The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-27

sefvatons, and also the corrections que 10 nan
stns recent discovery OF the inequalities Of
long periods in the moons motion, arising from
the ptrturbative action of Venus, II Is matter OF
interest and importance TO proht by the excellent
occasion afforded by the solar eclipse of July,
le5l, Visible in the greater part of North America
and the continent of Europe,) TO compare the
Moons observed places with the tabular place as
determined by our tables and TO test the nature OF
the moons seml-diameier employed in our calcu-
latons In order, Therefore, 10 facilitate and en-
courage the general observation OF this phenome-
non on this contIneI have prepared at the Office,
chart exhibiting the phases of the eclipse in the
United States, Canada, and Mexico, from which,
by simple inspection, the amateur observer at any
place, will md approximately The time of the be-
ginning aud end, the duration, Nc; and have
added To II the general elements, list of observa
tons for which it is computed specially and Bes-
sel's rate, with a modification by Henry Stafford
The numerous calculations for observations abroad
and at home, have been furnished with particular
view TO the determination OF loDgiiudes, for which
this eclipse is unusually advantageous. 1t would
be superfiuous for me 10 enlarge here upon the inn
portance of pTohttiDg by such an opportunity for
The approximate determination Of longitudes in
country; embracing as 1t does, so many meridians,
and having so much of its territory UNEMPLOYED. IL
is very desirable that il should be used as far as
possible tor geographical purposes; and to accom-
plish this, as well TO fulfil the original object for
which The chart was begun, have obtained the
peImlss ion of the honorable VIM. A. Graham, Sc
cretaIy Of the Navy, 10 distribute it, together with
the accompanying calculations, freely.
to which corresponding observations may be used
for that purpose, by Professor ARNoTT GUYoT,
Canbridge
Professor GuYoT showed how the different posi-
uObs OF places, in reference TO atmospheric waves,
produced errors in the measurements of heights by
the barometer One plane might be under the
crest of a wave, and another uRder the hollow
He showed, that in places not twenty miles apart
such differences would be found. In measuring
the height of the White Mountains by the bdro.
meter, large differences had been found from this
source.
Analysis of the Dynamic Phenomena of the Ley
den Jar.
Professor HENRY gave an account of his investi-
cations of the discharge of Leyden jar: This
was part of a series of experiments he had made
a few years ago, on the general subject OF the
dl manic phenomena OF ordinary or fractional cleo
TRICKY. On this subject he had made several thou
sand experiments. He had never published these
in full but had given brief notices of some of them
in the proceedings of The American Philosophical
Society All the complex phenomena he had OBJ
served could be referred to series Of oscillations
in the discharge OF the jar IL we adopt the hypo-
theses of single fluid, then we shall be obliged to
admit that the equilibrium of the fluid, after dis
charge takes place, by series of oscillations, gra-
dualiy diminishes in intensity and magnitude. He
had been enabled to show effects from five of these
waves in succession. The means used for deter
mining the existence Of these waves was that OF
the maenetzaton of steel needles, introduced into
the axis of spiral. A needle OF this kind, IT is
well known, is susceptible OF receiving definite
amount of magnetism, which is called its salura-
ton. Now, if the needle be of such size as to be
magnetzed to saturaon by the principal discharge,
il will come out of the spiral magnetized to less
degree than that of saturauon, by the amount OF
the adverse influence of the oscillations in the
opposite direction TO that of the principal discharge
II the quantity of electricity be increased, the
power OF the second wave may be so exalted that
the needle will exhibit magnetism; the whole
effect of the first principal wave will be neutral
lied by the action of the second. IL the quantity
of electricity be greater than this, then the needle
he rod in m lrte =
electricity be still more increased, the needle VIII
again exhibit change in its polarity, and so on in
succession, as the power Of the successive waves
These experiments had been made several years
ago. but Professor III. had not given the m in detail
TO the public, because he had wished TO render
them more perfect For the last three and half
years, all his time and all his thoughts had been
given TO the details Of the business of the Smith
tonisn Institution. lie had been obliged to with
draw himself entirely from scientific research, but
| he hoped that now the institution had got under
! way, and the regents had allowed him some able
assistants, that he would be allowed, in part, at
least TO return TO his first loyethe investigation OF
| the phenomena OF nature. (Applause)
SECTION OF CHEMISTRY AND MnERALocy.
| The reading of two or three of the papers trs on
| The list for the day, was deferred.
| The first paper presented was one the absorp-
ton Of carbon, by acids and saline solutions, by Pro-
| fessors W. Il. Rogers and X. 4. Rogers. This
paper contsiued full details and tabulated results
| Of experiments performed upon q large number OF
substances, with reference to their power OF alb
soIbng carbonic acid, as determined by process
| which was communicated at q former meeting Of
the association Stress was laid upon the results
| obtained in the case OF sulrhuric acid, as being
remarkable in the amount which 1t absorbed, and
| AZ having important bearing upon the estimation
oil carbenlc acid in alkaline carbonates in air, and
| other gaseous mixtures.
Professor HoRsFoRD inquired whether il was
| apprehended by the authors that the quantity Of
carb-acid that would be retained by the liquids, in
| the process of Will q Fresenius, would impair
the accuracy Of that process for technical purposes
| Dr. X. L. RocERs replied that while II might not
| be serious enough TO be important in the examine
ten of the commercial carbonates, yet the error
| was quite too great to be admissible in delicate
analytical proce sses, and especially in the deter
| mination OF equivalents
| The next paper was, con new method of decom-
posing scates in the process OF analysis, with an
analysis Of pink scapolite Of bolton" by Henry
| Wufz, of New York.
This method consists in fusing the sillcate with
pure chloride Of barum or chloride Of strontiun,
then DIE solving in bydrochonc acid and removing
the baryta or stTona by means Of sulphuric acid.
An ANALYSIS OF PINK scapollte OF bolton had been
made by this method, the results Of which were
exhibited, showing a composition corresponding
with the received formula Of the common scapolte.
"on Canadian localities of lmenite and chronic
iron, with remarks upon their association with the
| gold Of Canada and California, by Il. ). Hunt"
An account of Elk mineral species, by Prof G.
| L. Shepard" Details OF localities Of these were
given and the specimens exhibited OF the section.
MI GEoRGEJ. BRUSH remarked that as his own
name had been mentioned by Mr. Shepard, in con-
neciion with ozaikiie, he would state that in his
examination he had obtsised in il 774l per cent Of
| phosphate OF lime, and that the specimen was APP
parently mixture OF apaiite and zeollte, which
was sustained by qualitative analysis what zeolite
was not ascerained to be, as, with the utmost care
in separation, II was found impossible to obtain any
OF the mineral which would not give the reaction
| Of phosphoric acid
description and analysis OF atlantic, from
Franklin, New Jersey" by Dr. G. I. Jackson.
"Descripugn OF bismuihic teliurium or letradymie,
from the gold mine Of White hall, Va, with an
analysis OF the mineral. and its relations to the
| gold associated with IT," by Dr. &. T. Jackson.
Both OF these papers were accompanied by the
exhibition Of several interesting experiments.
The section adjourned, TO meet st o'clock in
the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
DIR. G. 7. JAcKsos IN the chair.
First paper -On the availability Of the green
sand OF New Jersey, az source Of potash, and its
| crmucnnd BY IL Wnffz. New Ynfk