The New York herald., 1845-07-16
american Institute-Far Club.

Ihe usual weekly meeting OF this body took place
at their rooms in the Park yesterday at IL o'clock
Or. Archer was, on motion to that effect made Sc
,eccd TO preside for which he rendered his thanks
TO the meeting. Mr.. Meigs acted as Secretary.
The first business done, was the perusal of some
papers by the Secretary. In the first place. he read
an extract from French journal, entitled lie Re-
vue Scienifique, being passage from an account
of Abyssinia, drawn up by the expedition sent out by
the French government to explore that country
The Secretary observed that his principal object in
translating the passage for the of the Club was
the promugation of the facts alleged therein, viz
that Abyssynia was throughout level territory, ee-
waited nearly 1000 feet above the level of the sea-
and singularly mild in climate, salubrious and fer
tile. He did not know that such was generally
known to be the case however, as it was new to
him, he thought it right to introduce it to the club
The next communication of the Secretary was an
oral one, and tor the purpose of calling their atten-
tion to methsd OF preserving potatoes In boxes, so
as to keep them for very long time. The process,
he said would be found fully described in the Ma
tlonal Magazne-page 100. The preservation of the
potatoe was extremely important in every point OF
view, but above all on account of its being sure
specific tor the scurvy, which disease was power
less against subject who could procure potatoe
70 eat.
short report from the visiting committee was
next read. 1t related visit to two or three places
the state and kind Of the crops, the mode of their
culture, and few other local facts of no Importance
whatever.
A letter from Lieut.. Bartlett, of the U. s. ship
Portsmouth, dated from Valparaiso, Sth April last.
was read by The Secretary 1t gave an account of
the sailing feats performed by the vessel named.
which IN the opinion of the writer were uneoualled
The voyage was commenced from Rio Janeiro,
March Sh for Valparaiso On the 10th, they made
the Straits of La Maine, distant 400 miles thus
continuing tor twelve days to average l3A nautical
or l5t statute mi es an hour. The remainder of the
voyage was amost equally successful
A member here announced that Mr.. Green and
Col. Rose were unable to attend and address the
meeting on Texas, had been published he re-
GREETED 1t good DEAL but the less that he was ena.
bled TO introduce gentleman to them, who from
residence and travel in that country, was able to
crafty their laudabe curiosity in relation to that
country. He would call upon
DR.. PMGE-Who arose and said that he was not pre-
pared to do justice to the subject not having been ap-
prised that there would be call made upon him. He
had In his possession some notes made from personal
sired he would read for them less in the hone of their
being found interesting than in the persuasion that such
as they were they could be relied on. "a pause) do
not know that the club would like to hear them read
SEcRETARy.-For my part, sir, should be anxious to
hear from YOU want to learn something by listening
TO the perusa Of your notes. Gentlemen is il your wish
to hear DR. paigel AYE, aye, aye certainly
DR.. PAIGE proceeded Few persons he Observed were
aware OF the beauty and of that country called
Texas. IT covered 800 thousand square miles was
nearly large as France and Spain together ning
an area of 200 millions OF square 1t five times
as large as New gland; nearly equal to the whole of
the Southern States, which contained $40 900 square
miles allowing it the ratio of population that OF
England it would sustain 1870 millions of people The
great variety OF accounts that were published of it,
Of them contradictory, one to another owing to the
different points OF entrance into its varied soil by trav
ellers great diversity OF frontier presented on
its surface which together with the vast extent which
covered led to various statements the subject The
auvia districts abounded in forest Of those grow
ing in the valley of the Mississippi Yet erroneous
impression prevails that Texas scantily supplied with
timber In other districts NAV be raised cotton sugar
tobacco sc, almost to any extent with very little labor
Its table lands represented to exceed in saubrty and
productveness those Of Mexico herself An abundance
OF water power may be had All travellers who have
visited Texas agree in ascribng to it the most delight.
fu climate in the world the range of the Thermometer
In summer IS 80 deg, and in winter little no ice
seem Nor do changes Of weather there produce the
same, or any complaints elsewhere. In winter the
North winds sweep DOWN. plains with much regu-
larity as the South winds in But its climate is
modified by such variety of circumstances that the
Miasma prevailing in Louisiana is unknown in Texas in
similar localities; and the emigrant ettle in any
part of the country and escape disease the fever and
ague. that beset him this Texas abounds in prairie
land, and natural meadows. Some of them are In ex
tent and beauty perfectly magnificent. Flowers and
herbage and the gores of the vegetable kingdom meet
the eye far as it can wander; while all the known md
Cotton to be the great staple of Texas Towards the
ulph OF Mexico it grows in length and fneness equal to
certain present causes it can hardly be had as as
gentiiuiiy as in Louisiana, fer many years
Ihe Indigenous lndigo oil Texas is greatly
perior to that cultivated in the United States
Bread stus be had of the best quality and in exceed
ing abundance Two crops may be annually gathered
each yielding 10 bushels Of wheat per acre Ali the ce
real grains flourish in it. The soil is well suited for
hemp, and rice may be produced to any extent The
Vanilla plant the Locust tree are both of much cebrtv
for their utility and the Chilli is highly esteemed bv he
Mexicans as luxury. Some of its vegetable produc.
tions are curious-among them is found the famed Me-
nerals-god, silver coal iron and all those most essen
tial to man. II is considered the silver mines of Mexico
are the richest in the world Game abound in the woods
ne who can use fowlingIiece may have always we'll
furnished table. Its fish deficient or inferior
some o them, indeed delicious one Of them--the Red
rish being ranked next to the Salmon Its reptiles are
limited the only specie with one or tive excen
tons being the whose bite as well as that
Of all others Ammonia is certain and en-
hc, when applied internally and externally inother
animal OF the reptile class is the Horned Frog VIII ich
com IN Texas although il was fora long time held
as fabulous creature The Tarantua is an nhabitan
also, and an ugly one Canthardes also found bu,
not in great abundance. Bees swarm on every tree
almost ' ~
DR. Paige continued to read variety of interesting in
formation on Texas, and concluded by extract OF
iet.er IRON settler which appeared two three days
ago IN one OF the city papers.
A vote OF thanks was unanimously recorded 10 Dr. p
Tor his valuable communication.
Mt WARD OIL Arkansas, being introduced 10 he meet.
Ing submitted variety Of specimens OF very suneror
KIND OF oil-stone, called the Arkansas stone Mir w
was in with the members of The societ,
LOT considerable time, during which he pointed out the
merits OF his preparation of the article his in
ention to establish agenc for the sale The mode
hnsnnS 0c'iout himself the
secret OF giving them their peculiar auality Hc was
thanked for his pains, and he thanked the Society for
their patience.
The SECRETARY next said that the subject for the day
ives in order being Substitute for short Crop Of
Hay"
The discussion of this not general and did not
last long.
MrmnrR made few remarks in praise of Millet but
said not sown at certain time, II liable to be de.
stroyed by birds.
Dr. uNDrRHiLL not in favor OF met il was most
exhansting crop on the soil Green crops
substitute for deaIth OF hay Many kinds of urnps-
tne white and yellow, Deans Aberdeen, NC, might be
sowed nowto advantage. Indian corn too sown now
broad cast would come in IL would require 10 be
cut green before the formed and while the sac
chsflne matter remained IN the stalk.
MEMBER said that one great difficulty in this corn
was its liability to heat " w ~
Dr. uNprhnIL replied that he found tina, by spreading
IL seasoned IT, ~ 'e'
NJ Lross observed that preseryatve was found