The New York Herald Newspaper, August 23, 1856, Page 7

TRE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE OF MOGILE. Our Alabama Correspondence. Motz, Aug. 14, 1858. r and Feathers, Vigilance Commitices and Rijigies all he Rage—Punishment of Strickland & Co., the Boole ellers, dc., de. This morning a well dressed effigy of Percy Wulker was md suspended by the neck between two te'egraph les, across Royal and St. Prancis stieets, iu fall view m all directions, inthe most public part of the city, th the inscription, in large letters, ‘ervy the Traitor.’” pore unmistakable resemblance to our parsy Know thing M. C., and does credit to the artist. Had any ng been wanting to complete the foul ensemble, the coat rp by the figure would have removed all doubt, it wg easily recoguized as that of our ilJustrioaa repre ntative at Washington. Mhe cause of this demonstration is found in a report by egraph that ina specch in Congrets Percy repudiates Imore, whom he helped to nominate, and de- res his determination to support Buchanan for esident. A meeting of the American party was ca led r this evening, at which several spirited indignation eeches were made, thickly interspersed wito ‘ loave d fishes,” “ office seekers,” “ treacherous turncoats,”’ raitors,’’? ‘‘deserters,”’ etc.; aud the following resolu- p, with others reported by a committee, was unani uusly adopted as expressing the sentiments of those t yom he is indebted for his present position:— ‘Resolved, That the report which has reached us, toth pot that our immediate representative in Congress m. Percy Walker, who was elected by the Americans this district to represent the views and principles of » American party, has declared, in arpeech in Oon- ees, bis determination to support for the Presidency mes Buchanan, the candidate of the party directly op- ped 10 our most cherished opinions and principles, nas ren ue by surprise, and if true, renders him unworthy ger to be our representative; and it is the deliberate ‘upanimous opinion of the Ameri:ans of Mobile that sbould immediately resign his seat in Congress.” more excited state of feeling, however, prevails in d to the startling discovery that a prominent pnb ing house in this city has been circula'ing and selling ‘ion documents of the most virulent character among slaves. A day or twosince a gentleman, suspecting thing of the kind, called at the enid store, and among yb s0ks purchased to cover his real object, procured regular revolutionary abolition work. Upon thia, a lance Committee was formed, or had previously ex- |, (Rone but the knowing ones know which) and set ork to discover the extent of the mischief done, and that the offenders do not escape justice. Last evea- negro of Dr. Woodcock’s was foundencaged in read- one of these works, and on his refusiag to tell where procured it, was whippe i till he confessed be got it at store of Messrs. Strickland & Co., 28 Dauphin street. bon became known to the vigilance inen, and a threat- crowd gathered about the Battle House, where reported Strickland was cloistered with some ur prominent men, undergoing a preliminary private uination, the result of which bas not trapepired ia reliable form. Tar and feathers anda ‘tight rope’ freely discussed by the excited crowd, and it was by the prompt and ceoler action of infuential men violenee was prevented. ‘matter is now in the hands of the proper authori- and it is understood will come before the Mayor’s to-morrow, ef the proceedings of which you will jept advised. first bale of cotton arrived from the ieterior last , im fine order and of good quality. health of our city continues unueuety good. No fever has occurred here this season, wor is likely our present cool weather. A severe storm has ‘along the Gulf shore for nearly a week past, doing damage and preventing regular communication New Orleans. ANCENDIARY PUBLICATIONS. been handed us for publicatioa:— Messrs Strickland & Upson bave wilfully and in- the procurement Iatements on the case, clear! seus 1 falechoods these two persons are either on privciple abolition- xious to propagate their fal on that subject among or, are unscrupulous and unprincipled speculators, any ‘of moral respemsibility, and willing to money by the indiscriminate sale of any and every to any and e 2 they are persons aa slaveholding nity, and ought to he ejected frum it. however, desirable for the puzposes of exact justice, order to preserve that exalted conservative character has always Southern communities, that on should be peaceable and eithout the least person. ft pson, and announce the conelusicn at which the meet arrived, and to inform them that unless they leave the ithin five days, we cannot guerantec their personal report ot the committee was unanimously adopted, pursvance o it three gentlamen were ‘appointed nt y Merers, Strickland & Upson, Yosterday ine these. gentiomen proceeded to the store of Strickland & Upson, and ascertained that they ready left the city, reper that we rhould state that. we.are informed ckland and Upson were present at the first ig, aod were heard ia their defence. Ke the high character of the gectiomen who com. the meeting aflorded an ample guaranty to all who jzent of tho facta that everything would be , tly and in order,” we ere yet gratified to all canse for further excitement is removed by pt departure of these men tiem prompt, yet moderate ceurse pursued by is worthy of all praise. it is calculated juce a high moral effect, and wit be cordially en- and sustained by the entire community ollowing is a listor the gentiomen prevent at the . 1. ©. Nott, Hn. J. W. Loossao, . Jenn Breage, Dr. G A. Ketcham, %. Hawthorn, Wm, Boyles, tea. J.dl. Weodcouk, G. H. Danghdsi!), Levert, cont Cleveland Magee, A Rowe, Jae De. F Joseph &. Maevall, R. ©. Macy, Hoa. F. 8. Wm. Marris, Jobn Hall, Mang, gemini Commitee wes composed of the follow Nemen = 8 _W, bescene, Be. H. 8. Levert, J.C, Nett, De, J. H. Wooveast, . John Brace, 4. © Secor, Bsq r wbo were apps te! to wai, en Mewre ie. J.C. Nott, Dr. H. 3. Levert, Vigtlaune Cammittees’n Rochestes. From the Rochester Adverteer, Aug 20) ent daring @utrages in aur city have aroneed ns to aa effort te protect the: the bold viliains atho have ths far gone w Yeste day afverboon a receting was held at of one of aur nent citixons on State atrea!, rf On the cent aide of the river, fur the parpese 1 Measires for Grif protectica—both of whieh dy attended. Argiver mectiqy, respectable in ‘acd character, was held in the third ward last nd at each a Commaittee of Viglance was form. the purpose of talving the law into their own | puniawitg the willggs, if coxgt, but simply ‘War city against deprodeuon. Atg@rch mocting @ was appointed whose duty itis more partic- ool certain deitrigts of (ne city, each night, se apecial incependost police, (> guard our the bold owragee which here startled not wo gees tand that thls committee p’ Other power than thal of a detective poh to the Jegal authoritivs any of the raseais which inio thelr hands Fach night » «trong force will be for duty, and it is expected that they will pratro’ tect apart te them from the vanal hour af clos ings and otover wetil the emt morning. Nasy the m™ police i inadeguate to pravwet extegnoly derelict ie daty. Which jon i & corroot qe, the organization of a su vee guittee caumot det result in goad. If the jo i Insufficient, the proposed orgemzation will ; Aad if the poliee fat to do their duty a20%0 tons Hoe they were eclected, the peuple should k i ely litle renarkacle that aprede. ‘ore committed Monday ai parts . should go undetected. portion of the pre foree we know to be active and vigilent, ant Grones in the department, the? places showd onee with a different class of met, NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1856. The Revolution Action of the Black Re- publican Party In the Honse of Represen- tatives, (From the Washington Union.) To our paper of yosterday we publixhed the proclama- tion of the President, convening the two houses of Con- gress to meet on leper the 21st instant. It is understood that all tbe members who were here on Monday at the hour of adjournment had notice on that day at three o'clock, We also took a passing notice of the cauge which led to this + tate of things—the loss of the Army Appropriation bill. It was the initist ve of the first, cal triumph ever obtained in the United States, of at character, by @ political faction. Qar present form of gover oment bas endured since 1787. It is now sixty nine years, We Dave heretofore passed through almost every jorm and shade of national parties, but each seemed to vie with the other in steady attachment to the constitu- tion and the Union. It was immaterial whether Hamilton or Jefferson, or Adams or Madiscn led—whether Adams or Jackson, or Van Buren of Harrisoa, or Polk or Taylor, triumphed. It was ail the same. Taeir differ- ences, their contests, and iumphs. were either as to the policy to be’ pursued in the administration of our patioval aifairs, or the construction of constitutional pro- vittone In these conflicts there was even & line uf de- marcation which limited both parties, and beyond which, asa whole, they never ventured to pass, The people par- ticipated, ana looked with intereet on the exciting events of the day, and at the height and determination of tue bit- terest rivalry, always congratulated themselves tht ours was the government ot a written constitution, au i tha thie Union was tafe, because there stood not in the ranks of either party a solitary prese, of a single leading man. who cunpiugly devised means to di<solve it, or plotted the ehedding of American blood toobtain power. During this long period of political contest 10 such attemi. was mare, I there arose the tolitery hydra-head of wholi tioniem, it was no bigger than a hand's breadth, and the patriotism of both great parties repressed its fury, and Copeigbed it to tusignificance and helpleseness. in all this time, there was no Congress which failed to make appropriations for the support of alt the branches of the goverment. wut now a new state of things has taken place. Men calling themselves patriots and statesmen have devoted their time, their money and their talents to fap the flames of fanaticism. The mos; batetul aud dangerous of al! cgmbinatione—that of religion snd politics—bas been re- stored with an iptensity which has been unparalicled, except in the days of our mother country, when heretics were burned, and in our own, in which witches were drowned. ene me nd orous and wide spread misrepresenta- Ameria, succeed. By a sudden, tion, made to the hohest people of - ed in deceiving a great body of patriotic men in the North under false pretences, and obtained their support, and came into the Congress of the United States with a majority. Their first bar hm arey of that body, they took in the name of the Emigrant Aid Society. ‘The result was the rhedding of the tiret American blood by American breth renin Kansas, Men went there armed to do that very deed. In the midet of it, and when the hopes of the black repub- licens were rapning bigh, when it seemed asit war would spread by degrees, until, like tue undulations ia a lake from tbe casting of a stone, the waves would be repeated and extended, until they reacheé the utmost extremi ties of our country. It was that moment that tried the :trepgth of the construction of our government. Mc b- and military associations haa resisted and defed the‘ ivil power. The chief magistrate of the republic, wit a firm and patriotic hand, tempering justice with met: y, and executing the laws with vigor but modera tion, put an erd to the shedding of the blood of brethren, acd with the return of peace to Kansas the ambitious hopes of the black republicans began to wither. The spirit of desperation seizeithem, In this spirit they have laid violent bands upon the constitution, aud perpetrated @ revolutionary act in order to erable them to recom- me nce a civil war, and array one vast section of thia Union against the other, for the sole purpose of o¥taiaing the p-ssession of supreme power. The process was obvious ormey See inetd ih riat for thi ey v¢ted against the appropriations for the suppor: of the army in order to compel President to disdaad tir. Sumner boped and proplesed. against" South Caro. ir. Sumner bo; pro agains! ro lipa migtt have come, like the sad wail of the suffering and the dying, firet from Kansas and Missouri, and next from ihe States. Revolation wou! then bave become fierce and universal. Tho dread of the Executive arm of this couvtry was felt by every man, from whatever quarter he might come, whose secret wishes and designs were blood and plunder. The act refusipg, under the circumstances, support to the army, was not only revolutionary, but was moral treason order to ect oo profgnte « perpose, ey were wll iD order to eflect so s ey were wil ing to clothe the President with dictatorial put Kansas under martial law—to place the high: our country, by land and effect, to suspend the wr! low no man the right 2 Hy black republican standard, He will, no doubt, preserve the*constitution by setting the example of respecting it bimeeif, and will take care to preserve the Union all attempts at its overthrow. Let our countrymen cry aloud and spare not. There can be no doubt that the blow has been struck by the Diack rebublican ee a view to revolution, an- archy and disunion nO man spare them from’ this ovt. Letthe people be warned. ‘We hare but commenced this subject. We shall pub- lish, im a cay or two, extracts from the interesting debate in the Fenate on the bill Taxing appropriations for the a-my for the year ending the june, 1857. It will gratify and enlighten our readers. It occurre1 upon the amendment reported by the Finance Committee of the = nat’ ¢) strike out the revolutionary proviso passed by the black republicans, Zhe Dramatic Copyright Law. AN ACT Supplemenial to an Act entitled “ An Act to amend the se- veral Acts respecting Copyright,” approved Feb. 3, 1821, Be it enacted by the Senate aud House of Representa tives of the United States of America, in Congress assem bled, tbe: any copyright hereafter granted under tn law: of the Gnited States to the author or proprietor of any diamatio composition, designed or suited for pa dlic repre septation, sball be deemed and taken to confer upon the said author or proprietor, bis beirs or assigas, along wit the sole cight to prin: and publish the said compostion ‘the sole right also to act perform or represent the sem >, or causedi to de acted, performed or represented on an: tage or public place during the whole period for which the copyright is obtained; and any manager, actor, or other person acting, performing or representing the sel compotion without or against the consent of tho salt author or proprietor, bis heirs or assigns, shall be tleble for damages to be sued for and recovered by action on the case, or other —'s remedy, with corte of suit, in any courtof the United States, such damages im ali cases to bo rated and assersed at such sum not less then one bupdrod cellars for the first, and Ofty doliars for every euhooquens performance, an to the court having cognizance rr shal) to be just. Provided. neverthelecr, that pothiog he-cin enacted shall impair any right ¢o eet, perferm or represent @ dramatic coma ition as aforesaid, which right may have been acquired or shall in future be acquired, by any manager, ator of othor porson, previo: for the eatd comporition, Hight of sah author to process in equity in any court o Ube United sistes for the better and farther enforcement of bis righte. Approved dag. 18, 1856. Derantarst oF Stare, Ar A true copy carefully collated with the original ri W. HUNTER, Chief Clerk The Terf. CMON COURSE, L.t.—KUNNING. A race of a single dash of five buudred yards for $1,(00, catch weights, came off on Thursday afternoon between Salding, better known as the Reading maro, copsidered the Gastest quarter neg in the conatry, and Little Sime, a Zerecy jamper of comiderable notoriety at short distances. The mare wac.the favorite at abvut one bundred to seventy previous to the start, with more offered than taken. The race wac run in twenty-six seconds, and the jadges decided that it was a deat heat ‘The stakes were thea drawn. Subsequently a mateh fv SiC 0 aside was mado between the backers of the above Dae, and the race fas run over egan, the mare winning by about three longébe. Some dilferaree of opinion ex ietaas to the fairuose of thi race. but the judges de « bat the mare won, and their dectsiea is final. Th lavt dash was made is 25}; seconds. Tuo following is summary — TuoosbaY, Aug. 21.—Ruuning match for £1,000, single dash o¢ five hundred y Mr. Marshal named S01 ta i. vudred yards, cate! weiglt Mr. Marebal named Satdina,... Mr. Hoagiard named Little Rian Tas” waieae diene, twenty five and a half secends. Pheatrical, Mersteal, &e. Kumto's GARoRN.—bour edqgaut entertainments are of ferod shis evouing for the benestof M Paul Bellian: favoriee dancer and anthor of soweral ver¥ popular pieces The selecticns.awbrace the ballets of ‘ Gsmeriere’’ + “Figaro,”’ the pantomime of “Agphodel’’ and tight rop’ feats. Whey THEATRE —Monnger Brovrham's excess coy Jar coy ities, “Life in New York” and “Poon on tae, re again the features fer éo-night's enterts! ment. jacked, densely crammed audicnces nightly vw. tify to the merits of these plays, Tar Camrrmue ant Gorvc.—This is the last day of the Campbel! Minstrels, who have elicited ic applane large audjenees overy time they have appeared at c' Chinese Building. An algernoon performance will 44 at two o'clock, and anether at eight in the even: w the benefit of f Bryant, the great joker and dane: r. Nrcro Mixeterisy.—From present indications |t wou — as though the managers of the ‘colored opera” had determined to take the lead in the way of amusemonr duriog the coming season. No less than three com pai" of miastrels in Broadway, next Monday, viz— io oa. a 444 Brena the Beckioys, a is 6 Ch Ol se | Niblo’, ‘and Eph. Hors ona G. Chincee in senna the fowarite baritone from tne Aewavey Paul Jnvien, the distinguished violinist, and oth: ; oe will give ® grand concert at the Pavilion ifotel «e THE SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. American Association for the Advancement of Science. OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. Ausayy, Aug. 21—P. M ‘The reading of papers began in earnest this morn in the two sections. In the mathematical and physical sections the most interesting communication made at this morping’s session, was Professor Peters’ on the comet he discovered at Naplee in 1846, and whose return is ex pected in 1859, The dovelopements offered by bimsaif ard Professor Gould, with reference to the disappear- ance of comets, will take the non-scientific world by sur. prise. Yet there is no doubt that two well knowa comets have disappeared from view, and no one cay tell what has become of them. Have they been dissipated into space? Have they met with some other cosmical body, and been attracted to it, or come in collision with ; The question acquiree a portentous importance when it is borne in mind that on more than one occasion astrono mers bave foretold that comets would approach within a tearful proximity to the ewth. In 1832, as you may remember, many learned persona were very ua easy about the course of Bieta’s comet,and pious clergy men preached that it was by collision with acomet that God in- tended to destroy the world. What was then mere excessive timidity assumes a very different character now that we are certain of the disappearance of two apparently reg. lar cosmical bodies: and the queation arises afresh with new importance, how cune the asteroids tw the place they occupy Is Humboldt right in presuming that they ave the fragments ot some mighty orb shattered by cui lisiyn with a comet? Was that the only instauce of such @ disaster? Hew the suggestion of Prof. Peters, with regard t+ the establishment of a comet medal, to be given to every discoverer of a comet, can be carried out, | know not, but doubtless such a’ system would be of advantage It would get a host of young men on the trat! of come: pe tend to increase our stores of astronomical know ledge. ‘The papers read in the Geology Section, by Dr. Winslow, of Troy, were listened to with great atrention. I amp aware of any one who bas advocated a3 boldiy as Ur Winslow the theory of solar inflaence over volcanoes, that of an itternal in candescent sphere. The latter’ « you are aware, is an old idea, which many modern mou of science felt justided in rejecting. Sir Charles Lye | amor g others, if I mistake not, considers it wholly 11 teuable, and ‘argues witb some force, that if, ay D vw and the other partisans of the theory pretend, this earth is a mere crust reposicy on a golid bed of fire, it is a very unéafe place to live in, and we ought tohave burst up long 10, However, Sir Charles does not alvance a theory 0° bis own ; and, in the absence of any actual informatio on the pet, one plausible conjecture is as goo’ as ano ther. The facts stated by Dr. Winslow, in d- seribing hi journey to the Sandwich Island volcano, are curious |. the extreme. I have no hesitation in saying that, a things considered—style, facts, and boldness of theory — his communication is the most important contribution '» the gum of our information on the subject of volcano. and earthquakes that we have ha‘l (or mauy years. The shorter payer on volcanoes ig al3o interesting av | valuable. To explain it in a word—he supposes that th» cause of eruptions and earthquakes is a stoppage in th» subterranean cl ts through which the earth tire flows. It may be regarded as a supplement to the papcr ‘above mentioned. Professor Agassiz amused ani instructed the associa tion by bis remarks on the garpixes. They are usly looking little fish, which eat voraciously, and would evi dently from their looks take a man’s leg off if they wei» Jarge enough and he was accessible Invitations have been addressed by the American asso ciation of ecience at Albany t) a number of literary au! ecientife gentlemen of your city, to attend their present meeting, viz.: George Bancroft,’ J. Romeyn Brodhead, Rev. Dr. Hawker, Professors Griscom and Doremus, De Witt Bloodgood, archibald Russell and J. Calvin Smith. Proceedings of the Association, SECOND DAY—MORNING@ SESSION. Atnasy, August 21, 1556. ‘Tho meeting was calied to order at a quarter past ten, by Professor James Hall. The attendance was about the same as yesterday. Many ladies were in the galleries and among the mem bers within the railing. A list of new members was proposed and admitted. Arepert was received from Professor Waldiman on linguistic ethnology. The Young Men’s Association tendered the use of their rooms to the Ageociation. Dr. Hanx desired that im future some means should be aevised for promoting sociality among the members o! the Avsociation, whether by having a separate table at a hotel, or by wearing © badge or ribbon of some kind. He did not like, for bis part, to be ordere’ to take this or that seat by a waiter, and not to know whether his neighbor was a member of the Association. Referred to the Local Committee. There being no furtber business before the Association, the meeting divided inw sections. SECTION OF NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY. Professor Rooxns took the chair. VOICANOMS AND EARTHQUAKES. Dr. ©. ¥. Wivmow, of Troy, read two papers, entitled— 1, Qn the volcanic phenomena of Kilanea aod Mauna Loa, nad on the dynamical theories of earthquakes. 2. On volcanoes, After entering upon the consideration of the subject, Dr. Winslow ‘that observation had convinces him that the golid crust of the planet was a yielding envelop of no great thickness, overlying aglobe of fluid subject to dynamical impulses of such omnipoteut and_ persistent energy that mountains cest and continents undulate upon ts elds «1 ice follow the tidal action of the sea, His object was to draw attention to the causes and forces by which-mountain ranges and ocean dottoms must be revolutionized from cycle to cycle bereafter, and mo titled is aspect for'the creation and distribution of new forms oO Organization. He (Dr Winslow) visited Manns Lea after the grea’ eruption in 1855-56, and gave an accouat of his journey thither, He noticed when standing mear the lava stream that the earth trembled and shook as tf moves by afurce bencath, and the idea was opeacd wo hig mind that even the crnsts of the mighty globe existed in a similar state of equilibrium ona thud aucleas, sub. ject to dynamical impulses and changes of status in obe dience to remote causes and unkpown laws. Froin ‘ati which he obtained on the spot, be was satisfied that those was a constant movement ii) the inolten mass benaath toe surface of th 1 ho wished tu direct the atte of scientide he probability that a similar met oa existed in the whole masse underlying tho w! surface stituting the dynamical agont by » bottoms are moved. De. W phenomena called earthquakes superinduced or connected with the earth's motion sound the sum. A record of earthqu showed that they were most prevalent in the when th that portion nearest the sun Iso go to slaw an increased prereure on th arth by the Haid matter bet eath when the (The poper r peblish to mor After. their r n interesting diseus-ian took place, in whieh Prof. , W. C. Redfield, Me, Sessions, Prof. Dave and others took part. GARPIKES. Profesor Acawerz then proceeded to offer a fow remarks upon a species of teh called garpike, presented to the as sociation by J. G. Gavit. ‘Tbe fish wore small creature, about fou’ to reven inches long, somewhat like a compro: miee between the alligator and the shark. Professor Agaseiz entered into a description of their character and anatomy, explaining, am ng otber pecularities, thas ths reales op toe sides of these fish wore of the mature of enamel, and that fire sprang from them when strack by @ steel instrument, and that unlike all other fishes of the same genera, (hxir head waa moveable oa their spine. He noticed, also, that they rose to the surface, thrat their nostrils avove water and inhaled air, whieh they discharged from apertures behind wing that there must be a communication 14 wetla ana their gills—arare occurrence in avimals of this er. cesor Dawsox, of Nova Scotia, inquired whother there was apy particular actare of the garpihes to their haw rosbes Professor Acaseiz aiid that the to alligators both in shape o baanted the fatuc ctass of plac A further discussion followed, in which Professor Fos. ter, Pro’essor Dana, Mr. Hough of Albany, Professor Hui ‘iman and others took part. The details were pureiy sci- engi. ‘The section then adjourned SACTION OF MATITEMATICN, CHEMISTRY AND omy. , with Professor Pierce in the , Which are among bore son? pesembiance «i habits, and that they The erotion organise ebair. venar, using the privilege secured to him ee ted, nominated Pref. Coffin chairman, he chair. comers, comet in quest be supposed ¥ ditcovery of cot vered every year, Pp *: and ae these are.noW nearly revolved, ho thought it well to make calcviations with a view to predict its next appearence, Thies comet was very difficult to observe: its «ght wae 80 faint in 1846 that he could cot percetve it until be had reposed bis eye for some seconds in dark Even under these ciroumstances he had only seem it at intervals during @ period of twenty days. Ho had mate calculations with regard to ie ¢ixe and spbore, but it wre not copvenient to state them. But he bad devoted # sme time to calculating where the camet might be loved for ‘ih ite re appearavce, and had drawn, ines on aman, from right day 8 to eight daye ro thatthe observer woul! be saved much of the labor of swoesing, and the comet could readily be discovered. The provable ellipse of the comet aan 13 sears. But ihore was gveminviy, or thors might be, an error of one year, 60 kat the ellipse might be twelve or fourteem years. Toe perihelion wae quite certain; itevas about the apbelion that doabt existed. He had nt oneéme feared that the comet wirbt have been carried away by the iiluence of Saturn, or some of the Jarger plonete, but his impression o@ this pant was varve Unic:s sone adeident bad happened. the comet migh: be woked for cither Mity.nine days before or ify. pine s afer the 6th of Merch, 18fy tt yo seem of BO use to fir] a Comat which was 20 ciffierit to eee as thie one, Bat lie believed tht (ne dis covery of new pariodieal comets was of the highest im- portance, ae twa of the coveti(uensy of nee which constit ates the golar system. He cous! torad that the discovery of a comet war of far more importance than thot of ou asteroid, The study of como's has be- lapios in 1845. It must not there was avytiing rare in the tenthere were twtr or fire disco i fod of bit comet was 15 | > come ar more interesting since the pertodical comet of Vico bas disappeared, and that of Brunnow, with a perio- dicity of five Sears, Has also been lost. It had been con- ed that these comets might have been dissolved. it was @ very Curious point. It was certain that only four c mets bad been known to return regularly. Jb would be worth study to a:certain wnether these would ever remain steady, There ts but one well known in- stance of dirgolution, That was the division of Biela’s comet im 1846, into two parts He (Mr. Peters) would recommend to amateurs the study and research of comets. Jk was not the business of astronomers to look for them. whey should be occupied tn severer studies. The disco- very of comets had materially decreased of late years; this was parly owing to the cessation of the pan of Awarding a comet-medal to the discoverer of a comet. For several years this medal had been given to every discoverer by the King of Denmark ; 1 his useful institation was abolist ed in 1848, He was sorry for it, The ama- tours of science, who are the proper persons to search for comets, would have been encouraged by the hope of some such reward, He was of opinion thet the interest tor science was on the decline in Europe and on the in- creage in thie country. He would like to see a comet- medal offered to every discoverer in America. Dr. axe inquired whether apy recent doctrine had been etarted respecting the himinosity of te tails of comets. Dr. PETERS was Dot aware of any. De, Govrn, of Cam oridge, was happy to express bed ringly rected to the subject of the dissypation of comets. The case of Brunnow’e was a most striking instance aad so was the other which had been lost ty view, What had become of them? Th!» was perhaps the highest question in theoretical astronomy We know that the nuclei of Biela’s comet alternate in brightness; it became of the highest importance to study this variation of lumioosit; and to see whether it had any bearing on the non. [en ge of certain comets at their return to their peri- lion. Prof. Peters had rendered a service in mapp'ng the field and drawing lives on which to search. It would prove a saving of nineteen-tweutieths of the la- bor of obeervers. He gladly subscribed to the project of evtablishing a comet medal for discoverers. It was not a little curious that since the establishment of the obser- vatory at Pultowa the realm of Denmark had contributed 200 per cent more to the progress of astronomical acience, 10 guopoerien, to its population, than any otoer country. e comet meda!, whose institution was sug gested by Schumann, continued to be awarded for fifteen years, during which period the discoveries of comets averaged five to seven per annum, and the average dit- coveries of each comet by indepeudent ooservers tureo to four. Since \t has been abolished the discoveries of comets have not averaged over three per annum, and the independent simultancous discoveries of the same comet have become exceedingly rare The business of disco- vering comets did not properly belong to astr momers; it was the affair of etudents. Most of the comets had been discovered by students, and he thought a comet medal! would ¢timulate bem to exertion. Prof. Buexnow made a few remarks on the falling off in the discoveri«s of comets, CURIOUS STATE OF ATMOSPHERE. The Rev. ©. Swartwoop, of Canada, read a paper on the stateof the atmosphere at a place nine miles trom Montreal, in 46 deg. 32 min. north latitude, and 73 deg. 36 min. west longitude, on the 234 May, 1856. ‘The spo ig 118 fect above the sea. At noon on the day in ques- tion there was a haze in the southwest horizon, the zenith and the eastern horizon being cloudiess. At 2 o'clock the baze in the west southwest, at au altitude of 12 deg., was very peculiar. At3o’ciock the baze had increaged indensity. At6 o'clock it had increased till it hid the sun from view. At 6:15 the horizon was per- fectly cloudless, At an altitude of 3 deg. above (he hort. zon there was a curtain of @ dull reddish or coppery color, The sun was completely obscured. at 6 BD. 27 m. the haze had a dark bluish tint; the fowls went to reat and the frogs began to croak. From that timo Uil dark the observer one a large ae of burat leaves and ashes which fell from tne sky. It proved afterwards that there was a fire in the woos on the Ot tawa, at a great distance, and the peculiar meteorologi- cal appearancas were due to the fact that the white rays of the sun were int ted by the haze whict the calo rific rays passed. Next morning there was a heavy thunderstorm Professor Hane made some remarks in reference to convective storms. Professor Henry paid a high compliment to Mr. Smal)- ‘wood, whom he considered the most indelatigable mete- orological observer on the continent. AMMONIA LN THE AIR. pe nions he had expressed on a former occasion in reference toammonia. He was understood to eay that he had modi- fled his opinions with regard to the of cacrents of air. FIGURES. Profeesor Pierce, of Cambridge, made a communica- tion on the motion of a body under the action of central ge It was of no public interest, being purely ecien- life. The section then adjourned to the afternoon. AFTERNOON SESSION—GENERAL SESSION. RECRITION OF THR MONTREAL DELEGATION, At a quarter past four Pro’. Hatt called the meeting to order. The business vefore the meeting, he said, was the reception of the Montreal delegation. Dr. Wyexorr had the bonor to introduce to the meeting Meesrs. J. W. Daweon, President of McGill College; Prot. C. C. Smallwood, Pro’essor of Meteorology; the Rov. Mr. Hanagan, Dr. Jones, Mr. Rennie; also Sir W. F. Logan T. S. Hunt, Mr. Barnston and Dr. Hinkston. He bade the delegation welcome to the city and the association. ‘The Cua was ¥ py to form the di trod: ie pemtieain pH ee gern of in paid some well turned compliments. It was vi fying to the wo baow the cotiaen Godegnes who ‘than thong to and he was sure the representatives of that State would find a Legs welcome here. Mr. Rayncy, on behalf of the Board of Regents, re iterated the welcome, and only experienced one regret ith their vik, wi i cepnection w! ich arose from itt brevity. Mr. Dawsow, of Montreal, returned thanks, and observed that ‘the reason of their asking for a formal introduction was, that they were bearers of an officix! commounication of some importance Tnis communica tion was.an invitation from the Nataral History Society and the city of Montreal to hold the next meeting of the association in thst city. The Common Council and the citizens trust that the invitation may be accepted, and that they may have an opportunity of extending hospi to the association. Prof. Fo=rex moved that the invitation be accepted. The Cuam remarked that a similar invitation had been received from Baltimore, had gone to the Standing ‘The letter of the Canadian Coumittee was vefore the committee, Prof, Gya¥ moved the reference of the Canadian inv! tation to the Standing Cymmittee, Prof, Manor seconded the motion, and it was carried, Mr. Orcorr begged to state that the members of the association and their friends were invite! toan enter. tatment in the Capitol this evening. W. C, Revwimiy moved that the invitation be ac cepted. Carried. ir. Stuer, of Balti himorous 8] viewed the invitation of the land Institate. It also referred to the Standing Commitiee. The asso tation then adjourned into sectio SKOTION OF NATURAL HISTORY AND GROLOGY. ae chair Was taken at bait past four by Proveseor jogers. Ayaper was read by Mr. A. Wivensr: on the geology of Middle and Southern Alabama It gave rise to a discussion, in which P’rofsssor Teow sod Professor Auassix took part. Acommonication was then made by !’rincipal J. ® Dawsox, of Montreal, on the paralielisin of rock form. ‘ona in Nova Scotia with those of other parts of Amerio« @ROTION OF MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY cola chair waa tanen at halt past four by rots iD. Profestor Hewny read a re Was ae applic: 4 Hen io) piper on thy ent made in the coast survey in prediction tabl- ot the tides of the coast of the United State+:— ON THE LAWS OF HUMAN MORTALITY: A PATER REA” BY C. F.M'COY, PRESIDENT OF THE 8. C. COLLEO), BRFORE THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE AD VANCEMERT OF SCIENCE, 218T AvGUST, 1556. Various attempts have been made to determine the Ii of humaa mortality at diferent periods of lite, Ia ty early part of the eighteenth century it was suggests thet an equal number die at every age in a stationary p pulation. The Northampton table of Dr. Price rath vored this suggestion; but other tables of mortality», Nebed be hig in later editions of his hook destroy+’ confidence in thie law. An arithmetical progression | early manhood and « etrica’ Pree! estion for old a: then proposed. These not being exisfastory, ¥ Gamperty, in the “Phil joal Trans,”” of 1325, brong \ forward a transcendental ola, wh mortality from 20 to 69 years of sue In 1802 Mr. Edmonds riod ot human life b: «i the other tm tables, and corresponced t no ph; organization, the two laws of Mr is did not reesive much favor; and as mov th involved six variable constants for every table, th were of little practical utility eher for the construct of tables, detailing anomalies, or harmoniy ng the irre | larities which are found (o ali the statictics of hu » mortality. have obtained a single law which extends from ear) manhood tothe extreme limi of human life. It w firet discovered by nn analysis of the Northampton a Carlisie tadies, bat it bat been compared w th a lary nimber of others, and so complete is its agreemont wii oll that at po are does the calculated number of t living differ from the number given in the tables by | eiogle year’s mortality. The compariton has been ma with all the tables wo whieh Ihave had access, The comprise Halley's, Switzeriand, Vienna, Berlin, Bra caenverg, Norwich, London, Northampton, Wa rington, | Chester, ‘Stockholm, Shrewsbury,’ Ker borms, Des Pareiews, the three Swedish, the th Fautable, the Amicable, Montpelier, Dervillard’s | Fiance, ‘Duparcienx’s d nuns, Farr | Freiirb, Fart’s Northampton, Finlaison’s, the combin | experience of the London insurance companies, friencty societies of Great Britain, Brastels, Hambor Ams ercam, Baltimore, Charleston and others; aut « cept in the few last six or eight years of life, in which + ecnfidence is pacetin any of the tables, the disigr ment does not execed the limits abovemontion= The oa of the Ly ing, as calculated for th of 16, for example, thy rfgot or for 76, ad here that for 14. Wien its remo ered that these tabler have been ted for differen.’ timew ard different countries, by various met! polation, many of them on insony and unsatiatactor | da'a, end some on Wrong principles, such an agreomer: will be congilered @ decitive proof of the Inw whic) prope red. The extenstvo interests dependent on the law and th rate of mortality in the United States and Great Britain, and other countries, invest this matter with a high de- gree of practical importance, independent ot the scientific interest aitached to the application of a mathematica! law Wo £0 uncertain a subject as the duration of human !ife. it the Nortba: table be examimed, it will be found that the deaths are either stationary or increase from the age of 10 to 71, and then diminish tothe end of life. Tnis increase and xecréase is irregular, and follows no defl- nite law. If the ratio of the dying and the living at each age be examined, a contin increage will be observed. Excluding @ few exceptional cases, this invariable ad- Vence is found in all the tables. It becomes more rapid at the older ages; but that its progress is not ageome trical progreesion wil be evident by taking the logarithms of these three nations, and observing their ditlerences. If, however, these differences be examined, a geometrical progression will be discovered in them. ‘This reault shows that the rate of mortality or the ratio of the dying and the living, is represented by the 2, & formula ad in which z is the age, anda, l and c are constants that differ for the general tabies. [The learned professor here entered into calculations which would be unintelligible & the bul of our readers; we theretore omit them.) Let me refer wo the principle which underlies the law which is proposed. Mr. Edmonds deduced his law from the supposition that our vital energy, or our power to re- sist the attacks of disease, decreases continually with ad- vencipg years, in such @ maoner that the po-tions uf our remaining mortality which we lose at each instant of time increases in geometrical progression. This hypothesis is exccedipgly probable, but Mr, Eimoads erred in making these increments cor) eepond to the deaths in a stationary population, By makipg them represent the increase in ‘the rate of mortality—that ts, the ratio of the dying and the living—the law which 1’ have proposed may be de- duced, [Here the pro:essor made several logaritamic calculations. } If the pumber of the living at the several ages be examined, it will be seen that the greatest difference oc- curs at the age of 58, and amounts to 13, which is less than one sixth of a year’s mortality at that Fe. That is, the number calculated to be alive at the age of 58 ig the number found to be living at the age of 57 years und 10 months. At 85 and 86 the difference is 12, which is about a third of oxe year’s mortality. All expire in both tables at the age of 96, and even when the number of the living is reduced to 15 or 20 out of the 10,000 who are supposed to begin the table, the calcuiated number pever dissgeees with the tabular by singe year’s mortality. if the deaths in the two taples be examined it will be found that jor thirty ages the number is exactly the same in both, For 19 they differ only one, aud for only a elngle age—that of §3—does the ditference amount to five. For the first ten years the whole num ser of the dying is 760 instead of 747. For the next ten it is 753 instead of 760, For each tollowing decade the calculated numbers compare with Dr. Price's as tollows .— ay reumbers, 77 a The difference never amounts to three per cent, and in tive cut of the eight ten year periods being less than one per cent. The sum of ail the positive and negative errors in the eight decades is only fliy-eight. The most trying test is te abnual ratio of mortality. From 21 to 60 this does not differ in the two tables by ‘one: fortieth of the amount; and up to the age of 80 they do not differ one-tw entieth; and at no tine to tae very end of Ife does the difference reach one-fifth. hese larger errors at the higher ages arise from Dr. Prive’s imperiect metbod of interpolation, tince the whole number of the aying in he iast two decades of life are almost exactly thesame in both tables, being 424 and 47, instead of 425 and 46. ‘The sgreement in all these four particulars is very satisfactory. With few of the other tables is it 0 cloge as with tbe Northampton. But all the differences are ex- tremely awal). At no period in life are the errors in dif ferent tabler in one directien all positive or all negative. [To bring out this comparison the Equitable table of Mr. Morgan was referred to by the Professor}. Up to the age of 85 the greatest differeuce between the calculated and the actual tables does uot excead six- tenths of one year's mortality. The errors are, however, different trom those of tbe Northampton. Thus, the greatest excess in the li at Nortbany is at the the pvt deficiency ahs of 58, while Fquitable is at 57. The greatest deficiency in the Nortbampton is at 72, and the greatest excess in the Equitabdie is at 73. Between 30 and 40, the deaths in the Northamptoa and the Equitable are ‘atly too large; but in the tev «ther decades the positive errors of one table correspond to the negative errors in the other. The smaliners of all these errors and their opposite direction g in the several tabics furnieh a the formula we bave given represents a true law of jure. Aweng the inferences that may be drawn from the law are the following — 1. The rate ot mortality invariably increases from youth “eas 2. rate is continually accelerated even in a higher progression. ratio than in a geometrical 8. Im carly manhood the rate does not differ much from a slow arithmeticai progression. 4. There are no crises or climasterics at which the chances ceeding each ouber, but ope steady, invariabie progress. 6. law, though not the rate of mortality, is the same for city and country, for heaithy and ae Places, for ¢ very age and and locality; and jaw is that the diilerences of logarithms of the rates of mortality are in geometrical progression. ON VOLCAN@RS—A PAPER READ BY C. I. WINSLOW, M. D., OF TROY, BEFORE THE AMERICAN ASSOC! TION FOR THX ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, 21sr aveust, 1856. Professor J. D. Dana, in his former and recent papers on the eruptions of Mauna Loa, has opened an interesting question relative to the inter-communications between the various volcanic openings on that mountain, and regards the question as still unsettled. Having recently explored the eruptive phenomena of Kilanea, it so happened that certain aspects of the vol- capo were exposed to my observation, from which I have drawn important conclusions, that may exjlain much that heretofore has been uncertain and mysterious i) this branch of geological science. From Insignidcant facts we are often times led to broad in ations, and by applying facts and laws exbibited a Darrow compass to a display of cimilar phenomena on a gigantic reale, we may arrive at comprebension of what might nt ver otherwise be unde 5 While making my observations in the great volcanic chain of Kilanea, | was led to examiae the cones that were projecting bere and there from the surfkoe of the Held, or as it used to be called, the “Black Ledge ' Th cones vary in sizo end height. Some are very ® and forme twenty or thirty feet in height, and as many in diameter at their base, and even more, of the largest dimensions, | observed to a it was a singular coincidence that had been demoitthed. The agency which luced the ele- vation of both was extinct, but the display of its action was 1ociearly and beautifully exhibited that no doubt could be leit on the mind of an observer as to the method of the mechanical action by which they were elevated or formed. Theforee wmch bad destroyed the southern {ace of there two cones had also acted so forcioly on the surrounding Held of lava from whieh they rose as to frac- ture it ima southerly direction, and there were laid open before me in both instances conduits nearly borizonts! in their course, and as porfect in their formation as any iron aqueduct, and baving a diameter of 6 or § feet. The roofs Pad been demolished by some cause not apparent, and bad falien ip. But there the conduits were exposed for many feet in length, — jn a southerly direction, and sisappearing in the crust of lava, whore thickness | had no means to judge of in that vicinity. The metbod of formation of these cones will now be- come apparent to every thinking mind. were mere vents or conduits in these channels of fluid rock, which channels conducted it from one locality to another, accordiog to the play of forces, whose nature and ration are mysterious. These cones were « mile dis tant from each other, and ly bad no connexion. Looking at the open sides the Gret cone examined, | coald see a bole beyond, partly obscured by fragments of lava; bot it a red to ran more obliquely and toward the depths of Ki while the open conduit, whose bottom was filled by the pieces of the fallen roof, extend. ed nearly in a horizontal direction. ‘These cones are miniature craters, and were outlets from conduits having BO apparent connection. The me. thod of their formation, #0 independent of each other, when applied to similar voleantc demonstrations on a magaited scale, may tend to throw light on the wosettiod question red by Professor Dana's investigating aud philoso phical mind. Cones on the turface of the earth vary fo size from Popocatepet! over 17,000 feet in height to those which I have seen on the lava feild of Kilanea, but a few montos old, cf Hot three feet in beivht. we observed them of all forms and dimensions, in the course of extensive tra ols over the giobe, from the most symmetrical and dlime objects that can be gazed upoa by the aw! € Cf the ceolomtst, to the meres in theie summits no larger an ap all formed on the same t; Toey ye, however grand and lo’ irowmect {bed or diminative. By astudy of the «i causes Which conspire to form the smallest ones, We shall inevitad y attain ton clear understan ting of forces |idden in the profoand depths of the earth by whicl: are created the largest voleauic outlets oa its sur free ‘The cones whieh T formed over conduits, wei observed inn no Kilanea to have boon y craters, aod ims crurt if being fractured and elevated, oonstituty of the co the origin of the cone, only exbiditet results ‘similar to what F observed in all the recentor anciont yolca openings of the mountains of Hawaii, od of Maui. |: has been af objec: eof surprise, while how eruptions of lava were breaking out c pom the more elevated ot Manoa Ica, that the ever avtive fount ui omer dicoarge aleo, or that !t should remain ja an ore y state of activily, while fountains $000 and 0) foot higher, a fow millon di tant, were discharging | with pro co Immense quautities Of moltea mat cer Heretofore it bar been supp sei ted by elaunels mor Jees por pene trartires of the glove, and where yoleant pear each other, that (here must necossarily be some hon in comawnicavon between ther he opinion whch Thave been eompelied to adopt from my observa sions in Kilanea is very diferent, A recent study of tho whole range of volcanic phenomena, and of the varicose atpccts and position of craters form ele vatione, T have observed in many parts of the earth, has led me to believe that craters and voleanie eruptions are the resvit cf fractures and ruptores of subter- rebcin tubes, which are more or less horizontal in thetr course, and Which, although often running peat each other, may not communicate, am Form bie ya over do. Communications between volcanic tubes supp sed toentend perpendicularly into the bowels of the earth tave biherto Beem bellewed to exiet, but the facts to which Ir or Dane's philosopbical attention has been vureoted, and hig deducwong from the obecr vations of all vol agoes | | 7 Lcomsmesmmnmemmnanne others, bave led bim tv que-tion the existence, or pr baps rather to copeider tue iaws which have 'gove 4 a the discharge of fluid rock frow their on siphonic or o aa- oon bydrortatic principles: If the Cen of abilities based on the (. 4 observed by myself in Kilavoa should be mate to.» phenomena to which Professor Daoa has referred, ava Which are familiar to every physicist aa geo ogst, Wt difficulties in thelr explanation would mnm@edianiy . + nish. Indeed, such aset of tacts cam only de tue stood and explan on the observations made oy b> writer in the great jluionie tield of Kilanea, W a doubt, channels or duit, of magnified dimen’. thread that whole anc locality, and the lara, © + thin as water from its incandercence, rashes up irogs Lue central fires of the globe and tows in rapik and more or less steady currents throughout these great si: bterran ++ « arte:ies. But when frow any cavse, of partial or oom- plete obstruction to thie current iu any one of 9 conduits takes place, ady namical agentis ai once oF onus to bear on the Weakest pert of the rocay casement, and a yoleanic eruption is the conseque San eruption might be preceded or attended with cracks apd convulsions of the earth kuown by the usual name of earthquake or they might wot be, ue according to the thickness of the crust over the rupturing conduit or the operation Of Ui e force producing such a tult, the laws controling which are yet involved ip iny2- ie By the application of this discovery, and of prin ciples growing out of it, a multitude of plutonic pheaome- na, NOW Not Well understood, may be made more plain, and by further study may be brought wholly within the range of absolute knowledge. It is more than probable that the greatclase of phenomena called earthquakes may often be a result of the rupture of these channels at greater or less depths below the surface of the earth, ivably vast dimensions, along which des of liquid rock, forced through them by unknown forces acting from the ceutral regions of the janet, any obstruction te waich, counter currents, must give rive to local dynam Kencies Whose eruptive energy would be wholly irresis- subterranean sounds which | have olten heard a8 in ull volcanic countries, may be accounted for in the same manner, It is ‘only to contemplate the existence of conduits of lava similar to those which l observed in Kilanea, er: Jargipg in magnitvde in proportion to the size of the cred ters which have been elevated over some point of their divergent aud widely separated horizontal courses, a: da the greatest mysteries which have been connected witn subterranean momens are dispelled. These couatless conduits must bave been left in the cooling crust of the janet, and through them is ever are the plutome hud, Tising from the central incandescence of the glob} and returning again, except when meeting with forme tions, the resuit of which must be the varied vol phenomena observable throughout its surface, Indeed, it is more than probable—it is absolutely{certain—that new ones are formed from tune to time, for where observa- ticns might occur in those of vast dimensions, fractures of the crust alone would eusue, and dykes of various sorte of igneous rock would be a consequence, and beneath the cooling foundations of these dykes new channels would navurally be found, ‘This paper might be greatly extended and illustrated by facts drawn from 7 hneniet of oe sneer and,gcognostyc observation anc'knowledge; an ew “ae and dcotrines hercin embraced might pee not only to the elevation of isolated cratera, but all linear archipelagos of a volcavic or non yoleantc character—all tinear groups of craters form hills—all mounta\o chains, however extensive, including the Audes and every other cordillera on the globe. The dyoramical operations of fluid rock in motion will naturally vary .o wtensi.y and amount, and while ali visible results of its acioo oo the surface of the eartb, from achaia of lava co ee twenty feet im height in Kilanea to that grand chain of Mexican yolcanoes cot ig with Orizaba and ending with Jerullo, in the nineteenth parailel of northern latitude are of one type, we are compelled to conclude that all must spring from dieplays of similar forms of physical force ‘Ihe molten rocks were observed by my friends, the Mr. Sessions , ot Albany, and Frederick L. Haws, Esq., of Honolulu, on the 10th and 12th days of September, 1855, to course through conduits leadiog to anu from cones ia Kilanea, eimilar to the empty ones which I examined ia February last, and which ve described iu tuis paper. Mr. Haws deseribed the rapidity of the lava currert ‘a one spot to be equal to twenty miles au hour. The Mev. Titus Coan, of Hilo, inormed me that when he looked into the new crater on the summit of Mauna Loa tho lava, as fluid as water, and ata white beat, was ranning at a rate of forty miles an hour. Jn the former cases the conduits were perbape eight or ten fect in diameter, in the latter it was probably five hundred. On the 17th Feb., 1852, a stream of lava suddenly burst from the summit of about two miles from the receut crater, and Mr. Coan informed me that for ten days the column was 1000 feet in breadth and rose 1,000 feet in height Who will doubt Leresfter the rapid mo- tion and momentum of fluid rock in subterraneaa tubet of various diameters’ These condurts vary in «ze from those in Kilanea to that or those which ua erie Ur sana, Popocatay Toxtha and Colima, and which opened 20 remarkably September, 176%, to produce tue wonder- ful volcano of Jorullo. Perhaps enough tad been said on this eu to awaken the atter tion of geologists to new vontemp! .tione. ‘the rapid motion of fluid roc! h conduits of va- rious dimensions, lying at different d-ptbs in the earth's crust, end haying more or less horizontal courses, and apparently extending for many bundred miles in jength, is a great fact which iavites inve-tigation to unfold a' intere-ting attendant pl cuomena and coatingencies. That these motions exist there can be no doubtt. their origin, or the causes which originated and coatinue thew, are buried profoundly a the secrets of the primor- dial forces; but by parient and severe research wey hereafter be discovered ani added tu our mar- vellous store of absolute knowledge. Our Special Correspondence. Aunany, August 22—A. M Yeeterday afternoon the Association met in goneral ses. sion to traneact business of importance, The business ia question wa: the reception of the Canaciao delegation, the last members of which—Sir Wm. KE. Logan and Mr, Hunt—had just arrived. Accordingly, at abou! balf past four, the Association being marshalled, Professor Hall called the meeting to order, and the ceremony begaa. First, Dr. Wyckoff made a speech of welcome. 1 under- stand that Dr. Wyckoil is emphatically “a good fellow’ — one of those fellows of whom one says, “Oh, you needn't mind, bi ‘s only Wyckot'—and therefore | will say ‘but one word of the form of his welcome to the stran- gere, but that word must be an expression of regret that the duty was not fulfilled in better taste, The genJemen from Montreal deserved to be received in a somewhat diferent manner from boon companions a\a bachelor’s supper . However, Professor Hall followed 19 the pper party. specch of Wyckoff, abd in @ measure it, He made the usual wopy common places adoat science baving no bounds, ‘alluded to the tacit com- Piiment the Association by the Canadians in adopt the nomenclature the = Associat what he eaid, in short, was iy gracetuland ified. returning thanks, Principal Dawson, ‘of Mouilt Col took oceasion to observe that this formal reception beenfcontrived in order to afiord the Canadian an on- portunity of reiteratiog pubhely the tovitaion of tho city of Montreal to the members of the association to meet next yeer in their city. He tpuke brietly, but gracefully, and when he sat down a motion was made This was by A Wolcott Othba, amon others, reminded the assooition that thoy har rereive a similar invitation from Baltimore. Furthor etforts on the of the Canadiaus’ friends roused Me, Steiner, of lumeore, who made a long and humorous w the eflact that Baltimore would be the best place poset. ble for the next mecting. The length of his aad the ph asant pride he evinced in bis native city edward no little alarm lest the invitation of the Avwireact® should be accepted. In the end the matter was referred to the Standing Committee. There is @ strong fceling among maay of the members im favor of Mowtreal. They ray that it would und w cement the bonds of union between ourselves and our weigh! and no less a return is due to the Cana- diane, who have so frequently travelled south in order to meet the Avsociation. | conser these arguments not devow of weight; and I think the argument by analogy, by which they are met —that the American Aseocia.ion ought not to go ab: 4 sa Association would never think or Parise av one. A Inga Boa cal wosid do more to unite Caradoc aod © F own people than almost any thing that cou'd be proposed end Tam informed that tae ie of Canada are to give the members an enthusiastic ever, the Baltimoreans will not yield without a struggle. The leading members of the Canadian dele, are Sir Wm. B Logan, T. § and Professor or Princ!pal Dawson, of MeGili College. The former ie, 1 believe, a Welshman by birth, and waa engaged in early life in the emeiting business, in Wales. Having to Cana- do, be was appowted to the direction the geological surrey, which he prosecuted with unusual vigor, The firet reports o bis survey* which are now very scar Bre exceed im ay ‘The last was published A to = at men) foe I e <0 w which is much older than the old rol or devenaa, Pret vious to that discovery remains of this order bad never been found in an older stratum than the trises ond Mr. Logau’s report was th received with grea) attention by scientific mem, In 185%, Mr. Logan proceeded to JLendon as the Caoad @ Commissioner to the great exorbition. His scientific at- teipments attracted much wotice, and he was elects) # Fellow ot the Royal Society, and elevated to the rank of knighthood. Ou hie revurn to Canada, he resumed hig duties as geological surveyor. He is a very ro. lirlog gentleman, who can never be induced to in public. There is, however, @ quiet twinkle bis oye Prolescor Dawson is & very Young man for the he bol’ as bead of one of the chief universities of ile is not over forty, and looks much youn, o great ability, Tem told, who will some day reflect crews on Wy wiry. The paper he read last evening on the pere m between \he rocks of Nov s Scotia and thor of the United States wae very interesting and learned. will endeavcr to send you an abstract of it. An cotertainmert Was improvised Capitol; it was given by the local comanties wo te pend which acts a¢aneliective censor upon those who ‘on scientific matters in bis presenes. bere of the associe tion aod their fricnds. Ew ney pod eored tobe there, 1 Goyerngr Glark, Jwige cris, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. 6 Tr, Haw Gooley’ and a host of ouher well known mon’ The Inve were in geod spirite and good looks. Per may be permitted to merition among thaee who were objects of general admiration Mra, Le Conte, of South Carolina; Mise Clark, ths day of the Governor, and a very charming person, pate | did uot catch, but who ts @ relative oF Intimate iriend of Professor Bache, and under his protest on, ecoms and Wbreries of ‘ie Capitol wore thrown Ld thd at cleven the questa wore usherel into the #0 ‘ccm, wi TL bay don Tho che joe tothe food things il berets nea Your a having other in band, retired sox fore conyitiality begas, therefore offer ro Opinton thereon Professor Henry's paper on acvustios, avd Profeene Rache’s on ihe tide. are the subject of general con persa. tog, Doth are cousivered wo be giriking ellortg,