The New York herald., 1851-08-26

20 reference to It The zeal OF the local
committee at Charleston and Cincinnati not only re-
eved the association from the expense OF publishing the
volumes but carried them rapidly through the press
70 the local secretary at Charleston Professor Lewis H.
Gbbes and the permanent secretary Of the association,
Professor Spencer =. Baird we are indebted for the
promptness with which the volumes of the Charleston
aud New Haven meetings Appeared When the meetings
are merely annual there will be time 1t Ia hopei to per-
mt suthors 10 examine the roof sheets OF their papers
without which, despatch Is gained at the expense OF
accuracy.
It hardly possible that the publication Of pro-
ceedings should Interfere with the transactions Of other
learned societies Our material consists essentially of
abstracts or of brief Of accounts OF
searches often IN progress and notes which differ
tirey from the elaborate msnoret appropriate to such
transactions The memoirs Of learned societies have
and am not aware that the intervals have been
increased since our organization. There is unmstak.
able evidence in the activity Of the American Journal of
Science that We do not interfere with it,
At our meetings have been presented 3ss communica-
tons OF which l0s have been the subject sizes
and mathematics 32 on chemistry 80 on geology and
miperalogy SO natural history la its various
branches especially zoology, and % on miscellaneous
subjects
The absence of minute subdivision in the pursuit of
science the prevalence Of general lecturng on various
branches, the cultivation OF the literature Of science
rather than Of science itself has produced many OF its
evils under which American science has labored, and
which now passing away. You have so much ground
give all your time to garden spot We though still
farmers begin to garden. While general knowledge OF
single branch it is still certain that subdivision is es
seutia to advancement An Admirable Crchton rather
fixes attention on his own perfection than perfects any
art
Lecturng and the pursuit of science have up to this
time, been very closely connected with 1t has been
Necessary teach and generally to lecture in order to
obtain means to pursue research and the advantage
which results from investigation Is even now not so
clearly seen as ought to be- by those who direct our
institutions They have yet in many cases to learn that
the srea estimate of professors services is not al
ways the number Of his hours in the college. Lee
turing E Of all the arts of the most easily acquired
at least by our countrymen 1t is undoubtedly useful
and most agreeable but should not be the object and
end Of mans career 1t is not necessary to found in,
stuops especially for its encouragement, nor should
the to duse science in successful courses Of lee
lures be considered as substitute for exeron in its ad
vaDcement
Wheh the first effort made to establish general
American Associate for the promotion Of science it is
certain that t with considerable opposition There
various for this From close communication
with many who active members Of the associa-
tion, know why this prevailed over their hopes
of the usefulness Of such an Institution The opposi
tion came not more from those who habituay
servatve than from those who being earnest in
to the progress of science usually in of all
gressive measures 1t proceeded from no under esti
mate Of the strength which there among the Guilt
vators Of science. Some OF had studied the work
Dgs Of the British association and had been convinced
the absolute ty Tor the attendance there from
to the proceeding and were alarmed perhaps at the
orays into the domain Of science which had there been
witnessed in OF the less powerful sections and even
into the park of section itself SO far from having
been trained u the schools scarcely knew each
other personally How could irregulars venture into
the conflict when the files right and to left
were strangers to u.s. and when the might thus
have suffered from the want of discipline Of its voun
teer supporters.
1t was very prudenty left for the geoogsts to begin
the work. In looking back .egret that
such counsels prevailed The geological surveys making
them very necessary for comparison, discussion sys
tematc effort for counsel aid and mutual i'm prove
classification, the basis of to be made, and
only by discussion in such body could be formed In
that association positive work the test Of considera
and the more he had done, the patiently he
listened to- Thus far deeper morally than the compara
tive depths which they explore the geoossts laid the
foundation Of the Amer lean association The nauraists
associated themselves with the nucleus thus afforded
and the association became Of geoogsts and natural
lists Chemistry occupied from the beginning portion
Of the attention Of the association in its necessary
nection with geology-at first small, then a
tended part Meteor which the circumstances of
country have made necessarily of the branches
OF ply sizes most successfully pursued among assisted
in the further deveiopemen snd calling in the votaes
expanded to its present dimensions and became the
American Association for the advancement of science
May the care thus taken In gradually raising the eddce
form a firm foundation, secure in its duration.
One Of the modes apart from education, by common
consent by which science has been promoted has
by the organization Of societies holding meetings and
publishing transactions aud proceedings Local insti
tutions Of this sort exist in all parts Of the civilized
world; sometimes endowed by the government, some
times by individuals and sometimes supported by voun-
contributions To affirm that these institutions
useful would be to contradict universal experience
To withdraw support from them because they had
failed to do all the good desirable would be usopisn The
present condition Of science in France in great de-
effectively organized body when the nation determined
to be the immediate patron of science. The departments
Iyop. with eonsderabia vitality In Great Britain there
Is no large town without its Philosophical Natural
History Society and in all the more important cities
there are many societies prominent d. partments Of
scientific research. In London the subdivision is still
more minute, and some branches have more than
association devoted to their advancement Science
not in its writings OF research appeal to the &C.
readers and be fur he'd by association
dowment, with even its means Of publication Applied
f1enQ is M htIf a.-fr
science, which the other hangs Is not munsrang
Yet how many applications flow from principle The
world would gain in very high ratio, by bsstowng
s reward, fer principles instead Of for app cations
The means furnished for educational purp poses are
science to live Where there richly endowed
sites and college, governed by the academic body ITSELF
the facilities extended TO require few Others
Where institutions depend mainly upon the fees Of pupils
for their support, being endowed and governed by
those who take marrow views Of the abor of scen,a,
the professors loaded down with labor that
neither body mind Is capable OF effective research
How very many there are who want only time and
now merely imrsrt the doings Of Others. VIII not a
more healthy tone of opinion arise In time this sub
ject, from our intercommunicaton and the candid
preston of tenn perate and mature opinions
Some Of cur institute, and prominently among them
the Franklin Institution Of Pennsylvania have furnished
means for experiments on important subjects aud en-
listed their mos. Jealous members In researches But
even here the laborers were without hire, though
worthy q it. Some Of these researches remain to this
day unputlshed from The necessary withdrawal Of mem
ts 10 other sphere Of active eKerton requiring all their
time end thought aud will II they have not alresdy, be-
obsolete. from the progress Of the branches to
which they beorg Among the obstacles I'll he progress
q tcerc with must be reckoned q the largest
the want Of direct turpoft for It's suivators such
4. l. believe common mistake TO associate the idea
q denies and Institutes with monaFchical nsttu
ticng We show In this In many other things the
Pr iuiice Of our dtceut We have among the two
exIerts o exaggerated nationally and Of excessive
in.tstion Let Is modify each By the other and be
wise national institute Is noi necessary to Greet
Britain with her rich and powerful unyersites Repub
cs rance has Cheri he'd her institute seeking rather
extend than TO cultivato It's proportions Oac
@, he most ardent republicans Is it, perpetual secretary
-thst settn- sun whsse efulgance show that IL Is
mercy passing beow the horizon to ilanine another
sIttrr.
tcr icss the idea of necessary connection between
Capitalization ard institute ftFiks me valid one.
Suppo.e sn institue of which the msmbsrs belong in
% CaCh of widely scattered States wuing at
their places q aigtnce and reporting thr results
mAtug cniy AZ particular times for special purposes
er AaEed in researches self dirt 9ted deserted by
the body called for by Congress. by the ex-