The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-31
American Association for the
Advancement OF Science.


CLEVELAND, Ohio, August %, 1853.
After long and fatiguing journey we are landed
safely in the beautiful city Of Cleveland We encoun-
tered the usual accidents only running over one
COW, throwing off the locomotive near Oswsgo, and,
finally, getting into Buffalo Just one hour after the
sailing Of the steamer. This was compensated,
however, by q ride to Niagara, whom, finding it i'm
possible TO get SO much as footing and respect
able dinner in the crowded hotels, we retraced our
steps to Buffalo, and took the fine steamer Crescent
City. shall have occasion hereafter TO speak Of
this truly magnifsent vessel, as she has made but
seven trips and Is, in my estimation the most beau
tiul, well arranged, and best appointed vessel that
have ever seen on the Lakes or the Sound.
Among other distinguished gentlemen who came
over with US, were exPresident Fillmore and Hon.
Judge Hall. They are here to attend the meeting Of
the association, and it is said will urge that its next
session be held at Buffalo. The late President is
looking much better than ever saw him. and moves
quietly and unostentatousy through the crowd that
presses around him. as IL he had never received an
honor, or been at all distinguished from his more or
dnary countrymen around him. Letting politics
take the long sleep to which the late eleston SO un-
mistakably pointed, it is beautiful and suggestive
to see the old warehouses put on the harness Of
science, and strive in that nober race that crowns
the victor real beneactor to the great brotherhood
Of man.
This city is one of the great evidences Of Western
civilization and progress. But few years since she
numbered but couple of thousand souls. She now
has population reaching So 900. No city in Anne
rica has pre,tier locality, heathfu climate,
better schools intelligent Of citizens.
Society has peculiarly the New England cast, with
1lnfN Epr1 ,ra
stands open TO all. Every man seems to have his
own establishment, does business on his own &C
count, and reaps the profits himself Thus, more
than in any city that have seen every man in the
community has competence-is independent. Mo-
nopoly has not crushed labor, and wealth has not
been the instrument of ensaving the people. ven
ture the assertion that class OF cities in any coun-
try has ever proved more fonrshing than those on
the Western lakes-a fact attributable I have no
doubt, to that general and wide spread intelligence
pervading the generally unknown and unn0ticed
masses OF society, which has enabled them to seize
the ever abundant productive elements of the coun
try, and mould them into wealth and power The
aIris pure it is at Newport or any of the famed
hrong points of the East, the weather cool and de-
lghtful the mercury at 81, and everything indica-
tive Of pleasant meeting of the association.
As the meeting Of an association like this is mat
ter OF great importance, viewed as the index to the
progress of the country and the times in the sciences
and the arts you will, know indulge in slight
review OF its rise progress and present condition,
pecially as it now embraces and long has, in its
membership all of the distinguished savans in this
country, and many from Europe.
The American Association for the Advancement
of Science was projected in Boston, in 1Sd7, and
grew out Of the old Association of American tAno-
gsts and Naturalists,n then in session. The latter
association formed in 1s4o, by twenty-five gen.
tlemen, whore names are as follows:-
Prof Lewis Beck, Pest Ed Hitchcock,
Prof j G. Booth Bella Hubbard,
Charles Brgg-. Jr., Ed, DR.. =: aoughton.
DR.. NJ Ii Boyc Dr.. Charles T. Jackson, .
4. A. Conrad Esq, Prof W. r. johnson, (dec)
Pfof f. Emrcps, w. W. Mather,
Tr w. Horton. Alex Mckinley.
c. j. HAYDEN, E'q., Prof. Henry Rogers,
Prof. James C Hail Pref. f. 1geIe,
5. w Roberts, G. B. Tregc.
Il G. Taylor, Lardner vanuxem (dec'il
This small band Of pioneers laborej faithfully, and
held meetings each year in different eastern cities,
until in 1s47 at the time of the meeting in Boston,
the association numbered four hundred and sixty
ore members; among whom we find very nearly all
of the distinguished personages who before and since
that period have figured in the scientific circles Of
this country.
This association after resolving itself into the new
ass ociaion, determined TO hold the first annuameetng
in Philadelphia, on the goth Of September, IS4S in
the Academy Of Natural Sciences. The meeting was
constituted by Professor William B. Rogers OF Nir-
ginia, who the chairman Of the last meeting Of
the Association Of Biologists, &c The constitution
submitted by the committee appointed at Boston,
adopted, and large number Of letters read from
gentlemen who had been addressed by the commit
sociation, and many sent papers for reading and
publication. The organization was thus encouraged
by nearly all of the great minds of the country.
After this, Professor Rogers introduced to the As
scciation Wm c. Rcdiield, Esq, OF New York,
who had been elected first President Of the associa
tion at Boston. Professor Walter r. johnson had
been elected first local Secretary, and Prof. Jeffrcs
Wyman, Treasurer. Thus organized the association
heard a list OF valuable papers, many of them from
the ablest gentlemen of the country. believe that
this was the first meeting at which Mr.. Agassiz ap-
rearcd, as he had just then came to this country
from his temporary soouin in Great Britain The
association published at this meeting but a small
volume, l5G pages, containing, however, most yalu-
able papers,
cannot forbear alluding just here to the founder
Of the old ssociation Of Biologists and Naturasts,
Prot. Lardner Vanuxem, now deceased. A native OF
Pennsylvania he was edu ated at the School of Mines
in France, and made the first State geological survey
Of North Carolina. His whole life was devoted to
science, and his whole country He was one OF
q sma band who had at an early day pro-
duced geological survey Of New York, with
maps and descriptions, which commanded the admi
ration OF the world lie was associated with Colonel
Long in first inducing tbs Legislature of Pennsylva-
MA 10 authorize geological survey. The geological
survey OF New York was commenced in 1888. at
the close OF each season OF field labor and one or
two occasions at the commencement OF the summer
laboIs. all engaged in the survey met, by arrange
Inent at Albany Tor the purpose OF comparing notes
and mutually aiding end instructng each other. At
the close of the second year the great want Of some
authoiiHtu stoioEietu "onASH0laono ma9 Sciioi'y
felt, particularly as was found that the same rock
was well developed in two or more districts Of the
State and consequently some language must be devils
cd for their description identity and distinction They
he'd 10 means OF communicating with their COLA
boTors in foreign lands So in the autumn OF 1888
Professor Nanu&em proposed that an invitation be
extended to the geologsts Of Pennsylvania and Vir
gnia, particularly, to join them, and that The
invitation be extended TO other States, to meet in
Philadelphia for the purpose OF devising and Adopt
ing geological nomenclature which might be
acceptable to all those then engaged in the State
surveys and thus become the nomenclature of
American geology. The first meeting was to
have taken place in 1885, but for want of concur
renee in those thus widely separated, it was not
accomplished until lS40. This was the first meeting
of the old association noticed above.
give, q matter Of general interest, the time,
place and officers of the American Association for
the Advancement OF Science;--
First Meetipg--Ph' fttNia, 2eptember, 1S4s VIM. c.
RedfeId Pre.fdert: GhIer II. johnson, Local Se-