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


evening in generameeting when Professor B. Sill
LIMAs, Jr read paper the question as to whether
is the coke Of btuminous coal?
Lieut. GILLIss read apaper earthquakes in Chill.
FOURTH DAY.
Saturday being deend too inclemen for the intended
trip to Mount Vernon the Association met and conduct
ed business usual Professor FRANKLIN BAcHE, who
was appointed Frilay Chairman of Section for
the following meeting, took the chair accordingly on
Saturday.
The following are mong the articles read in Section A.
An account Of sorm that passed over Connecticut,
August /, 1851, by Irof. JOHN BRocKLEsBY.
On the distribution of temperature in and the
Gulf Stream, of the oast of the United States from OBJ
servations made in he Coast Survey, by A. d. BAcHE
Superintendent Coas Survey.
Results of Investigations respecting the double
comet of giela by Prof EuDBAnD of the National obser
vatory.
Suggestion relative to the observation Of the annuar
eclipse Of the of May 26, 1854 by STEPHEN ALEX
ANDER.
In Section B, over which Professor WIN. d. ROGERS
presided the following among the papers read viz
sketch of the general geological structure of country
in connexion with the United States Boundary Commits
sion, by G. c. PARRY, D., being collation. of all the
collections and observations made under the direction of
Lieut.. Col. Emory during the past five years
Remarks upon the geological formation Of the country
along the line of the boundary survey based upon the
examination of Dr. Perry, made under the order OF Maj
Emery, by JAMES HALL
On the chemical relations of odors, and their employ
ment as tests, by GHo. c. ScHZFFER.
Life in its physicist aspects by CHAs. GIRARD
THE EVENING SESSION was held in general meeting,
when the Association listened to euogum the late
eminent and able astronomer and mathematician SEARS
C. WALKER by Prof B. A. GOULD, Of Cambridge, Mass.
The following the gentlemen to whom the Associa-
ton have confded the duty Of taking for the
observation Of the annular eclipse the 18th of May
next, viz:
Professors Bache, Peirce, Alexander, Keeley, Snel
Loomis, Chauvenet, Bond Gibbs, Coffin; Leuts. Davis
Maury Henry Doctors Gould, Leconte Messrs. Frazer
Barnard Mitchell, and Barstow.
The Association on Monday carried out its purpose of
making visit to Mount Vernon, board the steamer
George Washington. At the White House the standing
committee had provided collation., to which we hear
ample justice was done by the party. The association
did not 20 ashore at Alexandria and thus its citizens
missed the pleasure of exercising their weknown hos
pitalty
FIFTH DAY.
Tuesday morning the Association to order at 10
O'clock in general meeting, Prof j. D. DANA in the
chair.
communication was received from President Way
LAND of Browne University and the city Of Providence
inviting the association to make that city the place OF its
next annual meeting. The invitation from the Faculty
of Georgetown College was respectfully declined. Eve
believe there is probability the decnation will be
considered.
dates for membership After the general meeting Of this
evening was determined to accept the invitation Of w.
w. CoRooRAN, Esq, to visit him at his mansion. !
The association then divided into sections In section
A paper was read by Prof NoRToN comets.
The paper was the distribution Of temperature
in and the Gulf Stream off the coast of the United
States from observations made in the Coast Survey, by
A. d. BAcHE.
q NC obo
drawn to exhibit the varying temperatures of the at
regular distances from the coast to about four hundred
miles eastwardy in the Atlantic Many interesting facts
were developed and some considerable approach made
towards discovering the laws to which these variations of
temperature are subject Some remarks were made on
the form of the floor the bottom of the ocean, going to
show that along coast some extraordinary depres-
sons exist For instance the seaward line abreast OF
Charleston from the shore to sixty miles out the depth
increases pretty gradually till at that distance 1t has ac-
quired depth Of hundred fathoms But soon deep
with great rapdity, if the side of mountain,
until at about eighty miles out the bottom is more
than six hundred and fifty fathoms from the surface This
continues forward less than ten miles, when the depth as
suddenly decreases to not than three hundred and
fifty fathoms which goes on only few miles when 1T
again deepens to about FIVE hundred fathoms with subse
auent fluctuations There is therefore submerged noun
tain peak or ridge between these points of truly
markabe character The differences in the temperature
vary almost precisely according to the change of contour
of the bottom showing that the temperature at great
bed 1t appears that the Gulf Stream whilst certainly
superficial does not to the bottom for off Cape
Florida at twelve hundred fathoms the water in summer
is of temperature of $50 Fahrenheit degree below the
average winter temperature much further north.
Lieut. MAuRY followed Prof. Bache in paper on the
same general subject but having regard to the surface
rather than the depths of the stream. He showed
that the stream varies its course according to the sea-
son. having more southery sweep in winter The
stream is more rapid off Cape Hateras than Cape Can
nayera and what is quite remarkable never deposites
the seaweed &C. with which t is plentfully beset
the western side This Lieut. Maury accounted for by
supposng the stream stands above the general level of
the ocean, with its highest point in the centre axis of
the stream and ssoping off like the roof of house each
way This stream is what modifes agreeably the c
mate of western Europe and at the time is the
prolific parent of fogs if not Of storms Also At all events
storms that arise the coast of Africa trailing westward
fall into its influence aa sweep around its circuit. 1t
was in this stream that the unhappy San Francisco was
ON the fatal 2Ct December and it along its east
wardly current that the ship drifed The Gulf stream
notwithstanding its magnitude is asserted by Lieut.
aury being sensby affected by the discharge of the
waters in winter from the Chesapeake Delaware, and
Hudson.
The time for temporary adjournment having arrived,
hour In the course Of the session the President Of the
United States and tie Secretary Of War entered the
Section and remained short time. The delegation OF
Sac and Fox and Kickapoo Indians that arrived hher on
Monday evening from the Upper Missouri also gave
look in upon the proceedings of the learned pals faces
They remained about quarter of an hour. The Sacs
and Foxes were dscked in their brightest blankets with
spear in hand and every thing point deucc The kicka
poos were in ordinary citizens dress.
In Section of the subjects allotted for the day
submitted by the authors Of the papers respectively
The only able to attend wAs that by Dr. j.