Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-06

and makes us acquainted with the homes and the habits Of
the mighty whales which spout and sport therein Great and
important results be expected from the scientific labors
Of Lieut. MAUxr His system for collecting facts and obse
vaions unrvaled in extent and efficiency There now
than thousand persons engaged in making and re-
codDg observations 10 be returned 10 him at Washington for
the purpose Of scientific gencralizations.
That tall round gentleman Of
temperament is Mr.. REDfIELD, Of New York. He is firm
believer in whirlwinds. All storms with him whiIlwinds
and he is ready to prove it, all wcahes When he rises to
speak, before he has uttered dozen WORDS the Ajax of the
Association majestic in stature. with large massey head and
thick bushy hair to huredy the room
and take the speaker that he may catch
word that drops. This the venerable Dr. HAar Of Pha
delphia. He believer in whilwinds but charged to
the brm with eectcs theory" be is ready any moment
blow Mr. Redfeds whrwinds all to the clouds He gets
up his by the discharge Of electricity. to restore the
equilibrium between the earth and the upper strata Of the
atmosphere. Both gentlemen highly and positively
charged and throw of sparks Of length and pungency Ar
gunent meets argument and theory meets theory Finally
it is drawn game, and continues to ride the whiri
wind" and the other 10 g direct the Storm"
WHO'S that small genteman-I small in stature, not
in inteect-wh spiritual look and clerical manner who
ascends the roum to read paper ION the origin Of the
forms and the present condition Of the clusters Of stars and
receivable nebuls 7" Can small grasp subject
mighty, so almost infinite Wait and see.
Were l 50 tall to reach the pole,
Or grasp the ocean in my span,
must be measured by my soul
The minds the stature Of the man."
How beautifully be arsnges his facts how clearly he
draws his conclusions bow plausby he steps from the
known probable The highest revelations the telescope
are spread out before the diagrams Step by step we
follow him from sphere to sphere, and from system to SYSTEM
far far into the boundless regions Of space till behold
the whole silky-way of the heavens unroing into
grand sublme infinite SPIRAL Do you ask again who is
this Of humanity thus unfolding the handiwoks Of God
1t is Prof. ALEXANDER, Of Princeton College, New Jersey
There is another member who, like the last illustrates the
adsge that Invaluable goods done up in small bundles
That is Prof. MITCHELL, OF the Cincinnati Observatory
Below the medium stature and Of slender form, and ap
paeny possessing hardy and vigorous constitutions he has
already made high mark the column Of his counrys
fame and has not yet done climbing In addition to high
asinments in theoretical and practical astronomy, he
mechanical genius and pts and constructs his
o,on ladder to the He has placed himself in the front
rank Of those who say with fitness and propey, when
looking their achievements, sic itur ad ara. The
of MITCHELL will henceoh be connected in the
nails Of science with /" the American method Of observing
and recording right ascensions and declarations. Prof.
MITCHELL is an effective lecturer with clear ringing voice
strong emphasis and has lecured much his avorite
science a4 FaE#
But here comes another gentleman, porly in person, Of
easy and polite address He takes the lead among
those who 90
-"Where science guides, VI
To measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides"
While astronomers are soaring in the fields of space
ing the motions of planets and stars assigning each the
limit its and the period Of lite return. he into the
depths of the grappes the turbulent unsteady wave
draws from the OF its origin and its destiny weighs
its force measures it's direction snd erec his scientific
on every Shore graduated with his nathems0al law, snd
procaming to the mighty thus far shalt thou but
farther, and here shall Thy proud be stayed" Per-
introduce the reader Prof BAcHx, Superintendent
/ of the United States Coast Survey.
the reader is looking at that gentleman of marked
appearance sitting in Of the sidesea and conversng
with that attractive looking LADY, He has keen eye, and
his flowing black hair descends almost to his shoulders
Some remark paper connected with astronomy mahe
mates has attracted bis attention, and he steps forward to
address the meeting His words slowly uttered and with
frequent pauses. His head s little inclined to one side,
and his body often considerably leaning to the other His
oratoy would hardly be called GRACEFUL and yet it is very
effective He enters into the subject with great eanesness
his voice is winning and his eye lights up with great bril-
iancy He unfods the subject with masters hand; you
readily him down master in science. and turn round
and inquire who is il Reader, that is Prof. PIERCE, of
Cambridge, whose widespread reputation is not to be
HANGED diminished by any thing said here He travels
far be who ahest in many Of the realms of mathe-
maticsa science, more than any other embemaca OF the
| infinite Author of the universe.
Another introduction must make or am sure shall
be pardoned by the reader This gentleman, of medium
height rather stout Frame large head with mdness as well
intelligence in hseye and kindness and courteous bearing
in his manners Prof. HENRr, Of the Smithsonian Insu
ton Washington. With intellect capable Of great
concentration we'll comprehensive grasp he eminenty
fitted for scientific Investigations and philosophical conclusions
His bors have already done honor to the country, and give
bright promise Of future tumphs philosophy is TO be
enriched our day and generation by important discoveries
presentations in the laws of light heat electricity, and
other secret powers of NATURE should place Prof HENRx
among the dozen in the world from whom should en-
pect such light to This judgment of mine has boon
formed from observations which hsve dropped from him at
the present sings of tho AssosaIsH. s.. $50,
Thursday Troy In his brief illustration Of theory Of the
motion Of light appeared to there was shadowing
forth Of light felt that the right man had been select
ed preside institution established for The increase
and diffusion Of knowledge among men,"
Yet more, "hough last not least and the ceremony
of introduction shall be closed Had the reader been in the
Convention there would need no description Of this gentle
man. sthe observed Of all Observers" for has set her
seal upon his brow "to give the world Of man..
There would need mention Of that perfection and symme
try form which gat6es tase that ,asness and pro-
fundy of knowledge which exces adma,ion that sim
pcty Of and exceeding modesy which wins the
heart At once the lover and the child of nature, be has
explored her three kngdoms animal vegetable and mineral
and earned his title to throne in EACH He has explored
animal life in its embryo state, up to its first starting point
from the eternal fountain of existence He has traced it in
all its orms from the microscopic inusora up man.
He has taught US -.
-" How high progressive life may go,
Around how wide, how deep extend below"
Bring him bone from any quarter of the earth, and he will
describe the animal from which came, and give you the
entire history Of Its species Nay, more, show him but
single scale of fish, though brought from the deep
bowels Of the earth where it has lain mbedded in fossil
mains for countless ages and though the life Of the whole
species which il belonged extinct from the earth
thousands Of years before the food yet from that single scale
he shall construct the perfect ANIMAL and make you draw