The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-13
SCIENCE IN AMERICA.

SCIENCE IN AMERICA.
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Meeting OF the American Association for the
Advancement OF Science.
CINCINNATI, May 5-Monday, PM
This Association commenced at College Hail. in this
city, this day, at PM Professor A. d. Bache, Of Wash
ington, d. c., presiding.
At the suggestion Of the President the meeting
opened with prayer by the Rev Mr. Fisher OF Cincin-
natl.
The gentlemen named below, members Of the Associ-
alton, were reported in attendance -
Col B. L. q. Wales, Washington Miss. Major Richard
Owen Western Military Institute Ky; Vim. O. Redfeld
ESD New York city Professor Louis Agassz, and lady
Cambridge Mass Com Charles wilkes washington
Maverick New York city Col Charles Whitley, Cleve
land Ohio DIR. j p. Kirkland, Cleveland, Ohio; Pro-
fessor Samuel st. john Cleveland, Ohio Professor q
T. schsfer and sister Centre College, ky Professor W
| c. Laredon shelbyvillc College, KY IA Lspham, Esq
ina rosssr s sSs
dcrs Eclectic Med. College, Cincinnati Ohio; J. g.
Anthony, Cincinnati Ohio Jno 8 Newberry Nj d.
Cleveland, Ohio Professor J. X. Wilson, Hampden Sid
ney College, Va Solomon Jenner Esq, New York city
Professor Merrck Ohio Wesleyan University Professor
| d. Bache Superintendent U. 5. Coast Survey s. r.
Baird Warrington Professor i. L. Yanden University
Of Louisville DR. A Clspp, New Albany Ind; G A. Ely
Esq. Elyria Ohio ProessorJ H. G. Coffin Washington
d O. Solomon Roberts Chief Engineer Ohio and Penn
syvsna Railroad Philadelphia; d. A. Mills, Scientific
School, Cambridge Professor Jno. Evans Rush. Medical
College, Chicago, Ill
The PRrs,prsr remarked that il would be Of the
most Importance that members should be punctua in
He had himself been reminded that II would much
valuable time he to open the meetings with punctu
atty; this however, would be OF little unless the
members Themselves present. lie also remarked
| upon the objects Of the Association. 1t was the
American Association for the Advancement Of Science
for the dissem nation the diffusion Of scientific
information already discovered. This name chosen
for purpose and after much deliberstion His object
in calling attention to the real object Of the Association
was possible TO give proper direc ton to the proceed
ipgs Of the body.
The following papers then read
l. On the law of deposit by the food tide by Lieut..
Charles ii. Davis Y. $. N, Superintendent Of the
american Nautical qianae read by Professor PIERCE Of
Harvard
2 On the Azoic System of Lake Superior by Mes-rs.
Foster Whitney, I. {. Biologists for the Lake Su-
percr Land District
D. On the Limits Of the Glass of Polyp and the rank
and succession Of their chief natural divisions by Pro-
T. On the Orbital Courses Of Storms as opposed to
received hypothesis of general winds founded the al
legged influence Of Equatorial temperature ian extempo
s. On the Holothuria Of the Atlantic Coast of the
United States by L. Il Pourtales, read by Professor
BAIRD
1t announced that paper Shells Of the Coal
Series Of Ohio, procured by George White Engineer,
would be read but that gentleman not being the
reading deferred.
CHARLEs WHurLEsEy, Esq, then made brief but COM
prehensive and clear address on two ancient human
skulls, found in Elyria Loran Co. Ohio in
connection with bones Of existing animals.
After accepting invitation from the officers of the
meetings while in the city the Association adjourned "a
meet this morning ut nine O'Clock.
SECOND DAY
CrScrrSATr, May G, 1851
The Association met at nine O'Clock this morning. in
the hall Of the Mechanics Institute.
The President prof A. D. Bache) announced that at
meeting Of the standing committee Of the Association
the following gentlemen were recommended as members
Of the standing committee under the rules Professors
Dol Arasl andA hal lGal1
and J. g. Anthony, Esgrs
The committee also recommended that Capt Wilkes
8. G. Walker Esq and Prof Coffin be added 10 the
committee on the new Method Of Recording Astronomi.
cal Right Ascension and North Polar distances by Prof
Mitchell
The committee further recommended Assessment Of
dollars in addition the annual assessment Of
dollar to each member Of the Association.
The recommendations Of the committee were con-
CURED in.
letter from Mr. L. Grosvensr was received. relative
TO the geological survey Of Ino stating that
preparation Of 1000 had been made by the Legislature
for that purpose.
Professor Peirce then addressed NE Association on the
ing in itself and broush, spirited discussion
that we shalt give full report Of It.
Professor PriRcE said
A memoir upon this subject by Mr. George p Bor
to the American Academy Of Arts and Sciences
upon the 18th Of April and is the occasion Of the present
Investigation and viii be necessary to make constant
in order that the proper relation Of the paths Of
soarcb may be correctly understood.
Sturns ring regarded solid could be sustained
about the primary unless II had decided Irregularities in
~ structure But the observations Of Hcrchel and
crs have failed to detect any indications Of such rcgu
lariy and Mr. Bonds observations have finally con-
WINGED him Of the utter improbatiy Of any serious r
Tryulares and he ha Therefore adopted the conclusion
that Saturn. ring i solid but fluid Mr. Bonds ar
cumCnt Il chiefly derived from observation; but a new
Investigation or the mechanical conditions Of the pro-
Ill m have led me a step farther am satisfied
that there Il conceivable form Of rreguariy. and
combination o. irregularities consistent with astral
ring, which would permit the ring to be permanently
maintained ~ the primary If 1t solid Hence IL fol-
lows Independent OF observation that Saturns ring Is
not soc but fluid adopting a. the bas' Of the cacu
lation. the mas Of the ring which determined
10y Besse the thickness from Bond. and the other
Dimensions from STRIVE. the density Of he ring viii be
found 10 b. about fourth greater than that Of
The ring Il Saturn il then, stream or streams Of
sud rather denser than water, lowing ABOUT the pr
mary. III.
> Mr. Bond mex, undertook series Of rcry curious
and novel orcer determine thco
recs consideratiors alone whether the ring
many aud arrived ut the remarkable rsrlt eha neither
ypchtsis could be maintained lie H. therefore dis
pored to reconcile the discrepancies OF observation in
I'M aprReH s ,hs con ~, 81 ,S rn y
which has been AWAY observed l. permanent abe OF Ler
divisions are .constantly annated BY the mutual
cusssn 81 the ring AMI again produced by pro-
cess which he does not undertake 60 define Th- bold
and ingenious theory IL fully sustained 10y my
ytcsl Investigation. and not only DO my r, searches
exhibit the possibility u this strange phenomenon hut
nfy 20 farther and, exhibiting the precise mode Of
action show that II must b. the 81 nature II the
sc,f AZ definite points which be exactly computed
into portions IT dcterminate width. The disturbing
causes must. after time have driven these separate
rings against each other There would then have fol-
lowed interchange and moving a. currents, mutual
rc'aTdation. momentry state q equilibrium one
ring. and then another breaking OF when the pro-
would be sreln repeated
. But even huid ring could not be permanently re-
tanned by the direct action q the primary for whatever
may b. it, general figure the velocity 81 IT. current must
Lc slower At the points which remote from The
planet oihat there must he snsecnmustcn q fluid at
these points and exae analysis shows that the aecu.
mutation precisely baaree the greater distance - that
the ring must be attracted equally IN every direction by
the planet The resulting action upon the motion Of the
centre q gravity u Therefore cancelled 50 that II must
continue 10 move uniformly in any direction in which II
may hav' begun 90 mOve-under any foreign influence
TO which II may have been subectuntii the Of the
planet viii az lcngth into collision With the edge OF
the ring AMI destroy H. Why, then. has not Ssurn's
ring btcn long destroyed " l. simry because the
disturbing forces have always countereeied their
elect. Thee disturbing the actions q the
sattes and J. By ~ thcsc satellites that the
ring J. held In u place They NJ once the disturbing