less evil, than that of avoiding a deoision | when the facts are all presented. There is but one other course, rigidly to exclude all personal questions, in which the association decides that there is no tribunal for such, and desires its members to appeal to the publis. At the last annual meeting, the President of the year before was called upon to prepare « code of scientific ethics, the result of the clear principles laid dowa upon this subject in his address. Let us hope that he will contribute this code, which, like reputuble mon under the civil code, we will endeavor to live without violating, not considering it a law given to compel us to right, but rather as a line far within which we wil) walk. In considering these meetings in reference to the éffect on the individual members, we might claim them asa relaxation from severe labor, as an agreeable iatel- lectual resort, not toleave the results of the day, did not* hor than this, and extend to substan- nefits to others, as well as to our. our aims soar hi tial intellectual selves, That these meetings are, in the individual intercourse which they bring about intellectually, morally beucticial is most certain. The intellect is excited by such inter- course, and the heart is expanded, Freedom and frankaess of discussion, aud the interchange of views and frivadly criticism have marked the meetings. If there have been exceptions, the shock that was produced, has recalled better feeiings or better judgment. It is certaiuly true that as far as man’s researches and discoveries are com- prehensible in bis day, he receives full eredit for heim, especially if he ask little and is patient, Coateati about priority, or contention at all is, as a general rale, ua- necessary; where it becomes personal, it disgusts and re- acts sgainst him who indulges in the personality. It is difficult to avoid controversy, but if obviously forced on one, the defence finds itself strong in sympathy. have pot been without examples of the good eilest of sub- mitting to scientific diseussion and decision; sions the reality of which the author did not and could no doubt, but which had been doubted by others, Wha triumph greater than that of our Cineinpati brother when the committee of the Associatioa reported 89 strongly in faver of his admirable method of resveding right ascensions and declinations, Trath triamphed through his love for it. What a triumph for American science, when the American method of observing is adopted at Greenwich. Yhe contribution, by whomsorver made by, however many shared, is a contribution to the glory of ‘the eoua- try. The generous award of eredit to our couatry by this name— by the illustrious astroaomer of Greenwich— is not the less honorable to him than to us. Let usshow ourselves worthy of the spirtt, by sinking all pecsonal views in a general contribution tothe American method. If the association is worth anything, it should be ade- quate to this result, Let it be the test. To our meetings, each member briags his coatribu- tions, gathered from the iand or the sea, the earth, the air, the heavens. the spirit—each one lays his offering on the altar of truth. Mow little, when under the influence of this epirit, seems contentions for special lines of re- search; the interference in special pursuits; the covetous | ths determination to desire to enter a particular pat! t, rather than to oc- jostle the votary. who is follow! cupy it exclusively. The realm is boundless; the paths | are numerous—each one is wide, Let there not be conten- | tion, brother, between thee and me; let there be rather a generous and eager urging forward, each of the other, | to the gaol which we all seek. Warmed by the glow of generous sympathy, let us find our zeal kept alive by association, aud show that the bond of scientide bro- | Lieut. M. F. Maury, superintendent of the Na- tional Observatory. ‘The last paper was read by Prof. Horsford, of Harvard. Apstract or ProrEessor Horsrorn’s PAPER ON THE omrny capa or THE Kock oF THe FLORIDA EEF. It is required to ascertain by what processes the surface and the submerged rocks have become hard- ened. The surface rock is distinguished by great compactness. It is found on the abrupt ocean side, and more sbundantiy the long slopes on the land side of the Keys. nee “| peek has an vo- litie appearance. solidified under water, and is lese bard than the surface rock. i ‘The surface rock, in many places, has no longer the outermost position, as it did have at the time of ita formation. It is interstratified with friable light eolored limestone. -ofe:sor HH. here went on to explain the chemical process of hardening of coats of lime upon walls, or of hydraulic cements. Do either of the above pro- cesses furnish any suggestions as to the methods by which the rocks of the Florida reefs have been hardened ? Professor H. now gave an account of the struc- ture of these rocks. The rock formed under the water exclusively is composed of grains less than that of a mustard seed, which, to the naked eye, appear quite globular, and of uniform dia- meter. When carefully examined wich a micro- ecope, they are found to be far from regular in form, or uniform in size. A fine deposit of carbo- nate of lime is distributed throughout the inter- vening spaces. Tho surface, or crust rock, is composed of par- tieles so minute as not to be distinguished trom each other. : { A solution may be made with it by hydrochloric acid, and by operations on this solution it is deter- mined that there is present therein neither silioy nor sulphuric wcid; and hence these ingredients permit no action like that occurring in hydraulic cements, or iu the hardening of gypsum. Professor H. proceeded to explain the actual cause and means of their formation. Oa the main land against the Keys, there are depressions which are filled with water only at long aud irregular ia- tervals. This water, like that within and about the keys, abounds with animal life. As the water evaporates, the animals die and fall upon and mingle with the coral mud a: the oottom. As the beds become more and more completely dry, the layer of mud and animal matter hardens till it forms a mass resembling the surface or crait rosk. Professor H. had analyzed specimens of this soft and growing rock He had tound therein hydro- sulphuric acid, carbonate of lime, aud sulphuric acid. Conceiving this soft rock to be in the condition ia which the solidified rock was at first, the process of hardening might be easily explained. ‘The animal! matter mixed with the carbonate of lime, &c., gave as an early product of decompo- sition, hydrosulphuric acid. ‘There resulted sulphate of lime, and it further became soluble. Ava later period, the nitrogen going over into. the form of ammonia, decompesed the sul hate of lime, forming | sulphate of ammonia and soluble hydrate of lime. ‘The latter, with an atom of carbonate of lime, | united to form the compound in ordinary mortar. The carbonate of lime, in solution fron the added carbonic acid, ss the water is withdrawa by evaporation, takes on,the crystalline form, giving increased strength and sclidity t> the rock. That this explanation may serve, in however small moa sure, for the coast rock, on the land slopes of Key West, and all localities of cimilar character, it is necessary that there be animal exuviw in coral mud, or linely divided carbonate of lime. Both these therhood is worthy of Christian men in a Christian laud | gocur, ‘Ihe water about the Keys abounds in ani- —of the faith which we profess in time, and of our hopes | 119) life. in eternity. = VISIT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION TO THE CITY OF TROY. Troy, Thursdsy, 2} o'clock. At nine o’clock this morning the members of the association assembled at the Old Elm Tree, State street, Albany, where two omnibuses, and up- wards of forty carriages, were provided to convey them to Troy, to accept the invitation kindly ex- tended towards them by the Common Council of this city. Several of the members were accompa- nied by ladies, and the whble party amounted to upwards of two hundred and twenty. Having been duly arranged by Dr. Marsh, to whose admir- able arrangement the company are greatly in- debted, the carriages proceeded en route to Troy. On arriving at the Rural Cemetery, we drove through all its windings, and passed about an hour admiring its beautiful yet mournful mementos of ihe dead. This cemetery is remarkably well laid ut; it is picturesque and rural, and occupies over 30 acres. On leaving this we proceeded to the Arsenal, at Troy, where we were joined by his Excellency Governor General Wool and his staif already beforeus. Both his Excetlency and the General were received with separate salutes of artillery. ut. Colonel Baker, the Commandant, received the company with much courtesy, and had wine and Otherreh eshments provided for the association. ‘The other officers atwuched to the Arsenal, who aisisted in administering the hospitalities Commander, are Captain Co: (paym Lieutenant Symmens, and Licutenaat Crispin. ‘The whole ap of the Arsenal reflects the hest credit on the officers. Haviog partakea bg: the hogpitalities and courtesy of Colonel Baker, the association proceeded to the Rensselaer Lasti- tute, where, in order to combine business with plea- sure, they proceeded with their discussion of several scientific subjects, the President of the Society Agassiz) in the chair. Governor Hunt, | fswery Wa cod Lieut. Colonel Baker, were | accommodated with seats on the pl At the request of the President, siz,) prayer was offered by Dr. Porren. ‘The Paxsivent then said—Taat through the kindness of the Corporation of Albany, aad the Rensselaer Institute, the association had to-day assembled here. It was natural that this institute, projected for an extensive cultivation of science, should express its sympathy with the association, ‘and offer its halls for the meeting. Did time per- mit, it would afford me pleasure to pay @ lengthy tribute to the memory of its honored founder. A list of new members was read. The commit } tee, on examination of Mr. Lyman’s selene, was directed to examine and report on a stand for a telescope exhibited by Mr. Simmons, and the mounting of@ barometer by Mr. Kandail. On behalf of the standing committee, Professor ‘Wa. B. Kopcers moved the appointment of committee to examine and report on Spencer's microscopes. He added, that Mr. S. has well merited not only the thanks and este2m of his scientific countrymen, but of scientific men through- out the world. Professors Bailey, of West Point, Torrey, of New Yoik, Swith, of Louisiana, Ue. Burnett, of Boston, and Clarke, wore nominated such committee. , The first of seven papers, to be read here this mo! was presented by Prot. levy, “Ua some Phenomena bearing on Electrical Theory.” When phenomena occur, we ask for their causes; and if these cannot be termined, we refer thea to etherial agency—as in heat, galvauism, &: The present tendeucy in any science, is to refer pheno- mena to some one general principle. in the domain of the science under consideration, there is not known any geoeral principle—no absolute scientiti: knowledge. haps it is beiter sometimes ww use neories, as ¥ Rivolute truth. Jt bas been said, and it is proba- bly true, “that the whole universe is but oue thought of the infinite mind.” Perhaps it might be expressed in a single line, bat it could nov be comprehended by us. Prof. H. proceeded to re- mark on light, electricity, and magnetis: the properties of cash. Prof. Agassiz now addressed the asso (extemporaneously, as be anew type of al Medusw.” report correctly rs since, that ind of shell fish were not exaccly ali dissimilar. Since this fact was first been observed as common to ¥ fiehes. Prof. A. deseribed tae peo & it is impossible wo was observed many eaes ive generations of the saume but quite ticed, 1 as us genera of arities observed by him in bis extensive examiuasion of the class of Med juew. The third “On the distinctive chara» ter of the indians ef California,” by De. J. L. we Conte, of New York. ‘The fourth was “On of Chances,” by Prof. B. 1 ree, of Llarwood. The problem discussed, might be expressed thus:—it a eon were to thiow # thousand marbles on the Boor. what probability is there coased rolling, one hundred of 1 clore t r pat? ‘This problem, or rather the principle in- volved, had been discussed by 1’ Ergland, in the Philosophie! 1776, wherein he considered the distribution of the pire jn the heavens, and attempted to show the nebability that there existed a pugsical connecti Retween seme stare, from the that they w clove together, solution. He had not by any means. Haunt, and where we fouad _| latform. | (Professor Agae | re here obliged to do, instead of | bowing | | beirg much darker in some tribes than the other: blem in the Dostrine | when they had m shouldbe found ether, £0 that they might be eovered by a vf. Whitehell, of ‘ransactions fur | With the influx of the tide, the slopes be- come overepread with the water, and what it coa- tains in suspension. The retreating water, at ebb tide, leaves a thin layer of theanimal matter, mixed always, when the water is agitated, with the fiae calcareous powder. Before tne return of flood tide, exposure to the atmosphere and warmth have se- cured the succession of chemical changes, enume- rated above, and a thin layer of rock is furmed. A repetition of this process makes up the numerous ex- cessively thin layers, of which this rock is com- zed. On the ocean side, the deposite is formed Pom spray during winds, which drives the froth of thesea, containing, with coral mud, the exuviw from the outer barrier of living corals, upon the low bluffs of the Keys. To these chemical changes must be added the simple admixture of the animal and vegetable matter, which, like mu- cilage or glue, fills up the interstices, increases the extent of surface,- snd, with it, the co- hesive attraction; and still further, to the de- composition of the organic matter, furnishing carbonic acid, which gives solidity to the pulvera- lent carbonate of lime. The exceeding firmness of the coral mud is due, in part, to the stone plants which flourish in the waters within the reef, and which admit of ready reduction to a powder of ex- treme firmness. Professor H. gave tne analysis of species of these, by which it was shown that the stone plant, as well as the coral animal, possesses the power of abstracting lime from sulpharic acid —the change, doubtless, befag due to double de- composition, with carbonate of ammonia exsreted from the t and animal, yielding carbonate o: lime, quite eo and sul of ammonia ofthe highest solubility. The building up of the calcareous skeleton becomes, therefore, of exceed- ing simplicity. The surrounding yields at once to the exhaling carbonate of ammonia, the framework of stone. lt was a matter of intecost to determine in the case of corals whether the for- mation of new coral without was attended with ab- sorption, or partial solution in the interior, and a corresponding reduction of its specific gravity. Professor rd showed, from analysis, etc., that there was no indication of superior density in any one part. Other minor matters were alluded to. The conclusions to whieh this research has condusted, are, that the submerged or voliti: rock, has been solidified by the infiltration of finely pow- dered (not dissolved) carbonate of lime increasing the ts of contact, and the introduction of 1 quantity of animal muei matter, ser the same ‘as the carbonate of lime— that of increasing the cohesive attraction, ani that the surface rock been solidified by having, in addition to the above agencies, the aid ef a series of chemical decomporitions and recompositions, re- sulting in the formation of a cement. Ivis one of the grateful reflections arising from this inquiry, that nature has provided, in the very conditions bag Tapes of a, coral, sos trey securing, and in voy oh ages rendering bitable the domain psy frown the sea by the emor- gence of the coral reefs. Distiyetive Cuaractes ov rie inpians or Cati- vornia, vy Jon L. Lx Conre, M.D Much has already been written respecting the races of Indiacs in the western parts of Ameri- ca, and | can seareely hope to add soyshing new to what has already been said concerning them. Yet, having bad an oppor of —,- ay tribes rot usually visited by travellers, | ve thought that it might be useful briefly to give my observa- tions on the distinctive characters presented by these Indians. ‘ Should these observations correspond with those having been derived from a different source; should they not accord, they way, perbap*, give some far- ther evidence on the much vexed question of the origio of the race. ‘the dians bas already been described so often, that there is no use in repeating it here. J will merely say that the few Oregon Indians | have seen, did not difler on any essential character from those of Calfornia, nor did the seashore tribes differ from those of the Sierra, or the valley of the Colorady. My notes are principally derived from the latcer tribes, for the reason that I remained longer in those tribes permitted me to make the requisite comparisons more easily. The special difference between them and the east- ern Indians, consists in the greater extent of face, with emailer and narrower cranium, a less decided firm cartilage; oe protrusion of lips, and a more pointed chin he last is a deceptive character, avd may be produced simply by @ greater expan- sion of the face below theeyes The color varies, and 1usually much enbanced by their dirty ba’ as they never wash any portion of their bode excep: in summer, as a relief from the excessive heat. ters more clearly separating are the greater abundance ot hair on the body—many of the males having quite ae much hair on their leg: is common in ou: own race. They bave likewise much more hair on their faces t other Iodians; always have ha! the axilla. This character is wanting in t) males. The diffirences in form between thi a® more apparent than in any of race males are almos; always slender and well propor- tioned, while the females are short, ad, and ea- tirely destitute of all ¢ymmetry. Nor is this owing to the hard work which they are obliged to py form, for this is not greater than is usual among eavaget; and, moreover, the same differences ¢: er ot | among the peons : : ‘and supposed be had given the true | & peons of the rauchos, where neither sox Prof. P. now | performs any work a: all ‘The difference notived by Major Emory, in tht weed rome algedraic formuiw, to show his own | form of the nose of the two sexes in the Maricopas theory, and spoke at length on the subject Fitth paper—** On the passage of anticlin t! axes into faults,” by Prof. Wm. B. Kodgers, of tite Uni versity of Virginia. Before preseuting his paver Prof. R. pa d an eloquent tribute of hunor tu Vea Rensselaer, who, by nis munifivence in erecting this institute, had given a great impulse to the de velopement (of science in this coantry, and espo- cially to that branch (geology) tv whieh the speaker had chiefly devoted his lite time. Among those who had been pupils here, were Professors Hall, Horsford, Emmone, and the lamented Houg Sisth paper—“ Cn deep Sea Sonading does not ap f equally coustant. Among the Yowas there many females with straight noses, | while many males retain the very decided snub | | form which teriaes both sexes when young The ma » young females are moro acutely conical, than in any other women I have scen. In psychical chatacter those nations show still str Mnger d Herences from the easterntriber. aiet ard submissive, the watives living with the waites have aeumed @ servile condition whieb, under no citeumets nca@, Could bate been impressed onthe esee on ind au, Jopertinent, cowardly, aod treacherous, by others, they will be interestiag as — physical appearance of the Californian In- | amongst them, and because the absence of clothing | obliquity of eye, a greater flatness of nose, depen | dent on a greater breadth of the alw, anda less | in a wild state, they seize every o to sed lees aoe aes eas ose whom fear, they the aes tolest submission. Never coming pensiians § Q the whites, they. rely only on 0 unsuspect victims are al- 2 dextcoyed with clube fact which must be considered rather as a peculiarity in the western tribes, is the prevalence of the souads x!, kl, and tlin their lan- guages, recalling at once in their softer forms, the civilized languages of Mexico. These sounds 8¢- cur also in the Oregon languages, becoming more harsh in the most savage tribes ; amoag them, too, is found a set of govarel and glottal coasosants of the k series, which are entirely wanting in the eas- tern tribes. Itis by such analogies as this, rather than by any affinity of words, that we must be guided in our researches among savages. In lan- guages formed like those of Iadians, py isolated fal and subject, from the wan: of literature, to contiaual change, but little resomblance may be traced between the words of different tribes. Where, [ however, the mental constitution of nations, when civilization has not interfered with the instincts of nature, is ‘similar, the manifestation of this simi- larity will be noticed in the recurrence of charac- teristic sounds in their languages. Although the number of articulate sounds is but small, qe they admit of considerable modification, and ald ough in a progress from barbarism to civi- lization, should the nation be capable of it, the more harsh sounds become eliminated, being changed into the higher consonants of the same se- ries; and the language still retains certain charac- ters of its class, although ina modified form, ren- dering them more difficult to be discovered. Thus the harsh spasmodie sounds of the Africans are noi the gutturals of the American Indians, nor are these The Mexican language, highly cultivated though it was, and-containing no articulate souad not ex- isting in our own tongue, yet retained a polysyn- thetic structure as its continental character, aud an excess of the “tl” sound to aid us ia tracing the Zoological division in which it originated. the same as the uncouth sounds of the Australians. } ‘This is the only mark that it retains to show its origin, and thi of the Atlantic tribes. We are, therefore, led on psychical grounds to class‘the highly cultiva’ Aztec with the barbarous tribes of westera A rica. As a curious analogy, illustrating the psychical | relations existing between the Mexican natioas and the Western tribes, | will mention that on some highly sculptured pipes, procured as Nisqual- ly by Dr. Phillips, U.S. N., [ was surprised to | see human figures in very distorted positions, as if | crushed down with immense weights, precisely like those figured.as occurring at Palenque, Uxmal, and | other cities of Central America, as basal oraaments | of columns. Now, although the comparison between a stone | pipe and these wonders of aboriginal architecture may be considered as trifling, yet I view this simi- larity of esthetic ideas, among nations having no connection with each other, ani separated by such a lapse of time, as of consideravle interest. If righty viewed, this fact should teach us, (with the relations of language already mentioned,) that be- sides the spiritual similarity which stumps itself on the highest as well as the lowest form of huma- nity, there are still more special resemblances which are confined, cash to a particular race, and remain impressed on that race in the depths of bar- barism as well as under the light of intellectual culture. It is difficult to understand why thi not be extepded tu those still more spirivual ideas which are embraced in the term tradition. The material resemblances in the ornaments of distant tribes being founded on an accordance of principles of harmony and beau:y, depending purely on simi- lar organization in the souls of the tribes in ques- tion, why shoald we deny to the still higher attri- butes of their nature a power of expressing them- selves in a similar manner without any dirsct transmission of ideas from one ta the other! Why should not the accordance, in *he fundamental ob- servances and doctrines of the wost different prime- yal religions, be ascribed to this spiritual resem- blance rather than to the remnants of a primeval revelation, of which there is not a single witness, either historical or traditional. By viewing traditions in this manner, we are again deeply impressed with the fuadameatal in- corporeal unity of tha species, while we perceive, jew may a sound absent in the languages | e- | | still more prominently, in the difference between classes of traditions, the original organic differ- ence of races. The Assosiation having terminated their scien- tific business, descended to the apart:nents below the lecture room, where a cold collation was pro- vided for them by the Rensselaer Institute. Dr. Beeman briefly welcomed the company in the name ofthe Renseelaer Institute; and he was too much of a philosopher to imagine that they would prefer hearing a long speecn from him to discussing the merits of the cold collatioa before them. President Acassiz, with the same conviction, thanked the repreeentative of the Institute, where- upon an immediate onslaught was made upon the provisions; after which the company returned to Albany in the railway cars provided for their es- pecial us2 by their Troy hosts. “ Aunany, Thursday Evening, Aug. 21, 1851. On some ov THE TweRmat Warers oF Asia Mt- NOR;—Taain DISTRIBUTION AND ANaALYses. By Pror. J. Lawkence Suirn. The Professor made a communication which was @ continuation of a series of examinations on the subject, part of which has already been published. Tis eee com) 8, first, the waters of Yalova, near the Gulf of Nicomendia, and which have been for ages in more or repute, and have re- cently again by say to notice. They are celebrated in beever! Bag the cure of St. Helena, the mother of Constan' the Great. Temperature ef the water, 151° to 156. Fahrenheit specific gravi- ty, 1.00135. Composition in grammes, | litre. Sulphave of Soda. 807 « * Lime. au Chloride of Sodium 072 « Caleium. 068 Sulphate of Magnecia. 0S . “* Alumina. trace Sui eee -035 A gas escapes, from the sources of which there are about aine the gas contains 100 parts. Ni- trogen, 97; Oxygen, 3. These waters resemble those of Hath, in England. WATERS OF MEIRAPOLIS. ‘These are about one hundred and twenty miles south-southeast of Smyrna, ani are amidst the ruins of the ancient et:y of Heirapolis. This place is celebrated for ite wonderful encrustation fron these springs which oover the sides of the hill for ‘upwards of a mile ia length. The temperature of the water is 130° Fabreuheit, and specific gravity 1.00143. The Profeseor then gave a table of its grammes. WATERS OF ESK! SHEMR. ‘wins of Dory- a of Mar- ‘These waters are in the ancient lwum, and about 130 miles from the moro, and as many south of the Black Sea; its tem- erature 119 degrees Fahrenhei:; specific gravity 00017; contains bat a very small amount of soli In one titre— 29 ba ties 73 Sulphate of soda 2b lime 029 je of calcium trace. Os Near the pla wi bis ancient city once stood, are several warm springs, mos: of them si- line; two of them were examined, and exhibit the tame composition. IMERMAL WATERS OF METYLENE On this island there area namber of thermal | fcurces, and the isiand exbibite abundanee of vol- | canic action. ‘Two sources were examined. Tae | Professor then entered into an analysis of the grammes of both sources. METAMORPHIC CONDITION OF A PART OF THE LAKOR VEIN OF FRANKLIN: N NEW JERSEY, BY A | plering the m | Mine Hill, near the Franklia f nm Was arrested by wy atte: Structural arrangement ted by the opposite | # of the large vein of Jinive, at diderent | ccs along its extent. Waile much the largest portion of the mass appeared to consist of im ivet octahedral crystal, compacted or cemen' | other par:s appeared like an aggregation of t lamina, its crystals resembling tabuiat spar. Tais latter portion was bgbly magnetic, and in pulve- rising | found the hammer would take up large quantities fit. Kuowing shat other parte of tae vein did not exhibit this property, | pursaed my in- vestigation for the purpose of ascertaining how much of the ore presented this magne’ ‘The reeult was that it was ‘oand oaly woe: tabular crystals prevailed, and they only where the Vein Was in contact with sienite or garnet; and in tracing across the 1 in @ right line, magnetis action was not percep'ible for more than four fee cre was found magnetic. a line acroes the vein, at the distance of three im rom cach other, and a » aud app 2 amo from the and | failed in es t the @minut tm the re parts of the vein ia + was « protoxide, and ine re fm such parte ae rest the jj y termediate, fur the dieta banical miature of the t#u these facts, ao importaut 1 repeated my experiments, and found four feet | | three inches was the maximum distance that the | quence of the accent of ait from @ focal area or | broke off fragments in | iutermediate space, by which a coniuence from wwe | cause cf the ascent of the airin such cases. The mag- | year 1886, d take up ailor nearly ail of the powder | e y nished | betweent | at tbat time ises: I Svir metal vein attributable to or the intrusive rocks in contact with 80, should we not infer that the igneoi ig more recent than the rela or Franklizite. Maeyesian Ora, PRom Near HaRMansick, ASIA Hy Minor. By ov Louisiana. m7 ‘This opal is one found in several places that a roressorn J. LawRence of Asia Minor and the Island of Metyline. found, along with carbonate of magnesia, in serpentine. dergone @ decomposition by water, containing carbonic asid, the magnesia combining with the carbonic acid to form carbonate of m the silica becoming converted into opal, involving a small amount of maguesia. the opal was found— Water . Magne: . On ‘tHe M. a (4 Sinicate or Magnesia USED FOR MAKING Pregs) or EskrSugur, iN Asia Minox. By Prevesson J. Lavrence Swirn, or Louisiana. ‘This substance is one that has been long known to the arts, without an aceurate knowledge as to the manner in which it oveurs in na ture, from the fact that almost all of that substance, which came into commerce, was do- rived trom a region in Asia Minor but little visited. The object of the present paper is to this deticiency. ‘The locality alluded to Shehr, the ancient Doujlacem ia West- Minor, about an hundred miles from the Sea of Marmora, and as many from the Black Sea; the subrtance occurs in au extensive plain, which consists of a calcareous brecsia, extending to a considerable depth, and, doubtless, belonging to the tertiary formation. * The merschaum exists in masses of different sizes, from that of @ walnut to the size of a man’s body, embedded in this breccia. ‘I'he manner of mining it was fully entered into. It was, doubtless, explored by the Greeks at a very early date. What use they made of it, however, is not known. It is now explored by the Turks, who form themselves isto companies, contributing their labor, and dividing the profits, in proportion to the labor furnished. All merschaum that is ob- tained from the mines in the plain, goes to Vienna for the purpose of making pipes, segar tubes, &c., that are cut out of the suoscunce, and carved with ornamental figures, the stone beiug soft, and yield- ing readily to the knife. Large specimens’ were exhibited, which were more like cork than stone; it floats on water, like the latter substance, hence its na (the foam of the sea), but ab- sorbs water rapidly, and sinks. When dry it is extremely white, and compressible by the nail; when saturated with water it is softer than wax, and is readily crushed in the hand; it absorbs twice its weight of water. Tho mining of it is very precarious, for, although the mass obtained may be large, they are, usually, very much dimi- nished in bulk before fit for market. It is, chemi- cally, a hydrated silicate of magnesia. The analy- sis Of several specimens were given. The trade is not so valuable as formerly, other localities of more or less importance having been discovered. SECTION OF CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY. Axacysis or Brruminous Coat Asn, by Geo. W. yan, YAve Lavoratory. Professor Horsfield in the chair; J. W. Blake, acting secretary. ‘The analysis of anthracite coal ashes, presented by Mr. Bunce at the New Haven meeting of this association, having given so interesting results, I was led to undertake a similar investigation of the bituminous coal Tae coal from which the ash was obtained wi rocured at Pittsburg, Pa., and is the same as is generally used there. It was burned in a large furnace, where the heat was in- tense, and every precaution was taken to have it free from impurity. The fire was allowed to burn for aday,and then thoroughly raked out befdre any ash was taken. ‘The mean of three determina- Sine of ash, &c,in the coal, gave the following results :— 12.32 3 334 100.09 Three determinations of amount of ash soluble in water and hydrochloric acid, gave these ro- sults:— First Deter- e come under my observation in the westera The serpentine appears to have un- nesia, and ‘The composition of ) | made to resemble hail, by drawing between oppo- | tive discharges; upon the same scale does it not of | & be effected between the ite: Secharse por deed mea oppositely or of & coated clec- tric.” In one case, simultaneously with the dis- charge, avivid spark is seen to take place; in the other case, some moveable Doar ones as a bell clap- th ball, or a blast of air, issuing from a point, is made to convey electricity from lace to the other, until a discharge is ac- complished. The latter process has been desig- nated by Faraday as the connective discharge, from conveho to carry, while the former is desig- nated as disruptive from dirumpoto break through; since, in this case, the o| jite waves break throu the air, conveying the whole charge at once; while, in the other process, the opposite excitements are ually peueattad by successive contacts with matter passing from one to the other. No- | torfously, either of these discharging processes may be substituted for the other by a slight va- | riation of distance. | Thus in the experiment in which pith balls are | sitely electrified disks; an approximation of one of the disks towards the others induces a spark or | diruptive discharge, and thus causes danving to | cease. In Cathberton’s balance electrometer, the | moveable ball on) roaches that which is stationary, in obedience to the connective process ; but as soon | as the distance between the balls is reduced within | the striking distance, a diruptive discharge ensues, | indicated, as usual, bya spark It follows, that bya slight variation as to dis- tance, the same degree of electrical excitement may be productive either of a convective or of a diruptive discharge. Excepting a projigious dis- | parity in magnitude, the diruptive spark discharge is universally recognized as pametly similar to lightning. Both are admitted to bo due to dis- charges of electrisal accumulations, differing only as tomagnitude. Under these circumstances, sus2op- tibility of communication exists as respects the diruptive discharge in its minuter form and convec- follow, that the diruptive discharge, as produced by the gigantic processes of nature, should be com mu- table with a corrective process of corresponding immensity. Butif the spark or diruptive discharge is exemplified by lightning, how is the latter to be exemplified! Where is there any pects me logical process which can supply the deticiency, excepting that of the tornado or hurricane, which last may be viewed as a tornado on a scale of per manent grandeur ! Jf, from a point electrified by a machine, a blast of air may proceed as strong as from a blow pipe supplied by a bellows, may not an enormous blast be emitted from every terrestrial prominence, elec- trified by the powerful apparatus of nature as mach greater than that of a blowpipe, as a spark of light- ning, ef a mile in length, exceeds that yielded by an excited conductor or charged jar. So long as there is an ascent of air, consequent to electrical convec- tion, there must be aconiluence of the same flaid, from two or more opposite quarters, to supply the deficit thus created ; and the air, as it foilows the electri: column, being successively similarly electrified, that enduring trunk or column is formed and sustained, which characterizes tornadoes or waterspouts. Whether this travelling trunk, which, in its form, contortions and deleterious power, resembles that of an enormous elephant, as mischievous as gigan- tic, bodies are not only subjected to the same con- victive influence as the air, but are also exposed to the upward force arising from a vertical blast. Oa each side of the track which marks the progress of the trunk, bodies are subjected to the confluent blasts which rush in to supply the upward current. Hurricanes may be considered as the consequence of a convective electrical discharge on a vastly more extensive scale than tornadoes. lvidently, there can be no conceivable limits to the extent which such electrical accumulations may have. All that is essential to an accumulation of electricit, degeriped was repeated with an improved arrange- ment. Inside of the inverted bell, so as to cover the bere of the neck immediately ‘over which it rested, aU pl thin fice uf fared orudn" “About bel Sines above the mouth of the bell, another disk or tri of wire gruse was upheld by ‘appropriate “y there was puta stratum of cmiedeen sufficiently copious. “‘l'hese preparations bei — pleted, the cotton above the bell was ignited. Not- Withstanding the enormous rise of temperature thas produced in the upper part of the column of air, of which lower portion occupied the bell glass, so’ en- tirely was this lower portion uninfluenced, that there was not the least Feels agitation pro- duced among the most delicate fibres of the eot- ton. It is admitted that, on reaching the rarified re- gion where the atmospheric clouds appear, the con- sequent condensation of aqueous vapor will make any body of air containing it warmer than it would otherwise be, and from the lowest level above which the heat is applied, chere would be a more or less disturbance in consequence of the greater buoyancy of the column warmed by the condensation of va- por. But this disturbance would, as I conegive, be uch less abrupt and forcible than the Espian hypo- thesis of storms requires. " Liven after the condensation of aqueous vapor is effected, the water which formed it will remaia within the column, and still add to its weight, so that the total weight will not be diminished. Moreover, by swelling upwards, as it naturally will do, towards the regicn where there is least resist- ance, it will become so much taller as rarer, and thus its greater height for the loss of spe gravity. a non-olastic fluid, any supe- riority of elevatio vny portion expanded moro then the rest, would be rapidly compensated by the overflow of the excess; but in an electric fluid, where the summit m be so rar o have scarcely any susceptible weight, no tive overilow can take place us would be requisite to produce any violeas exchange of position between the column thus affected and the cylindera! mass of the atuosphore by which it is surrounded. A carer Reriectine Tevescore, py J. Seymour, LATE PRINCIPAL OF THi . Lenox, Mass. ‘There was a large telescope presented for the ex- amination of the American Association, which ate tracted the attention of the members. It is of the reflecting kind. The focal length is sixteen feet, aperture nine and a hes in the clear. tube is composed of thick Russia iron, painted ani varnished; the parts being fastened together by brags bands. The arrangement for observation is that of Herschel and Lord Noese, the fiader being placed on the left of that end of the instrament rected to the object viewed, and the eye-tube on the right. The lower ond of the instrament has ate tached to ita framework resting upon two pivo' at the ends of a horizontal axis. In the centre this a sa socket upon a vertical axia rising from the of a duodruped, which rests upon the ground, or the floor of the observatory, as the case way be. ‘The end of the telescope directed to the object observed, is supported by two legs, lengthen- edor shortened at pleasure, by a combination of craks, cords, and pulleys; the whole so contrived ag to allow of every necessary motion without aay cramping of the parts. . This description refers to the instrument whem used ina portable form. By using, however a dif- ferent foot pieee, the vertical axis named above be- comes a polar axis. There can be attached to tho lower end of tho instrament, declination and hour circles, and thus it possesses most of Sie graattent advantages of an equatorial instrument. Stars cam then be examined in eunlight or by night, and re- tain the same relative position in the field of the telescope. an Ore of the essential peculiarities of this instru- ment is, that the large speculum is held in its posi- com- 2 of tothat which may be secured by means of a coated pane or Leyden jar, is, that thore shall be a suitable electric to fill the office performed by the glass in those in- struments, and two conductors competent to act as coatings. Experience shows tha’ the denser portion of theat- mogphere, which lies between the storm clouds and the earth, is competent to act as anelectric, since, otherwise, there would be no thunder gusts, nor any | atmospheric discharges as displayed in the form of lightning. ‘That air, rarified to acertain degree, | becomes capable of acting as a coating does in the | instance of the Leyden jar, is Llp by the fact | that the inner surface of a glass globe, within | which the air is rarified by exhaustion, may be charged like a Leyden jar, if tothe outer surface a ation, Second. Third. Mean. o Soluble in water. 0 341 342 3.41 | conducting body be applied and a due commanica- * bydrochlori 53. 6.36 8.46 $45 | tion made with an electrical machine in operation. “insoluble . 80.79 88.63 | It is well known thatthe earth is a coaductor. -—- -—— -—— -— | It follows that in the earth and the rarified medium 90.99 9983 101.67 160.49 | above the denser substratum of the atmosphere, The amount soluble ees very meaty the solubility of the anthracite ash, while much. | _A qualitative analysis detected the presence of | silica, iron, alumina, lime, soda, potash, sulphuri: i a qualitative analyses ¢ portion soluble in water, acid, and chlorine. were made of both of and soluble in hydrochloric acid. it appeared that all with water until the water = existed, undoub: cates. CO whole ash, " have the Savana sae i= Bitiminons. fe. Red Ash. Waite Ash. 99.8042 110.104 9! But the slightest detected in the bituminous ash. by com: for ite al These results fully manure. President Hitcncock, of Amherst, | communication on the ical lelaceous state ef the Connecticut \ TORY, ‘The followin, | made by Mr. ‘This mineral occurs in Cues: | ter county, Pa, im serpentine associated with ma rosite, 1m plates of irregular outline, and in trian- Saar plates and tabular masses, one of which is re- wed ii gre of moles; optically, itis ‘Two specimens gave, on examinati for the "2e%5 angle between the optic axes: — me = mean of # measurement, 7 a ‘The plane of the axis is perpendicular to the cleay- age surface, and a) right angles with the base of | in the figure the triangle, as indi by toe arr subwittea to the meetin, rerved in the angle of the Uptic axis were 0» plape of the other axis, an augle of sixty degrees. Mr. Blake submitted triangular specimens of thia | and explained the portioa of the optical ‘The name clinoclilore was given to thy spe- ly frou ed tae mineral, eaes cies, by Mr. blake, as it differed so ma: eblerite on mica. "Mr,¥ Blake also p results of an examination by the blow pipe. ‘The following are the observations made by Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia, referred to in one of my pre ‘veous letters im Srrictrnes tron a Revort resrrctine Sous PECE MADE by Ror. Esry To fuk Skene TARY tne Navy, as to rne THeorecte De- DUCTIONS THEREIN ADVANCED, bY Lx. Hane. | bave seen @ report made to ‘he Secretary of the Navy by Professor Lepy, which, so tar as it cow rectly records the phenomena mast be honorabie vv the author, and worthy of tho department of our government, unde> whose aus Fices it bas been made. Doubtless, in this ia ether publications o1 ting fom the Pt y be exnibit & nevertheless, | que: priety of making aay particular hypothesis the subject of an official report by ite author aud ardent adv Unaccompanied by @ fair summary of the obj which bave been madety it, or any no- tice of any other hypothesis which may have been advanced as preferable. With Protessor Kepy's opinions | coneur so far as to agree in the wie rence that hurrivanes and tornadves are the conse: of MOrTe Opposite quarters to supply the deficit ng iv incuceu; yet we ailler as tw the la the A advanced before ® meeting of the Phicsophical Society, that the cause of 5 qacetion Was @ discharge of electricity andsky. This explanation was wade the of @ memoir yubtisted in the wansactions bat society in 1 will ende to give @ sketch of the views shich | now ente on this eubject, hoping to prevent them wore briefly and forcoly than | did Livery pereon familiar with the phenomena of electricity, ®& produced by an elect ical amcnine, Mis} be Ware vbut there wre two Modes io Waicn Mr. WeyMan then went into an elaborate table of the portions ened pgs gm acid, baker of tl was not dissoly the by water, and about a third of thom was deter- ig Rh A sey mined in the acid solution. Tne ash was washed we no tashe. The al: iy, in the state of sili- the above determinations on the this ash with that of the anthracite, we fied that P its value as a manure, but the presence of so eo ® quantity of alkalies compensates in seme meets . confirm the value of coal ashes, and their applicability as a ws Battte the Arge- ‘alley. OrticaL ano Puysicat Paovertigs or tar Sur- rosep “Onvorire,” ov Onesrer County, Pa, py Wm. P. Brake, or YaLe Anatytic Latona- abstract of the obsetvations | wing e Opposite to the base; | having inclinations similar to the others, but the | plane in which they were inclined formed, with tne { various storms, | rod | and the air vies les. between an, we Reve s soluble im acid is only @ little more than half as CRRA Sees 1 aranh teat aeateansanria Franklinian theory, 1 urged that ia the concentric bongo oceupied by the earth, and that scented by the rare conducting medium above alli to, there must be two oceans of electricity which could not fail, from mechanical or chemical causes to be in different States. But, assuming that electricit: is a result of the polarization of the ethereal fluid, tothe undulation of which light is ascribed, we are led to substitute for oceans of a specific finid, less ocean of ethereal matter, culiar affections may become compe- which by form within the concentric atlu- tent to - | ded to, the part — by Franklin to one fluid, by Dufay to two fiui Consistently it may be inferred that an atmos- pheric change may extend all around the globe, so astomake one great battery analagous to that above described ot the exhausted glass globe—the refraction being in one case internal, in the other external. Agreeably to these considerations there trace of phosphoric acid was | gre no limits to the possible extent of atmospheric accumulations of electricity, while the rapidity with which discharges de conductors is such as torea- this is much more rich in alkalies. [athe aathra- | Jer distance uo obstacle. Agreeably to the lowest cite they amount to about .4 of a per cent, while | estimate of the velocity of the el: waves as pro- Sheek whlos aguck:, Tis senguasia wes quested. | sasecaSns wits Shcoelcmancedony inter » » ity com) wit ric! ace jons) in tw: The absence of acid in this ash lowers seconds the waves would encompass the poi But according to Wheatstone, a discharge from a ley- den jar, would, during the same time, go round the globe ten times. From all that I have urged, no necessity for our taking ot! trical storms than those which the province of that all-impo: tagent in the phy- sical creation, which we call electricity; and fur- ther, while it has been shown, I trust, that in at- | mospheric accumulations there is an ample source of stormy reaction in its most violent forms, | hope to prove that tho cause assigned by Mr. lespy is in- competent to produce gach violent reactiot Jt is well known that, when moderate: air is refrigerated ; hence, whe: ce! subjected to exhaastion, a clou are Within it, arising from the condensation of eqeeons vapor. Dalton found that when the air, thus rarified, was | devoid of aqueous vapor, it ime much colder than when this vapor was present. This he ascri- bed to the latent heat he out by aqueous vapor on condensing. Before I had the pleasure of know- | ing that there was such a person as Mr. Expy, | | contrived an appsratus for showing the cloud and cold produced by rarefaction. This aj tus, as well as that employed by Dalton, dues not differ essentially from L«py's ne- hiliscope, which is the name given by hiue to an instrument answering the same purpose as that | employed by Dalton.’ Notoriously, the density of the air diminishes, in a geometrical ratio, as the place of examination is higher; so that at the alti- tude of three miles it is only half as dense as upon the earth's surface. Davy, in his elements, ascribed the formation of | clouds to the refrigeration arising from the rarifac- tion of ascending columns of air ; and to this | used to advert in my lectures, nearly thirty years ago, using the nephiliscope, which I had contrived, as above mentioned, to illustrate the idea Thus it became evident, from the experiments ond suggestion of Dalton and Davy, that when the different portions of air, in an upward current, suc- I infer that there is her causes for elec- be found within tion by an arrangement giving pechony. usitorm pressure to its whole surface, that slight pressure iteelf being almost wholly counteracted by antago= nist pressure.” After all, the main excellence of the instrument les in the great accuracy of the figure of the speculuin, which, to say the least, hav an extremely close approximation to the curve of the parabola. ‘The instrument has as yet been but partially tested. New Books. Memon or Miss Caraerine Hayes, ‘ The Swan of Eris,” by a contributor to the DuWin University Mogazine, with a portrait.—Londons Cramer & Co.—This brochure is a very interesting, as well as a very beautifully printed work, and will be read with great pleasure by those who are anticipating the delight of hearing the distin- guiched vocalist, whose advent in this ag. 4 now locked for with uncommon interest. This biographical sketch is very different from anythin; onthe same fubject, which has jed it, an ives usa very eatisfactory idea of the character of Se vocalization that may be expected from Miss Hayes. Several of the g artists of Europe scem to bave vied with each other in giving am opinion of those peculiarities which constitu:e the charm, aid no inccnsiderable portion of the merit of the vocali Litzt, Lablache, and others ace knowledge her abilities in strong terms, and the valuab!e critigus of discerning judges add weigh> and value to the little volume which we have beem much ficd in perusing. We may add ¢ one ot Crouch’s songs—Kathleen Mavournoen—is inerted, with the music of the composer, in the voWwme, tegethor with a portrait of Swan here telf—the whole forming a very beautifal pio- neer to the brilliant career destined for Miss Hayesia the United States. We have received, also, the sawe publishers, a portrait, beautifus, rapbed, of Herr J. Mengis, of the Uraod Opara,. Paris, who is to accompany Miss Hayes daring ber- tour through this country. He is an ‘sduiabie: performer, und will be received with great favor. Leanna Faencu. —A new edition of the- celebrated method of learning the French lan- grage, by Manesca, has been lately published by Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co, of Philadel rhia. This method, which is, ne doubt, the bees adapted for the study of the living language,’ bas been theroughly revised by the son of the author, L. Menesca, a succeasfal ¢ of French. It is condensed in single volume, beauti- fully bound and carefully corrected, and is superior to all other works of the kind published in this country. With the serial and oral method of L. Maneeco, it is imporsible, even tor any person, no& to learn in a few months to speak fluontly, write correstly, the French lan, ofthe book Is very low. This fork can be’ freed at Putnam's and KRedfield’s, bookseilera, in Nev York city. New History or Mexico—The Abbé Brox seur de Borbourg, an intelligent aad enlightened French gentleman, who has travelled throu shevery portion ef the American continent, we leara, has, after three years incessant labor among th i and the ruinsof Mexico, finished aa lnterest.ng hice tory of that country, from the empire the (Quichees, one thousand years before Christ, down to the occupation of the capital by the Awerican army. ‘The reverend gentleman Taving been fur- bisbed with unusual credentials and letters from the powers of Europe, and especially from Romo, was admitted to @ free perasal of the archives, and ingress and egress to all the public institations and records of the country. His work, we learn, is large and well written—impartial and independent in watters of religion. Inceed, itis said that the church of Mexico is correctly represeated by his pen, and receives ® series of well merited castiga- tions. Abbé de Borbourg arrived yesterday, Brezileiro, from Vera Cruz, and ‘will lea France in a few days. American Pomotoatst, containi # of American fruits. C. m street. Goory's Lapigs’ Magazine Septe: Long & Brothers, Ann street. ” ee c finely colored . Saxton, No. | on x4 reach | height sufficient to rarify and cool em, to @ certain extent, the aqueous va | they held must form a lved, bea, at ter cone ; time, render them lighter and warmer than the roundirg air. it was first assum od by Espy, that the rise of tom- peratare thus cause 1 would cre b that of a bi nd anupwa an acceleration as to produce the phenomena of a tornado at the foot of the colum: etel. Infact, genious au- of storms. Admitting that his estimate of t ‘ancy con- sequent to the condensation of va) to be correct, | aver that no buoyancy thus created in the upper yart of an aerial column, would cause any disturb- ance of the column below that level. Count Rumford first showed that water may be boiled at the top of a containing vessel, wi wormirg the liquid lying below heat may be appli @ Ant strated by me on courses of lecture: five year le true in the ea A lar, ition as to allow the axis of @ spirit lamp 0 be concentric with the base of the neck. In the next place, a tuft of pee nearly equaling in diameter the mouth of the was moistened with aleobol. By means of this tuft, being held just above the mouth of the was inflame t. Of courte, the difference of temperature thus cre- ated, was incomparably greater than any which could be producible 4 the latent heat yielded by condensing vapour. Moreover, the whole lifting influence was concentrated upon the comparativel, barrow area of the bore in the neck ; yet the smail- est acceleration could not be perceived to take plece. The flame was not in the slig! degree disturbed. Subsequently, at the meeting of the association at Cambridge, in 181, an o was construgted, by wilizh the experimems above | Stavery ann Law, a discoarse by the . Chas. M. Taggart, Naehville, Teuneeee. a6 Hackary Coacnes, Carts ann Gartaen; theit _ les, rates of fare, &e, &o., compiled by Asher Taylor, First Marshal. Bowne & Co, publishers. yore ornnat, of ey tor new series, Vol. Ill, 0. CL . G ji ie tone eorge Virtue, No. 26 John street, Mvsic: “Oh lovely one whence is thy home;’* “Are we thus compelied to part.” Geib & Jack- fon, publishers. Aw Exrosrtton or TH Arocaryrse, in a series decesszes, by the Re Pan yo pastor et e First Cm pal C Marieti published by f odd, New York. iit The Upern at Castile Garden. The preduction of “Ti Proved a most fortuitous and profitable ent jart of (he management, and the Audiences which have att d its rey resentation are proofs of the great interert teen in the artiste who in the Roa opera. ne well ae ip (he comporition of the s'nt. Could it be possible. before the close of my to repeat the reprr-entation. we are quite certain that would prove highly attract: for there are thousands: bew who wich to hear Dertuces Maretsek, Salvi, Hy ord Fadiali thus brought into ove seene arrangements for benefite, however, are already ' ond ik probably toke hers wane tee enn mueie of ‘uritani” iscifered for the frst time thie screen to the publc—tn veut looked for with more tham ordinary Interert. The benefit of Caroline Vietti, too, is ey prerching. This favorite contralto will select for the fome of the most brilliant music It is enidl that she will cceasion, probably. vitrd to her powerful voice. fiar in“ Lveresia Borgi Dettini ae Gepneroe that *p Py pearence he \ hone from