New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-22


a public dinner al the City Assembly Rooms, at
which nearly $50 members OF the profession and 9th
ers were present. The Chair was occupied by j. c.
Bliss MD. The company was addressed by Judge
DAILY, DIS. Francis. Detmold, Stevens and Rockwell,
Rev DR. Henry, Professors. Bache and Clymer. The
amount Of 500 contributed by several friends Of
the Society. and there Is now IN the Treasury the
sum OF $1,000.
PHENOMENA or AIR-LEcTURE OF PRoF.
RENwIcK--The first Lecture of the course on thus
subject delivered at the rooms OF the Me-
chanics' Institute on Thursday evening before
large and very attentive audience, by Prof. JAMES
RENwIcK, of Columbia College, and was rendered
exceedingly interesting by the numerous expert
ments that were performed.
lie first spoke of the general interest with which
the Phenomena of Air should be looked upon by all
persons, and particularly by the lnhabitant OF
country whose climate is so variable as our own
lie then proceeded to prove the existence OF the
atmosphere, which was once doubted by the dnclen.
students OF Natural Philosophy, aud also that II
possesses weight. This was done by the expert
menis with globe that had been partly exhausted,
and BY the TOrriceiian apparatus glass tube about
three feet III length, filled with mercury. lie next
stated that the condition and course OF the atmos
ptere are chiefly affected by the following causes
The character and condition of the earth con-
sidered as a planet Of the solar system the Gls
.rbuiion of the solid and fluid matter on the sur
face, aud the atmosphere Itself. lie showed that
the variation which is observed IN the an ~ any
gwen place. to equal exent In the ground
within few inches Of the surface, but that at a
greater Oepth ii Is less than the air above, until
certain position is reached, which in our climate is
at a depth of forty feet, when the temperature Is
constant Descending further. the temperature m
cIcases above this constant point IN a toleraoly
ocular manner, as was found by the observations
mace in sinking the artesian well al Lyons. The
laws Of this increase have been calculated and GER
tam results ascertalned which Will appear III fu-
tuTc lecture.
The probable cause of the increase OF heat as
proceed toward the center o. the earth, is to be
found III the great compression that is produced by
the weight above. TINS fact was illustrated by re-
ference 10 the great heat which takes place a
piece Of metal receiving an impression from the
coming engine From calculations made
this subject, Laplace inferred. that at depth of
hlile more than 5000 yards from the crust of the
earth, wafer Will boil and that about 20 or 30 miles
below, great would be the intensity Of the heat
that every mineral substance known to US, would
melt Besides II appears that, at some former period
Of the earthS history, the heat must have reached
10 the surface for the most ancient rocks exhibit
decided evidence of their having been In state OF
leueOuS fusion. The Lecturer then reviewed the
different theories that had been entertained on the
formation of the earth by the author of the Vestges
of Crsat7on. and others and then proceeded TO ex-
hbi the of the variation Of climate on differ
el portions of the globe, from the Equator TO the
Poles BY Illustrations that rendered the subject not
only interesting but also easily to be cOmptt hended
by the humblest rslndS. Space Will not allow us to
learned gentleman, and. besides, few can under.
stand from even printed discourse on scientific
matter like the present, It's proper bearing, without
witnessing the experiments necessary for Us Illus
! tIajlOn. This lecture may be regarded as only a
preliminary one-thc preface 20 the three 70 follow
| aud those who wish TO make themselves acquainted
with the properties o. that important huld when
enters so largely INTO the necessities OF our being,
should attend themselves. No subject can be more
interesting than knowledge of the air through
which We move. and live which brea.hes at one
time with gentleness that scarce hits the down
from the petals of flower and at another rushes
along III the form Of a destructive hurricane. The
causes OF these changes should be known by all
CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATIONS The second
lecture of the course before the Catholic Institute
was delivered Thursday night by Rev Ambrose Man.
ahan, of Boston. His theme was" The Christian
Element IN Civilization" The Doctor staked out his
ground by asserting that all Christianity was confined
to the Roman Catholic Church-that beyond the
male of that Church nothing of Christianity could
exist Civilization is divided into two kinds-its
elements are twO-fold. There is the natural hu-
man element, and the Christian element OF civil
lyatiCn. The natural element consists IN a good
/ and proper application OF the faculties given us
at our birth, or the advantages placed within our
reach by our natural endowmentS. IL Is dihcuit 10
trace back the features OF civilization how much
has arisen from the natural element, and how much
Is counterfeit, We cannot tell III ciihcut even
10 tell the peculiar characteristics OF Christian
doctrines IS to look at and compare It with the
natural element, which alone existed betor the time
Of Christ Let us 90 back 1851 years, and we snail
fiji then the commencement of the Christian ele-
ment previous to that only the natural existed. The
Christian Era was the dlvlClng llue tween thetNo
But We have relies OF the time when the nun an eie.
mcut alone existed. Some Of those have nOated
down TO us on the broad stream OF time. The re
MAINS Of Nneyeh, for instance, IKE long'OUr'eu
treasures OF the deep, have now been iald bare ana
brought TO hight again The Pyramids, the runs
~ xel.n ANtS NJ
tell US of ancient greatness 1t is proved to US
that all which has been done Is cue not mercy
20 the Christian element. CIVILIZATION Is noW maze
the criterion bv which to Judge OF and test our
RELIGION. this should be otherwise religion should
be The standard. ard that should only be clyl-
hzailon which is authorized BY tins STANDARD.
We think less of the palmy days of the anclen. cteS
than We might, we are so busy win our own anWs'
or perhaps, We NAV fear that such considerations
would make us think less OF our own Doastec siei'-
ness. The mind Is oyerpowered IN attempting 70
imagine the hanging gardens OF BABYLON the count
less hosts aud dazzling charots IN the armies OF
o,O then all ideas OF ancient backwardneSS are put
to fight. There must have been kno Wedge OF asrl-
culture 10 provide for the maintenance OF tue NUT
ttudeS thee must have been acquaintance win mli-
tary order and CONTROL TO have disciplined the mlghy
armies II IS not distance either THAT LENDS enchaht-
ment 10 the view Let us go with Layard or WIN DO
napartc or Champoliyon ana see the remains anu iu
ms which corr with ancient history. Ihere may
be found relics which In dencacy and beauty surpass
even the workmanship of the Partisan leweiier. we
may muse over inc stuiN VI
noated a. once over the British and the Indian ocean
or we may 70 10 Africa, the land OF snnournt couhle
nsnceS, we may look upon Merod, the cemetery OF
once great city a metropolis of pyramids these are
al proof, of a high civilization IN DAYS bygone we
MAY look al Luxor and Oagnak and the ancient
wonders of China, and feel that our history Will
only show a Weakening of modern nations TO self
consciousness we may look al statues almost
living ard pictures almost breathing the eV-
idences OF natural civilization, yet proceeding
nom the unbaptized soul OF faiIhless Greece.
But there is a higher department of civil zatlon-
that of the Christian element Man neecs the a.
vine dispensaton Before the time of Christ the
apcients knew 10 God Of compassion or feeimg
there was no symbol or temple pointing to mans
love for his neighbor, but our SAVIOUR hrS' great
commandmen, when he came was, - Love one
| another I"
; slider the characteristics OF the Christian element