Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-06

The business of the evening session, at hnlf-past
o'clock, is to listen to paper from Dr. ROBERT HARE
In section paper the different astronomical
methods Of determining the longitude by Lieut. c. II.
DAVIS, was read by Prof LOWERING
Mr.. BOND read paper on the determination of the
longitude of the Observatory at Cambridge from the
chronometrc expeditions of the Coast Survey
This gave rise to numerous questions from members
and many calculations from Mr.. Bond.
Then followed the longitude of America determined
by moon culminatons. by Prof d. Peirce.
Prof PIERCE commenced by apologspg for the title of
his paper which referred to particular place. but to
the character Of the position the science Of this country
compelled to by the perseverance of Gov
ernment in tying to little island the ocean,
and making us subservient as it were to the Observa
tory OF Greenwich After most discriminating and
learned analysis of the various plans Of finding long
tudes Prof Perce concluded that the most yet
known is that by the chronometric method.
Much interest elected by the description of
instrument for facilitating the projection Of great circle
routes in CHARTS and finding by inspection the
and distance, by Prof. W. CHAUvESET.
1t wonder Of simplicity and efficiency Prof Perce
lcompmented Prof Chauvenet in having we'll supplied
what he himself had long tried to invent but in vain
| The section then adjourned.
The meeting, at halfpast o'clock on Tuesday even
ing, occupied in hearing address from Dr. ROBERT
HARE the subject of storms Afterwards the associa
tion complied with the invitation of W. W. CoRcoRAN,
Esq, and visited him at his residence
SIXTH DAY.
The sections met at 10 o'clock A. NJ from their ad
ournmen yesterday and commenced business Section
presided over by Lieut.. MAURY, and Section by
Prof w. B. ROGERS. In Section a proposition was
offered subdvide the section which length dis
to be out of its power under the constitution
GENERAL MEETING.
The association then called to order in general
meeting Prof. DANA in the chair. On the recommended
ton of the Standing Committee, Section was subd
vded into two sections; the first being astronomy
and physics the second meteoroogy and technology
The general meeting then adjourned to meet again at
hafpast o'clock and receive the report Of the commit
4 tee on the revision of the constitution.
The sections then resumed their stngs, with Section
sub-dvided the third section being presided over by
Lieut.. Col. w. H. EMORY.
! In Section the first paper was from Lieut.. j. NJ.
GILLIss, the Astronomical Expedition to Chill After
it had been read, motion of Lieut.. COFFIN, it was
agreed that the section suggest the standing committee
recommend the association to acknowledge its sense OF
the beraty and zeal of the Chian Government in be-
half Of astronomical science.
Prof. GOULD read paper of Lieut.. SCHoTTs on the
1 tidal currents around Long Island.
| Mr. g. C. SCHEFFER described new form Of electrical
machine in which succession of sparks or continuation
of electrical excitement could be kept up indefinitely
with the most trhng exerton of power 1t seems to be
| ingenious and valuable.
Notes on new electro-chronometric method, by DR..
WoLcoTT H GIBBS, was read by Lieut.. HUNT.
The discussion Of the subject highly interesting,
and showed that divisions of time may be recorded TO
perhaps the twohousandth part of second This pre-
is not to be looked for by the use of the human
senses as the media of observation, but through efre
gistering Instruments which areee from personal equa
and the liabilities to from the circumstances
attendant on the phenomenon of vision.
| Lieut. HUNT read description OF the United States
Coast Survey apparatus for measuring base lines BY
comparisons Of results of the abors of various basene
determinations in different countries it is claimed that
for accuracy and expedition united yet approach
that Of the Coast Survey The methods used such
to give linear results comparatively precise thar
angular Hitherto the instrumental means for de
termng angles have been deemed superior in point Of
curacy to those for finding distances this is now ne
longer the case
Prof CoAKLAY asked if any of the base lines
by the Coast Survey had been verified by reversing thu
measurement?
Lieut. Hunt replied that this had been done at least foi
part Of the distance, and estimated for the rest.
! Quite animated discussion this subject,
which concluded by an adjournment till o'clock.
| On re-assembng, Section took up in its order
An account Of Cloverden Observatory and the Shelby
Kentucky College Equatorial, by Prof GOULD, jr and
Prof JOS WINLoCK This instrument appears to be one
of unusual excellence Its obectglass is nearly eight
inches in diameter and is of singular if not unequaed
for cearness and freedom from rbubbes and other
| imperfections.
Prof PIERCE bore testimony to the excellence of this
glass; and thought it had no superior in the world The
beraty of Shelby College in permitting its transfer
from place to place for the purposes of science merits the
acknowledgment of the section.
Prof MAURY thought so beautiful glass would offer
superior opportunities for daguerreoyping the He
had recently examined daguerreotype OF hat lumlnary
by Whippe of Boston, which had surprised him for its
Cinueness Of deneation In particular he noted the
representation of conical mountain beautifully shown
and furnishing suggestions better than deryable
from the telescopes.
Prof PIERCE in further remarking the superiority
of the Shelby College Equatorial said that it had been
submitted to Prof Agassix, who had told him professor
Perce that it exhibited objects in the he would
not say what they were) never observed before.
The next paper by Lieut.. MAuRY on the basin of
the Atlantic. Some interesting facts developed
Thus in sounding for the bottom of the deep the
line will always out after the lead weight has
reached the bottom This undoubtedly owing to strong
at those depths Reference made to the
the Atlantic with view to ascertain the practicaby
of submarine telegraph Lieut. Maury thinks the sea
shaower further north than where this line OF soundngs
made and better for the purpose North of the banks
Of Newfoundland the depth only about two miles,
whilst south and of them to at least five thou
sand thoms These greatest depths are free from sand
and Debris and give up their material earth COM
posed OF sea shells
Prof BAcaE said the bottom at these depths may be
said to consist of infusoral mud IL was remarkable
that the from these depths did show the pre-
sence Of infusoria.
Prof. PIERCE remarked than when quantity of the
AgassE and pronounced to contain nothing noteworthy
he replied, " Can you see nothing here? Do you not
perceive that the coating surface Of these particles
and the other proves that the depths wherein they
laid were undisturbed?"
The next paper read was by Lieut.. HUST, the ma
of forces This paper very abstruse involving
questions in the highest department of the mathematics
The paper by the youngest contributor of the
session. officer Of the navy, Mr. o. @. BADGER, on a