The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-03
NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION.
American Association for the
Advancement Of Science.


Advancement OF Science.
Special Report or the New York Herald.
THIRD DAY. GENERAL SESSION.
CLEVELAND, July 80, 1858.
The association thus far has done large amount
of hard work in very short time. The session
rooms have been densely crowded all the time while
every possible moment of time seems to have beer
appropriated by those present in the presentation
the papers to be read. There seems disposition tt
make the session matter Of business only, and tc
rush it through at the earliest possible period as
every man wished to leave, if possible, in thirty
hours This is Objectionable, from the fact that II
crowds too much important business into q mere
nook Of time, making it impossible to do justice tc
any Of the papers read, in the way of criticism
Everything is hurried through on the "fast line, >
and woe be to the hiudmost. The consequence i:
that as soon as the very prominent members ge
through their business they will rather summarily
close the proceedings, and leave for some more at
fractive spot They all work as if they wished
to get away. l have no doubt that this i,
partly attributed to the fact that as yet, n
so~ee has been given by any citizen at which
the members could interchange courteses. This
Is the third day, and as yet we have heard no
intimation OF one This peculiar to the West;
Tor at the Cincinnati session there not one sin
gle social entertainment given to the association.
the hospitality proverbal to the West, and espe-
ciay as it has bsen the custom at all the sessions
East for some prominent citizen or member of the
association to give reception for nearly every even
ing of the session. At New Haven, Prof. Shepherd,
Prof Salisbury, the Mayor, and Mr.. Hllhouse, gave
delightful evening entertainments. At Albany the
same was done by Gov. Hunt and many other promi-
nent citizens. The same was done at Charleston
SC. mention this, because am convinced that
the good feeling and determination excited by these
occasions have decided tendency in satisfying gen.
tlemen and ladies with their temporary sojourn, and
consequently in greater benefits from the associa-
ton's meetings, OF which one very particular pur-
pose is to cultivate friendly relations and good un-
derstanding with all those who cultivate science
among us Americans, and that we are particularly
anxious to have attentions shown u.s. al
though they may be hollow, false, and
heartless 1t shows what might be.
The weather is still delightful; but Cleveland being
bank Of dust, the whole city is from morning till
night enveloped in cloud of dust. 1t is, however,
cloudy just now, and presume that when another
meteoroogical paper comes up, and see that Mr..
1t may be that some Of the doctors of the upper ee
ment will favor US, by way Of illustration, by calling
down glorious shower. 1t would certainly be far
more convincing to US all, and far more satisfactory
The business of the general session this morning
was brief and to the point. AS the first thing the
following members were elected -
Philatus Dean Allegheny City.
r. E. Hunter, Columbus, o.
E. Lane. NJ. D.. Sandusky, O..
0. H. Fitch, Ashtabula o.
DR.. Kelly, Elyria, o.
Thomas Barlow, Canastola, NY.
NJ G. Read, Hudson. 0.
Salem Town, Aurt ra, Y.
David Thomas,
Mr.. Adamson, (late President University of Cape
OF Good Hope Cambridge, Mass.
G. R. Stuntz, Lancaster.
Dr. A. D. Lord, Columbus, O.
W. whippie Adrian, Mich.
VIM Broas A. NJ editor Daily Democrat, Chi
Ha T@: r. Humphrey, New Haven.
Dr.. Josiah Hall, New Orleans.
DR.. Howard Smith, i"
Prof James Jones, 4"
Prof. VIM. p. Rddell, {"
As several gentlemen Of the Standing Committee
mittee nominated the following gentlemen to the
Standing Committee Of the General Association,
who were elected clue Uoce, on motion -
Prof James Hall, Albany.
j. Lawrence Smith, Washington.
O. NJ. Mitchell, Cincinnati.
DR.. Benz. A. Gould, Cambridge.
Invitations were now given by various gentlemen
to the association for its next meeting.
Prof HENRY proposed Washington, and all the
facilities which the Smithsonian Institution could fur
nish. He was supported by Prof BACHE, Conn.,
WILKES and Prof COFFIN, Of the National Observa-
tory.
Prof CAswELL proposed Providence, and proffered
the rooms of Brown University, and all necessary
courtesies and attentions.
Hon. WMMiTCHELL proposed that the next meet
ing be held at Nantucket, Mass. 1t will be reco-
lected that Mr. Mitchell he's private observatory in
that little island city, which has been very servcea
BILE to science in his own hands, with the aid Of his
daughter.
The association now adjourned, as yesterday, into
Section B. Of Natural History, &C., was organized,
with Prof: Riddel, of New Orleans, as President
when the following papers were read. As none Of
them are popular in their nature, give merely their
titles
"On the Formation and Mode of Development of
the Renal Organs in Vertebrata."-By DR.. WI. Bur
nett OF Boston.
"On the Formation and Functions of the Allan
tois by DR.. w. Burnett Of Boston.
"On the Parallclism Of the Lower Silurian Groups
Of Middle Tennessee with those of New York."-By
Prot. j. M. Stafford, of Lebanon, Tenn
The main idea Of this paper was that in the silu-
rian group of Tennessee facts had proven that as
they could divide the strata into two general groups
1t was impossible to adopt the subdivision known in
the same general series of New York.
"On the Binoculir Microscope.n-By Prof. j. l..
Riddgll, of New Orleans.
"0n Warwickite or Boro. .Tilamte and Danbu-
ite."-By Prot. J. Lawrence Smith.
SECTION A-PHYsIoAL AND MATHEMATICAL
The session opened with Prof. Caswell of ,.or,.,
University, in the chair The first pape was ono
laid over yesterday, as follows:-- = vas 0n'
"On the Earthquake Of April 20 ,sson-Rv Lorin
Blodget, Of Washington. ioo- A''
After the reading Of this Prof. BAouE asked what
son;a - trument sentby the Smith
SVI,. p~nfosaor Upnn. Lieut.. Gillis, in Chill.
proSoesn ~ said that il was not successful.
..ss rIVessoa y JFrIN said that Lieutenant G.. had
sup,n'ea loher apparatus, which, though not en-
Lrey sa siactoTy, better than that sent by the
Emitnse, ,nian Institution.
MI. REDFIELD stated some observations of his upon
earthquakes. The directions of motions were uni
formy in one direction The place was probably
far from the iiot or scene of disturbance. The
ing of suspended bodies during the earthquake.
Professor CAswELL mentioned that in earth
quake that nearly destroyed the town of Conception
waves If two or three feet had been described
ming up and down the mountain.
Prof HENRY stated that it was one OF the import
ant objects of the Smithsonian Institution to COLLECT
reliable data of natural phenomena. ard to present