The New York herald., 1851-08-22
Our Albany Correspondence.

Our Albany Correspondence.
ALBANY, August 1872 O'Clock.
The Amoicam Scientific Associaioa-As Cons'itu-
tiom and Obect--IHe Empire Stsamsr-- TIE
Weather. Congress HaR-Jenny LiafS Auto
graph, 3'c.
The annual expostions of the results of the re-
| search Of the American Scientific Association are
naturally most anxiously looked for by all who have
soul for science, or mind capable of appreciating
the study Of that genius which gives birth to new
knowledge of the phenomena of nature, and enables
man to limit and control its energies Thus it will
be that with the arts and sciences great anxiety
must pervade the human species, whilst it falls to
the lot of but an honored few to add facts and
principles to present system of science, and
amongst those few may be justly ranked the ma
jority of the professors Of this association.
Under the new organization of this institution.
which commenced as society Of geologists, Pro-
fssor w. G. Redfeld was the first President;
Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution,
the second; Professor Bache, Superintendent of
the Coast Survey, the third and now retiring Pre-
sident and Professor Agassiz is the President elect.
| Amongst the other prominent members are Pro-
iessOrsS Rogers (four brOthers), Pierce, Silliman,
(Sr. and Jr) Loomis, Olmsted, Guyot, and
Baird (the Secretary; also Lieut. Marry, of the
| Observatory, Washington; Capt. Wilkes; Or.
Hare Philadelphia; Lieut.. Davis, director Of the
| American Almaaac; and Others, whose names
cannot now remember.
The object of the American Association for the
| promotion of science is, as its name impar.s, the
discovery of new principles with reference to the
operations Of nature. The man Of science does not
stop to enquire whether his discoveries can be ap-
piled to any specific purpose in the arts it is su
sic mt for him that they truths belonging to
nature and he leaves to others Of less elevated aim
| their application to the wants Of life. There is
| difference between discovery and an invention;
| one discovery may involve thousand inventions
| the frat consists Of the developement Of new
principle Of nature-the second OF an application
Of scientific principles to some purposes in the arts
The discoverer is generally actuated by the love Of
truth and ofreputation the inventor Is stimulated
by the love of gain. In this country, invention Us
rewarded by the peculiar privileges of the Patent
| law; but there is public stmulant to facilitate
original discoveries and hence the importance of an
| association of this kiud for mutual encouragement
and for free discussion. The American Scientihc
Association, under its present form, has three an
nusl and two semi annual meetings, and has been
| constantly increasing in interest and influence.
| The American Association for the advancement
Of science has been growing from year to year,
since its organization in 15iS, in numbers aud i'm
Portance. The meeting no. holding here rs !; the the
| sixth meeting; the previous meetings nave been
held in Philadelphia, Cambridge Charlie ston, New
Haven and Cincinnati. Tho number Of members
now Included is hundred, Of which, about one
hundred to one hundred and fifty annually attend
ut any one place Of meeting; and the location OF
| successive meetings being 80 arranged as to accom-
modate the scientific men Of different parts oil the
country in town.
The meeting Of the present year Is under the
presidency Of Professor Agassiz, the distinguished
naturalist professor Of natural history In the Law
renee Scientific School Of Cananduiga.
The local committees made, Of which Dr. Il. X.
Peck, of Albany, is chairman, have made excellent
| arrangements for the accommodation oil the mem
| bers and for the business of the association The
4 Iii; Of md
vtations to the me mbers 10 visit the principal pub
lie places, ard are dcsirous that a day should be
set apart for the purpose, that they az suitably
entcr rtain their guests, and show them their cities
| and their vicinity. The Governor Of the state,
the Chancellor of the University, and some pro-
| mncnt citizens have mais arrangements to enter
| tain the members Mt their houses
| The Young Mems Association, the Executive
| Committee ofthe Normal School, the Albany In
stitute, the Trustees Of the Albany Medical Asso-
citation, Of the Female Academy, aud the Regents
Of the University have invited the m embers OF the
Association to visit their rooms and collections, at
| hours which may not be occupied by the meeting
The corporation of Troy have invited this learned
body to that city on Thursday, TO vi,t we llosie
buildings and institutions, ard partake Of the hos
pitality Of the Common Council. ~ is. however.
doubtful whether the Kind invitation can be ac'
cepted as the different gentlemen Of tbs s.iy, con-
nected with the ASSOCIATION have already sppof'
toned among Themselves, an en,ertaiumant iof se
members for every evening during the week
The people of Cleveland, (Ohio) have sent =
warm ana pressing Invitation Tor tte aseoClAtt'A ~
hold their next annual meeting In that city. aId
nobly offer to pay the travelling anl al oihef ex
pcnses which the members may be rui 20 BY theiI
visit. Before the prcscn. convention aiourns, !
will be decided where the next annual meeting wl
be held.
The weather here on sunday was understand
az miserable as il was In New York, aud this morn
isg the Thermometer stood at o., but the day ha'
frightened up and become little warmer.
| The Empire steamer made al excellent assage
| from New York, having arrived here NJ ltpas'
4 o'clock this morning, although, there was an eet
tide against her the whole,way The night was yery
stormy and fearfully dark, with an occ ssonal hasa
| of lightning. The passage was one OF great diht
Guilty, but the skill OF the gentemanly commander
Captain Gillespie, overcame u, though IN mani
parts Of the river we neared Albany, there wa
not more than sufficient water to cary the bmpir'
in. The accommodation on board tina. vessel ar
very good, and admirably superintendcd by Mr
Grahamd the stewar, who does not fail 10 make hi
numerous guests comfortable and c0ntentcd.
the Academy. IL is very fine hcuFe, well kept
and the resort Of superior class. In sessions tim
It is generally filed with members Of the Legisla
ture and they, like aldermen, generally know
where good living is to be had. Among. tn
recent visiters at this hotel, are Captain Wilkes
United states Navy; Doctor J. u. kir,land. Gin
cippati; Professor ID. Hare. Philadelphia; Profes
sor w. Foster, Professor a. GuJot, Professor y
Pcrce, Professor Louis Agassiz, the President o
| the Scientific Association, elects Profeistr :. Il
Baird, Hon. Christopher Morgan, Secretary o
state; A. ID. Patchin, Buffalo; Commoiore Slolt
United states Navy, and lady; Hon. Mr lusiic'
Mondelot, Montreal, Canadaj hon. a. > OP1am
s...;,- -. ...,-t ,;.ts 49,, 49,.