New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-08-18
ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION.
He'd ~ hIrrard La4rsl si'y CGm5rIfgs Mass
Reported exclusively for TIE Tribune

Tie Convention Sling ~ quit. rapidly.
notice number Of new arrivals since yesterday
among them. Prois WALrER R JOHNSON OF Washing
ton REGINALD y MANTELL Of London Eng Mar
TN T. BoYE and SOLOMON IS RoBERrs OF Plilsiei
pha; : : HArnEvAN OF Colum5is. Pa President
HrrcHcocx Of Amherst and from NeSiorS Rev. Dr.
ADAMS ard Dr. l.. FEucHrw,NGER Prot 4 . BA-HE,
Superintendent, Of the T. : Coast Survey, also here
Nearly al the Professors o; Harvard University srs in
pretty constant attendance many OF them 0.l pre-
sent lumber Of valuable papers
This morning after disposins OF isN preliminary
business matters. the regular abors Ct the day We're
commenced
The frst paper presented was long and interesting
one By Lieut. c. II DAVIS, Z :. N-on
IN american PRIME NsrdiaH-Leat Davis
prefsced ihe reading OF the paper by iew o5servs
lions the recent action OF Congress in the matter CT
the preparation OF An American Nautical Almanac AMI
also Of ais own interviews the subject with the
rotary Of the Nsvysy whose direction his suggestions
placed psper sni presented TO the Association
80 that, il fact bad az olical Report, the more
prominent points Of which are summed Up below.
The question observes Lieut. Davis IT, whether
having National Observatory, and being shout 70 pub
lish an American Nautical Almanac We shall continue
% count our ,oogtudes from the meridian - Green
wich. whether 10 IS preferable ior convenience, tor
accuracy, or tor ntlNr .lasols ~ ad's1 .tr irir
MrifI1T Dl Ills C0Hflufrf.
10 would undoubtedly De for the advantage ard cor
yenence Of al civilized nations u general meridian
were adopted by common consent u al l0nsitudes
were counted IN the same manner and from single
orsi1. The man of business t,e general student and
above OF, tue navigator would profit 0y lis rule snd
the man OF science would also End 10 beneficial in re-
moving the necessity for those allowances and caiclla
lions occasioned by the variety Of merdsns, sad with
them constant source OF error.-Hithert0 wee have
used the English Meridian OF Greenwich AL our geo
graphical positions ami territorial limits liked
cOrdug 10 that or astronomical calculations ar
based upon u our nautical charts and books Of nav
cation adapted 10 TO- and chronomefsrs Set
% 10 time. 10 has been much general practice
% count from this meridian that 10 constitutes part
OF our familiar thought and knowledge On this
count and especially with reference 20 the convenience
Of vide spread and growing Commerce, change
o the old meridian 10 necessary, should be- rrcOnced
far as practicable, 90 the wants and habits oi ;hc
country
The scientific importance 0f assuming 10 present al
American Meridian .s undoubfed 20 long We &C.
pend upon that from which are separated ty an
ocean. our absolute l0ngituies remain indetermnafe
such the difficulties attending the Astronomical de-
termination OF this element that the greatest accuracy
atainabic Is only approximation 10 the truth vary
INK - observations or computations are multiplied
and better methods and values are introduced
There j. place our coast. the longitude ~ which
from Greenwich IL 50 well ascertaned Boston. The
observations and comp made for this purpose by
the late DR.. B0wdtch, and communicated 10 the imcu
Academy bear the marks Of his genius and labor
then the means 0determin alton have been greatly
multiplied Yet there sui exists uncertainty In this
longitude, Notwithstanding a the labor and care be-
slowed upon IT, 20 the amount Of perhaps two seconds
OF time III also pregnant fact worth mentioning
that the relative ongudes, Of the Greenwich snd
Paris Obseryatores, have been recently changed.
But the uncertainties arising from the Intrinsic df
Guilty ~ making absolute determinations Ot longitude
increases the place s remote and therefore
| Ins and ca ffr nf obi a rr
origin OBJ longitude situated In this country, will 90 70
consider sbe extent remove these uncertainties and
US from those fluctuations 10 our geographical 20
ftons o. which subjected. ln the Magnetic
Telegraph have q OF determining Differences
81 meridian which belongs 20 the higher order of ac
curacy An American Prime Meridian being adopted,
ihi. should be- done possible. As the of
the Telegraph Is extended the Interior throughout 10
whole space would be- connected In this manner with
the stations OF the Coast Survey and the National Oh
servatory, and would have the geographical positions
OF its chief cities and country towns permanently and
unslterably fxed-and thus the foundation would be-
laid OF correct geographical map OF the whole country
Ia making change, however, that Is 60 radical with
regard 10 some OF our czens ana their pursuits great
consideration 10 be- bad their practical wants and
| convenences. Our nsvgat0rs. and seafarng people
generally chiefly concerned In the result Of this
change; and accordingly Lieut.. D. points 90 the facility
and frequency Of Intercourse between the vessels Of
| our country and those Of Great Britain, on iho
highway of nations. For this reason, 10 suggested
tnat 10 will be better that meridian be- stu
aed admit OF easy intercha nge with that oi
Great Britain, particularly Al where intercourse Is
necessarily bret and frequently, owing 20 circumstar
| ces OF weather, distance haste, very difficult IT.
| avoid In some measure these difficulties and lnc0uFc
nences, Lieut. d. proposes 20 estab 81 an arbitrary no.
riiidH fhe cy Of Nsr Ordns, which viii be- exactly
hours in time and ninety degrees Ia space from The
| meridian Of Greenwich. This choice has numerous
| wrighfy recommendations.
| Having decided he continues % take Tor our prime
meridian this great circle OF the earth 90 six hour.
from GfeenWicn we are 20 keep g. 10 wherever IL may
fall By means VI the Magnetic Telegraph, the distance
OF this circle from the meridian Of the National O1ser
vaOry BE- deter mined with sufficient accuracy and
being determined II Is 10 be regarded a. liked and
permanent Il II should be found necessary 70 make
any change hereafter. that change will be applied q
the imaginary meridian, and not TO the meridsnal dit
ferences Of other places from Washington, which afr
| 70 remain always the same.
These views OF Lieut.. Davis possess genera
interest and importance and rchly merit attention.
have gwen mere bret outline OF the subjects touched
upon in his paper but have endesvored 70 retsin a.
| important psrts.
Prot. BAcHE offered r, solution which VA
adopted referring the matters spoken VI 70 Commit
tee OF Mathemsrc.ans and Astrouomers-whose report
| when completed. shsl be transmitted % Secretary
| Preston for consideration.
Immediately upon the conclusion Of this, the
Convention divided itself into the two Sections
mentioned yesterday and ihe general meeting vas ae
iournci The new Sections were formed under the q
Les respectively Of Gsnaal Physics and Cieuls,y anc
.yanrai HLssory and Geol0gy. The latter holding "a
sessions In the same Hal where al the meetings % ia
have been hed THE Department OF Physics, meanwhile
st0gruing u another building Al. sketch nrsi ne
proceedings Of the
Section o. sAruRAL HIsToKT
At The Philadelphia meeting last year rule
was adopted for diurnal election Of Ocers for the dit
fereui Sections In order that may BE- deferred
from attending whichever department seemeth 70 hin
good. Accordingly, for todays meeting, Prof HESsi
D. Rooms was elected President, and Prof ADAN'
| Secretary
The first business now no order was s-ries o
observations on the
Zs50gicai Character II Young Na-Ha.la
By Prof ACAssfz. he remarked that Zoaegsts il
their invest atons have sadly neglected ole EIDE o.
their subject which. when properly studied viii throw
great amount Of new light upon their observations
In studying animals 10 general be continued f bad
been ,he habit u observe them only IN ths tg grown
condition snd not 70 look back heir earlier stages
We scarcely ind in any work on Zoology, an explans
toa II tire msny Differences between the early and
ate stages Of the growth Of the same animal Pfccs
investigations Of the sub.ect are utterly neglected
| Bat there Is one point which has been most thor
oughlv investigated for period oi twenty ave years
w The early charges within the egg But after m
| forrnsuon Of the being. know little Of ths
condition This q the point which nas been elected
-. - ~ aNNa