The New York herald., 1851-08-26

NOT share but believe on the contrary that decline
30 to do do not to the clear measure Of
duty When the opinion Of the association Il sought II
should feariessly frankly, but carefully be given The
not 1t for avoiding the task Instead of stating
in the approved formulary that it gives opinion,
would have 1t guide opinion by forming its own mature
conclusions and giving them when desired with all the
weight Of its authority.
Whether the association should be the arbitsr of que,
tons Of priority occurring between its members is much
more doubtful in my mind It would be OF great value
to scientific men to have such questions which unhappy
olen arise carefully and dispassonaely settled When
both parties desire the arbitremen think 1t should be
assumed as less evil than that Of avoiding decision
course rgidy to exclude all questions in which
case the association decides that there is no tribunal for
SUCH and desires its members to appeal to the public
At the last annual meeting the President OF the year
before called upon to prepare code Of scientific
this subject in his address. Let hope that he will
contribute this code which, like reputable msn under
the civil code will endeavor to live without violating
not considering il law given to compel US TO right but
rather as line far within which we VIII walx -
effect on the individual members we might claim them
relaxation from severe labor as an agr eeaoie ate
lecusl resort not to the results o. the day ana not
tia intellectual benefits to others, well as TO
selves
That these meetings are in the individual intercourse
which they bring about intellectually morally beneficial
ia certain The intellect is excited by such inter-
course the heart expanded Freedom and nkness
Of discussion and the interchange Of views and friendly
criticism have marked the meetings. Ii there have been
exceptions, the shock that produced, has recalled
better feelings better judgment. 1t is certainly
that far mans researches and discoveries com
prehensibe in his day he receives full credit for them
especially if he ask little and is patient Contention
about priority contention at all Is general rule uo
necessary where becomes personal it dgusts and re-
acts against him who INDUCES in the person Atty 1t Is
difficult avoid controversy but If obviously forced on
one the defence finds itself strong in sympathy We
have Dot been without examples Of the good effect of sub
mtng scientific discussion and decison pretcnsons
the reality of which the author did not and could no
doubt, but which had been doubted by others Wha
triumph greater than that of Cincinnati brother
when the committee of the Association reported SO
strongly in Of his admirable method OF recording
right ascensions and decinations. Truth triamphed
through his love for 1t. ,
American method Of observing is adopted at Greenwich
The contribution by whomsosver made by, ho~ev,r
many shared contribution TO the glory OF the coun
try The generous award OF credit to country by
this by the illus lrous astronomer OF 0reenwich-
is honorable to him than to US Let Us show
ourselves worthy Of the spirit, by sinking all personal
views in general contribution to the American method
If the association is worth anything 1t should b. ads
quats to this result. Let it be the test
To our meetings, each member brings his coatriou.
tons gathered from the land or the the earth the air.
the heavens the pir-each lays his Offering the
altar of truth How little when under the influence Of
this spirit contentious for special lines OF re-
search the in special pursuits the covetous
desire to enter particular PATH ths determu alton to
jose the voary. who Is following it, rather than to oc
cupy exclusively. The realm is boundless the paths
is wide Let there not be conen-
ton brother between thee and let there be rather
agenerous and urging forward each OF the oher
generous sympathy let find our zeal kep. alive by
association and show that the bond OF scientific bro
the faith which profess in time and Of our hopes
in eternity.
VISIT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION TO
CITY OF TROY.
Troy, Thursdsy, q o'clock.
At nine o'clock this morning the members of the
association assem- bled at the Old Elm Tree, State
street, Albany, where two omniOuses, and up
wards Of forty carriages, were provided to convey
them to Troy, to accept the invitation kindly ex-
tended towards them by the Common Council Of
this city. Several of the members were accompa-
MED by ladies, and the whble party amounted to
upwards of two hundred aud twenty. Having
been duly arranged by DIR. Marsh, to whose admir-
able arrangement the company are greatly in
debted, the carriages proceeded en- route to Troy.
On arriving at the Rural Cemetery, We drove
through all its windings, and passed about an hour
admirpg its beautiful yet mournful mementos Of
Il he dead. This cemetery is remarkably well laid
ut; it is pic turesque and rural, and occupies
20 acres. On leaving this we proceeded to the
Arsenal, at Troy, where we were joined by his
Excelency Governor Hunt, and where we found
General Wool and his staf already before US. Both
his Exceilency and the General we're received with
separate salutes of artillery.
Lieut. Colonel Baker, the Commandant, received
the company with much courtesy, and had wine
and other ref eshments provided for the association.
The other officers attached to the Arsenal, who
assisted in administering tae hospitaities OF the
Commander, are Captain Comstock (Paymaster),
Lieutenant Symmens. and Lieutenaat Crispin.
The whole appearance OF the Arsenal reflects the
highest credit on the officers Having partaken
of the Inequalities and courtesy OF Colonel BAKER
the association proceeded to the Rensselaer, insti-
tue where, in order to combine business with plea
sure they with their discussion of several
scien :iGc subjects, the President Of the Society
Professor Agassiz) in the chair. Governor Hunt,
General Wool, and Lieut.. Colonel Baker, were
accom- modated with seats on the platform.
At the request Of the President, (Protessor Agas-
siz y prayer was offered by DR.. Potter.
1he PRESIDENT then said-Thst through the
Kindness of the Corporation Of Albany, and the
Rensselaer, Institute, the association had to-day
assembled here. 1t was natural that TINS institute
projected for an extensive cultivation Of science,
should express its sympathy with the association,
and offer lis halls for the meeting Did time per-
init, it would afford me pleasure to pay lengthy
tribute to the memory Of Its honored fyander.
A list of new members read. The commit
tee, on examination Of Mr.. Lymans telescope, was
directed 70 examine and report on stand for
telescope exhibited BY mr. simmons, Haoa. and 'ae
On behalf Of the standing committee, Professor
Wm y. RODGERS moved the appointment oil a
committee to examine and report on Spencer
microscopes. lie added, that Mr.. >. has Well
merited not only the thanks and este, ,m OF his
scientific country men, but of scientific men through
out the world Professors Bailey, OF West Point,
To-rey of New loIk, Smith, OF Louisiana, DR..
Burnett, of Boston, and Clarke, were nominated
The lr.t of seven papers, to be read here this
roorning. was presented by Prot. HENRY, "Ol
some Phenomena bearing on Electrical Theory"
When phenomena occur, We ask Tor Their % causes; uses
and IL these cannot be determined, we refer the N
TO ETHEREAL agency-as in heat, galvanism, *; Ihe
rresont tendency any science, is to refer paeno-
mspa 10 some one general principle. ln the domain
AZ the science under consideration. th,re - no.
known any general principle-no absolute scientih;
kuowledge. Perhaps it is better sometimes 70 use
tneories as We are here obliged 20 do, insteat OF
absolute truth. IL has been said, and II is prool
blv true, "that the whole universe IS bat one
Thought Of the infinite mind" Perhaps it might
he expressed in single line, bat it could no, be
comprehended by us. Prof. ii. proceeded to re-
marx ON light, electricity, AM magnetism, showing
POT AeAssrz now addressed the association,
feYtemporaneously, as he slsays does,) "Oa