The New York herald., 1851-08-26

veipment may lose most important advantage Ifs
decision Is left to nu.n or to imperfect knowledge,
the worse const quences follow
Such body would supply a place not occupied by
existing institutions and which own is from its
temporary and voluntary character not able supply
Astronomy chiefly at first from its Connection with
n6ve has been the science which all governmental
inclusive, have selected to foleripg
thus one the highest branches of theoretical scenos
account of its practical applications II may truly
said that know more of the laws which govern the
motions Of the distant bodies of the universe than we do
those which regulate the constitution OF bodies
Would not the same results or assuredy similar Ones
flow from systematic encouragement for long period
of any one branch OF science The experiment is
tsuly worth trying
Ifmeteorology could be encouraged with a world wide
patronage like astronomy what practical aud theoretical
results would not be derived The results of the
partial effort made in behalf of ami meteoro-
iogy is encouraging Brief the term has been the
terials gathered, gathering from which important
conclusions daily derived and which await the mas
ter mind TO weave into new tncpfd, new nneeanfqe,
new heoria.
1t has seemed abroad and with in the United States
that something wanting to keep up the healing
motion in the Of science than obtained from
the existing institutions already alluded to. That with
out interfering with their useful isbors good to be
saine.by bringing their members together in one gene
raj association holding its meetings different places,
in part to give facilities for attendance to different per-
in turn and in part stimulate local exertions by
the influence important in social well chemical
action Of presence Are such associations destined to
any enduring existence they only to be
in their action Is their animation to be lifelong or to
be from time to time suspe ended! If the want which
they supply is temporary they will die if ntermitting
they will have spring time, summer and winter II haT.
ing fulfilled their end they into other forms Of in
stitutons better adapted to the wants OF science
will not regret their longer shorter life hold them
less in ration that they died The good that they
may do cannot be lost.
smaller communities, the daily avocatons of men of sci
ence the United keeping asunder small num-
bers one point produces all the bad influences OF
violation
feel of from the world of sce and sink dis
couraged account Of the isolation or having posi-
tion in the community about become content to
enjoy this and forget that duty to the world
outside that ought to increase as we'll as to duse
to labor well to enjoy the labor Of others Our
country other things from than this and
of science of this day will as In times past labor for
progress. We will hope to have American methods
in other branches Of science, BESIDES practical as
tIonomy.
in other countries and have commanded the support Of
all their most active and eminent men OF science as to
continue the meetings after year there is none
where they could have promised to be important to
the interests If national science in the United States
Organization here for good or for evil Is the to
the end While science Is without organization, it is
without power Poweress against its enemies open
powerless in the hands Of false inudci0us
friends Not welded to existing forms this country Is
alive to everything which promises improvements and
the public mind in this or that place, or in the whole
telegraph runs irressby in one the result Of
wise N evil counsels Of knowledge or half know LEDGE
Honor that great statesman who passing beyond the
limits CT political and social institutions for
ward national anniversary to direct the mird of
the people in tracing the progress Of country By its
education, its religion its literature, and its science
Many Of States anxiouy alive to the promotion
science both and indirectly and it is Of the
greatest Importance that in moving they should 90
re hty The leg isative and executive our
government called upon often to decide questions
which belong rather to scientific than political tribunals
time ndation by scientific congress would
frequently be relief from serious embsrras and
insure the most beneficial results to the progress Of SCI
The abuse Of such IL less to be expected in
this than in other bodies because reacting Immediately
upon the body itself Thus far no single recommenda-
tOn made by the American Association has fallen power
less They have both done positive good and averted
postive evil
naturally desire to emulate them aud the spirit Of
imitation is second nature. We pre- to think that
what is wei done and successfully oy others We should
prove our own ability to do and that omission is
fesson Of inability.
These remarks 1 do not at all apply to cases where
means furnished by public or private munfcerce
the question merely to direct plan Of operations
We assuredy to advantage direct the researches Of
others by suggesting what s desirable to do, how
1t should be done If experiments on the change of
level Of the sediments Of rivers aud estua
res and the like, desired by geologists If special
collections are desired by naturalist and there are pub
lie works to which these matters appropriately belong
private individuals who desire to see them carried
through, this association ID very proper body to sug
gest the observations and to furnish instructions
For these publications am Of opinion that we have
We have consumed more than the supply of the year
furnish and will at least when thrown upon the
dainty supplied than hitherto stnl while our gather
iDgs numerous now and similarly constituted,
there will be interesting matter and to spare Matters
in progress will be brought before the full results Of
which will be published elsewhere.
But have any papers or memoirs been actually pro-
duced by these meetings, which would not without it.
had be- brought before the public! OF this enter
tain not the least doubt. Indeed, know many which,
without the OF preparation for these meetings.
would not have the light OF which, ia fact
could not appropriately have been brought forward else
where The desire to add to the interest of the meet
Des has been powerful stimulus TO exertion part
of many This will continue, perhaps intermittingy;
but as localities change aud new members attend the
mt etings the average may remain nearly constant.
Pap, have been produced and will BE- produced which
otherwise might not have appeared We posted up,
making in natural ply sical msthems deal science.
Cambridge and New Haven meetings at which ply
natural apa hepv and i'e s,peesy aeo"sy
geology and its kindred branches Each character
lied by communication Of very hs ord,r Of Interest,"
each ting is distinctly characterized the part Of
the country in which II held: each exceent in
its way exhibiting ike own Union) unity in diver
siv.
For the good effect from our meeting on local science
app, nj to those who have been with
since the new organization. We know thA such good
has resulted. We point TO those who have found
motives to research in attending meetings We
point to institution founded and endowed In
pert through our action cp public sentiment. May we
be able at distant day to also say another witch
IL ornament TO the last noble city where
bed that IT, too. has been endowed In consequence
least in part q our influence. There some subjects
which only asfociston like this competent to Crap
and meaures and tbs scales Of barometer aud thermo
meter and the prime meridian Of this kind There
s no other scientific body to int out explanations
dcistle TO be made on land water 20 suggest systems
nded meteorological observations plans Of surveys
geographical. geological or others.
Congress. after changing the money standard a.
gulstrg the coinage seems have stopt.d short AMI
After long agitation of the of the STANDARD Of
weights and measures 10 have left IT, in very wcariuess
The whole Effort towards uniformity has simply been to
prepare material standards Of quality according with the
4, mands q the science OF the day-poundA yaris.
bushels and gallons conforming 70 the general average
these in common use, aud derived from England and
putting aside innovato la the commonly received
units. their mutples sub multipes 4 have bsen
erntif,d TO see spirit Of inquiry on this subject alive
the members believing that nowhere can essen
tial changes reforms IN the whole syst.m BE- more
fairly powerfully disc used than here An individual.
ubloss perhaps some leading legislator who would pro-
charges st this time n country this subject
would but waste his time and his logic The
d,tsImiEed in Cincinnati fix time for the discuss
on OF this subject at the present meeting Closely con-
nected with IL the regulation of tn various scales
with instrumet u. which depend on the unit of
length measure, arbitrary scales. l hope 60 see a
time set apart at this some subsequent meeting for