Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-29

ing depression west; matter which had not yet been
determined to his knowledge by experiment To
for the anomaly the unique idea thrown out that
of the mountains there was in certain directions of tho
wind an accumulation of air and therefore Of atmo-
spheric pressure constituting sort of recast Of the
| atmosphere, similar to the Andes.
Professor BLoDGEr ascrbed the anomaly mentioned to
| increased temperature
Mr. CHANDLER confirmed the facts mentioned by Lieut.
MAURY from phenomena observed by him I'll Paso.
He had found much assistance in the aneurod barometer
Lieut. MAURY thought the aneuroid useful as diffe-
rental instrument but quite unreliable for general pur
poses
Professor BAoHE had found by much experience that,
constructed the aneuroid was extremely unreliable
instrument. He did not seem to think it incapable of
being made much more serviceable than at present.
Some msapprehenson and disappointment having been
experienced by members in not being called for their
papers according their printed programme Professor
j. L. SMITH explained the manner Of its occurrence,
which through of the clerk, who had not
copied the papers in the order intended by the standing
committee ...
The next subject brought before the section was by
Professor SMITH the inverted microscope, with re-
marks the illumination Of microscopical objects This
is surprisingly ingenious instrument and appeared ad
mraby calculated for the purposes Of the chemist in his
most difficult manipnlations and inquiries. The remarks
of Professor s. abounded in recondte scientific facts and
the instrument he explained itself just object Of
admiration.
charts registering the results of observations made by
survey officers at the three Pacific points of San
Diego, San Francisco and Astoria, touching the durna
inequalities of the tides there. OF much inter-
esing evidence educed Two facts only Of popular
interest notice, namely, that of the two di
urnal tides one very much smaller than the other SO
as almost to make it appear that there is but one tide
day. The other fact is that whilst the Atlantic coast
the tide rolls in almost parallel direction with the
trend of the coast the Pacific it comes in nearly
perpendicular direction Before concluding Prof. b.
mentioned in complimentary thelabors of Lieut.
Trowbrdge, of the United States Navy, in connexion
with this subject
Lieut.. Col W. H. EMORY then read paper the lon
gtdes Of Frontera FL Paso, and San Eleazaro, on the
Rio Grande, resulting in the determination of cardinal
point of the boundary survey. Besides the precise de-
terminatons of longitude stated in this paper it was
valuable for showing the inaccurate condition Of the lunar
tables and the necessity for their correction COL Emory
also alluded to the handsome in which manuscript
tables many months in advance of their being printed
had been furnished the Boundary Commission by the Br
tsh Observatory at Greenwich. He also expressed his
Acknowledgements of the kindness Of Lieut.. MAURY, of
the United States National Observatory in providing the
Commission with the polar distances of the sets of stars
they made use of in their determinations.
Prof. PIERCE compimented the results obtained as
being could be had by any theory
now attainable.
Prof BAcHr took the opportunity further to remark
in reference the courteous beray Of the Astronomer
Royal of Great Britain, that lie always ready to fur
nish facilities and that too, in precisely such form
was requisite. 1t was therefore but right that such
beraity be acknowledged by this association He there
fore offered the following resolution, and moved that it
which adopted unanimously:
Rcsoired That the American Association for the Advance
of Science offer to G. B. AIRy ESQ., Astronomer Royal
Britain their Acknowledgements for his repeated
kinds furnishing the results Of observations the Greon
wch Observatory to officers of the Government and other
of science OF the United States
Prof BAcHE further remarked that not only had Prof
Airy furnished these facilities from Greenwich observa-
tory but had given orders to the astronomers at the Cape
of Good Hope and other British branch observaories
supply what should be asked from them also.
ELL -, 49, e,&an
fered by bodies falling through the atmosphere.
Prof. PIERCE read paper from Mr. John M. Batchel-
der on the electric properties Of whalebone rubber
Prof REDFIELD read paper on the Brandon Tornado,
Ohio, in last January, by Prof. 0. N. SToDDARD
The same read paper of his own, illustrated by dia
grams the Cape Verde and Hatteras hurricane and
other storms
Prof REDFIELD's theory is that the hurricane here
referred had its birth in Northern Africa passed
wardy, and raversed the Atlantic ocean, skrting the
American coast and passing off enthusiastically.
After he had concluded Prof. HARE rose and dame
trcally dssented from the theory Of Mr. Redfed and
those who argue with him. Prof HARE thought the facts
stated by Prof Redfed initiated against his theory, and
that nothing had yet appeared in any degree
going to justify the hypothesis The orbitua and grav
tatiDg given by Redfed, Reid, and Puddngton
have nothing in nature whereon to ground themselves
and Prof HARE insisted, in almost too decided
that their views ilusory. The theory given by men
of true science who had considered this subject they had
disregarded Heat and electricity adequate
and sufficient to explain the phenomena of storms, but
upon these they had turned their backs Prof
HARE concluded by urging the utter hostility Of the orb
tual and gravitatng theory to the laws of nature
The paper rather lecture to the section "the d
urnal motion of the earth in accordance with its
ganic structure" by Mr. A. OSBORN rather took the
association by surprise, and not concluded the
adjournment of the section. 1t will not probably be
resumed.
SECTION B, engaged on Geology, Chemistry, and Ma
tura History occupied the Electrical Room adjoining the
Lecture Hall.
The first paper in this section the American patent
SYSTEM and its relations to science, especially to chem
cal science, by DR.. L. D. GALE, of the Patent Office.
interesting conversation in which Prof HARE and others
participated
The following papers were read in order, of
which, as will be perceived, of profoundly scientific
CASTE and others Ineligible to the popular mind
On the use of hydrogen gas to dspace sulphuretted
hydrogen in the analysis Of mineral waters by Prof w.
B. ROGERS
On the cleavage and other effects caused by trap dykes
in the middle secondary rocks Of Virginia, by Prof W.
b. ROGERS.
Notice Of peculiar variety of camel coal from Breck-
inridge county, Kentucky, by Prof B. SILLIMAN, jr
On a number of mineral species, by I. s. HUNT, of
the Geological Survey Of Canada. Ill.,. -.
Illustrations of chemical homologies by T. s. HUNT,
Of the Geological survey Of Canada
Decomposition Of water at the ordinary temperature
by an alloy Of zinc and antimony, with description of
new process Of procuring hydrogen, by josiah P.
COOKE, jr.
Notice of some mprints which have recently been
observed in the sandstone strata the quares in Port
land, Connecticut, with some remarks this formation
on the Atlantic coast Of the United States by JOHN
JOHNSTON Professor Natural Sciences Wesleyan Unver-
sity, Middletown Connecticut.
Brief outline general description of a remarkable