Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-08-30
GLIMPsEs OF MEN, THINGS, AID PLAcEs-No ~ .
albany, IN. " AusUsr ~, 1851.

/, GLIMPsEs OF MEN, THINGS, AND PLACEs-No "a.
ALBANY, IN ~ AUsUsr %, 1851.
The Scientific Convention, continued. THE
standing committee reported this morning in favsr
OF accepting the invitation from the city of Cleve-
land, Ohio, to hold the next annual meeting at that
place. The report Of the committee was unani-
mously adopted by the association in general meet
ing. The committee has also nominated Professor
FIERCE, OF Cambridge, as President of the Asso-
ciatIon tor the next year, and the nomination was
unanimously confirmed by the Convention. So
Cleveland is to be the place OF meeng and the Mahs
NAUTICAL Professor Of Harvard is the President elect
The standing committee fearful during day two
at the commencement Of the session that would be little
work before them at this meeting SO few papers pre-
senied that they did dare divide sections for differ
ent departments of SCIENCE their constitution contempates
lest they should exhaust the papers presented and find them
selves the end Of couple of days the awkward position
of having nothing do Their Fears however, were soon
removed papers accumulated Wednesday the association
was obliged divide into sections yesterday and to-
day they have divided into four. And the fear is that
with all this division of labor many Of the papers be
read 10 many already brief abstracts given
instead Of reading full papers, The programme o this after
Moons reading presents foyseven papers. Probably the
whole number offered during the week will fall short Of
one hundred and fifty The titles Of the papers have extend
cd to such length in the aggregate that omit them detail
and will refer to such topics and individually sy
from time to time find it convenient interesting do
This has already proved to be the
ed meeting, and in the number and character Of the subjects
discussed probably the most important enc that the assoca-
ton has held. And is gratifying to know that the full
proceedings will be published in large volume by the be-
rsty Of the citizens Of Albany One thing has struck me
have
ton and that's. the tendency Of the meetings and tansac-
tons Of this association to make science popular produce
oUe Of among the peoples 10 create and stimulate gen.
eral appetite for true science while furnishing the same
time the rich and wholesome ament feed that popular ap-
petite This tendency clearly evnced every step and
stage in the progress Of the association it grows with its
growth and strengthens with Its strength" II the affairs Of
the association continue be conducted with that elevated
feeling and enlightened wisdom which appear to have guided
hitherto, it fail to become important and eff
cent of the increase and diffusion Of knowledge
among men."
Spencers Microscopes-The improvements in micro
scopes, by Mr. Spencer of this State have for three four
years been attracting considerable attention. The subject
been brought the lice of this association and commit
tee, who had been appointed examine the instruments
consider and report the subject made their report to-day,
speaking of the improvements Of Mr. Spencer in the highest
scopes of Mr.. Spencer are now the best in the ,o" This
received with much satisfaction by the as
sociaton, evidence OF American triumph in science
and art.
Effect Of poison vegetable ife.-Among the earlier pa
pers read to the society this session was by DR. Sails
bury, of Albany giving the results Of interesting expert
ment to show that living vegetables may be affected by vu
lent poisons sensiby animals. large raulesnake
which had been kept cage for about year, died the
18th Of June last probably from starvation for had refus
cd all food during it's long confinement On dissection the
stomach found thoroughly empty though had been
washed out The containing the poison opened and
the virus carefully removed The point of sharp penknis
dipped in the poison and several plants noculaed
with it by inserting the point Of the knife slightly under the
inner bark. Among these four young shoots Of the
lilac, young horse chestnut plant, and sufower.
No effect perceived for two days. In about sixty hours
the edges and points Of the leaves began wilt and show
signs of decay The disease gradually crept inward towards
the midrb Of the leaf And in nnetysx hours the leaf
blades on all Of the plants, adoue the point Of nocution,
wted and Dead On the sixth day the bark above the
incson much wlted and wlhered On the tenth day
the plants seemed to be convaescen and the fifteenth
they began again to put feeble scky looking leaves.
And, finally all apparently recovered their usual health
None died before their time, will die far can be iudg
ed, in consequence of the poison.
This interesting experiment. and suggests some in
eresng reflections. Why did those plants which were
evidently much affected by the poison die Probably no
human being would have survived such trial. If left without
artificial medical aid But the plants had no doctor by
the strength Of their constitution they struggled with the
enemy and at length cast him out and lived. Why were
they enabled to do this Was it because they had always
obeyed the true laws of their being without vice and without
excess, preserving the health and strength Of constitution
which Nature assigned them Was because neither they
their parents had snned that they could thus stake up
deadly thing, and should hurt them !" ancifu as
the thought is there may after ALL be something real in
it than imagination It may be in the counseIs Of Inf
mite Wisdom that the human shall make progress TRUTH
knowledge, and righteousness till the time shall when
physically well morally, they shall with nothing
"to hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain"
BIRD's-EYE.
An excellent letter appeared in the London Times tho
29h from American, the subject Of the United States
contributions to the Exhibition The writer most ably
and satisfactorily vndcates his country from the exceptions
taken by many the poorness Of the American quarter in
comparison with these of other nations and speaking, very
justly and modesly, Of the United States mainly sg
cultural county, happily describes her be,ter fitted
to shine in a FAMINE than in fair"
FATAL RKscosrRK-DKArH OF Cor. JoHS JAMss.-We
panied learn, from gentleman who resides in Choctaw