Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-09-30
THE SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION.

! This body closed its session at Philadelphia on
Friday evening, resolving to hold its next session
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the 4th OF August
lS49. The Ledger says that the most interesting
paper read on Friday was one from Prof. DIcKE.
SON and ANDREW BRowN, Of Mississippi, upon the
sediment Of the Mississippi riUer, and gives its
substance, VIZ
The observations upon which the report based
made through course Of eighteen years. and parcu
ary during the asttwo years. in anticipation Of the present
report The report alluded the quantity Of rain
constantly falling in the valley Of the Mississippi and the
fact that that great river the only visible outlet for it,
The report showed that the quantity Of rain falling
times the quantity discharged by the river There but
two for to escape by course Of the river and the
other by evaporation.
Thus the report arrived at fact of the greatest importance
the planters Of Louisiana and Mississpp for the
haations are promoted the less liable will the lower bottom
lands of these States be periodical nunaons The best
way promote exhaaons by clearing the forest and
and thus exposing the earth to the action Of the
There is by twenty twenty-five per cent. much
passes down the river there twenyf years
ago. At that time there annual inundations which do
not occur
In regard the sediments Of the river the result of 4s4
experiments with tin tube charged with water made
the aggregate Of the charged in this tube different
times was column of 1886 feet by which there depo
sed column Of sediment solid power of 463 inches
The sediment was submitted in three glass tubes The
mitee seemed think it might still further settle shrink
certainly less than "A inches From these data the
mtee arrive at the conclusion that the proportion of sediment
to the volume Of water is as l to 52S.
It has already been asceaned that the quantity Of
annually discharged by the Mssisspps $780, $685. $50
cubic fee therefore there must be deposited 49, 1885, 1892
18th cubic feet Of solid matter.
The report very interesting and very long the sub
ect of the auva deposes Of the river fully discussed
and many interesting facts were given.
At the afternoon session, Lieut. M. F. MAURr read pa
per the currents Of the ocean," which illustrated by
diagrams The paper upon the direction of the great
of the Atlantic and Pacific their force the force and
direction of the Winds and the best and shortest
various ports The deductions based upon the reports
uf thousands of American vessels which had furnished abb
of their log-books to the National Observatory
Washington Supposed dangers placed upon various charts
found be aacious, and the ship the
ocean very much shortened. The Lieutenant stated
seatory Washington, and authorized to be given
the commanders Of such vessels would promise return
abstracts Of their log books with of Winds empera-
iure Of water &C. to the Observatory at Washington He
suggested that those objects would be hered by the aid Of
all American vessels and the national and merchant vessels
Of foreign Governments.
The chairman announced the following gentlemen
stung the committee TO address memorial TO the Secrea-
ry of the Navy in reference Lieut. Maurys charts Pro-
fessors Rogers Of Virginia Henry, of Washington PIERCE
of Massachusetts, Coffin, of Pennsy vania and Alexander
| of New Jersey.