The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-26
FOU TIL d Y.

the learned President, Professor Bache.
NOTES ON The MEETING OF THE AMERICAN AssocIA-
TON AT CHARLESTON, PRESENTED BY REQUEST
THE STANDING COMMITTEE, BY THE PRESIDENT OF
9 THAT MEETING, PROFESSOR A. d BAcHE.
~ The American Association, atits meeting at Cam
bridge, 1t will be remembered, determined 10 hold
an intermediate meeting between the two regular
annular meetings, and selected Charleston, South
Carolina as the place for holding it The meeting
was deprived of the presence ct the President of
the year, Professor Henry, by the pressure OF I'M
portant duties, requiring immediate personal atten-
tion and in his absence was requested to preside,
and at the close of the sessions was desired to give
a notice of the doings to the members assembled
at New Haven.
had intended to give such an account as was
able of the papers read and communications made
TO the Charleston meeting, but the industry and
zeal of the secretary, DR.. Lewis X. Gibbes, has, by
preparing the volume of procee dngs to be laid be-
acre you, prevented all necessity for such an abb
stract. There were thirty communications made
subjects of natural history, and eighteen on SUBJ
jects of mathematical and physical science-the
forty eight papers being contributed by twenty
seven members of the association Many Ut these
of high interest, and gave rise TO remarks
valuable to those pursuing the subjects, and inte-
testing 10 all Some OF the papers were by authors
Of established reputation, so that the mention of
their names wenld be security for the value of
their papers, others by men, whom, II life and
health should be spared will reach in future TO the
same point of distinction.
The germ of TWO most important discoveries in
natural history was contained IN papers by two OF
our youn geet members. The plthy announcement
by one who is the best Judge of their value and
correctness, has made an ndelibe impre ssion upon
my mind :-'rhe deyel0penent of tissues is parallel
TO the growth of individuals" was the summing
up by the master of paper, which the excessive
nodesty Of the author has forced the secretary to
enter as not received. The contents of another
were thus expressed sc The order OF Succession
Of parts in f,ramenifera is identical with the sue
cessive Development Cfeaves in plants, and can be
expressed by the saE.e iornule." Such discoye-
-ies, just warm from the study, it may be, as IN
shese cases forced TO light by the occasion OF our
meetings, are among our greatest trumPhs on the
way OF advancement
Nearly one hundred members were added TO The
association, and Of their Number from seventy 20
eighty IN attendance. These results OF the
irst sem-nrnua meeting which has been at
tempted, are very encouraging. There was a call
for snch meeting, and IN the place selected by
che association; the public and private demoastTe-
tons Of interest in our prosperity, by the attend
arce Of the citizens with their wives aad dansh-
tiers, and the hospitality with which we were
entertained, were very gratifying. The interest
Increased 10 the last. Aer did Il cease with the
adjournment of the association, but left abiding
mark Of the meeting in the ,establis smeni OF
museum Of natural history, in connection with
medical college, to be supported IN considerable
degree by the liberaliy OF the corporate authorI-
ties OF the city of ChaIleston. This very snbstln-
sia benefit To science followed closely on the libe-
frslity of the Mayor are, Coaacn constituting the
came corporation, in assuming the expenses OF the
neeling and OF the Publication Of is proceedings
Gould any spirit be better than this, or more tho
-oughly carried out in action 2
believe that even greater benefits than the se
material ones were derived from tllis meeting, IN
the sacrifices OF old piejudces and, not to use 100
strong tenn, enmites the altar OF science, the
re1indiug OF old and hndling Of new friendships,
and the generalend genial glow otsymPathe9 Oh
head and heart.
During The cancellations Of members, and espi.
ciay IN the meetings OF the standing committee,
various matters of interest 70 the association gene
: -ally, were discussed more or less formally, and
some Of thsse was requested informally 10 pre-
sseut OF this meeting for The consideration of the
association, and Ii deemed OF sufficient import for
reference &C. the standing con lnittee
Some % fmanent form Of org AVIATION n need-
ed. Not one which viii interfere with me trre-
ION OF movement Of the association as now csn-
sttuieJ, noT with the changeable conroi and va
riable impulse which nov ca1racueuze %, bat
which viii serve to connect, as Tar az may De. oae
meeting with the other Inc experience Oi Que
meeting as now constituted il not transferred 10
another AT the Charleston meeting we had usi-
her the scientific proceedings, nor The ball2es5
aapers neither the minutes nor the accounts FL the
cambridge meeting, aud bat for the presence Of
some few members who Z al been 40 tne previous
meeting there would. ut TIE opening in Charleston,
have been no connecting links between the pre-
The gssnciauon not having the means Of avail
ing itself regularly, aud part OF us organnou0a,
n It's expt nepce, l. kept always IN the coalition
II infancy ~ IL were-vgJrous apparently, bat still
infancy la the British association unity Of puf-
pose is secured by general body which directs N
he recess OF the local mogiGg and changeaoie body;
a
IN the stan ding committee, and was requested to
Communicate II % he nciatou here, that body
II secretaries, organized irom among those VINO are
able 60 attend the neeurss with certainty, and WAC
re wiilug 10 undertake iue labor, 70 serve Tor a
united term Of say i've ycars, elected yearly, ana
part vacatiug their office. "a Turn taken fnn ne
different parts Of the Union, So % 70 render me
attendance Of part OF them in any giyen place al
most certain. II with this we could uute execn-
live duiieo iy permanent secretary, or the oili-
GERS OF some .cisniic institution. to condaci IN
he recess Of the association. CHr business other
han what is local and Incidental 70 the mcetiogF,
o make suie Of the action "a committees, OF iimsiy
preparation for meetings, sad "a timely ection on
business Of past meeting, % wolld e9ntfiou,e es.
sentiay @ cur prosperity, I'd 10 The advancement
Of scieEce through the sCtl1n ~ the essncittion
DO our pTsseut arrangcmi n's Tor publication re ire-
cent the character Of our mes.ings fully Is there
any one Of US who, after diligent, close and in
crested attention Throughout meeting, does not
s,el disappointment when he comes 10 look over
volume q publshed proceedings II was sirk-
srr priacip!e, stated By sone Of the early members
OF the General Association, that the great object
was 10 communicate from cultvaior OF science
- another what was doing IN each department for
its ayrtancemcn;--tO hold ferson2l communication
tor persCn 4 Enforcement Thus absence from the
meetings was 20 debar from access 10 or part N the
-roceed,roa Nv discussions, oral accounts OF re-
seerchts and experiment. and observations, ny
friendly cornsel end encour9Gcnent, sclence wa
q he advanced hfounh Ca cIliivaoTs. NO attempt
vas TO Be nsa iu Influence or Affect the absent.
Al frat wsia.y Interested Ia thts view, came ~
ast TO thihk that 10 much good should be made
mere diilusve and more peunlnent; and " this
principle we've not rightly adhered %, we should not
re acting Up TO the foil nae sure OF oar possible
isefulness sill, there BE- real principle OF action.
Under Il; we should publish no papers no abstracts,
no eccouaia, Of our discussions. We would en-
counter no responsibility beyond the as so
eiation. The opposite prlnciple would be 70
act upon the present as well upon the ahsenti and
% be effective should be reduced 10 system btther
nIl valuable papers should be published TO the foil
sxtent or noRe should be pubshed, OF selection
a.. fff.st he fufHr pUN
shsiraci only of any or uli valuable papers would
he pilished, end that abstracts of all would be
made or should be furnished by the authors. The
discussions are frequently q az much yalue as the
apers; ard yet many of them do not appear at all.
5r il appearing without the life that really char
scterizes them. II was distinguishing pattern OF
he Charleston meeting, that when The branches OF
sciepce inieflocked, the discussions were OF the
.L.nr-r.-r ND " al Iheaa l..I