Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-29
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION.

VANCEMENT OF SCIENCE commehceu Its eiSntu
session in this city on Wednesday, the 26th, at the
Smithsonian Institution.
The object of this Association IS the advance
ment of American science; in other words, the
promotion of original research and the discovery OF
new scientific truths. The Association was estab-
lished in the year 1S4s, and held its first meeting
in the City of Phiadelpkia; the next session took
place at Cambridge, the third at Charleston, the
fourth at New Haven, TIE fifth at Cincinnati, the
sixth at -Albsay, and the seventh at Cleveland
The thirsI and fifth meetings were semi-annual
The Importance of the Association consists IN
the means which it affords its members OF IN
terchang ing ideas and opinions, as well as the op
portunity of comparing the results OF their seVeral
labors prior to their appearance before the world IN
the usual form of scientific publications. 1t also
enables the members to discuss subjects OF special
interest, All to recommend to the favorable ateen-
tion of Con ress and other legislative bodies, as well
as to the pull ,lic generally important measures con-
nected with the advance of Science and the pro-
gress of the Useful Arts. .
1t is not il tended for popular display, or the diff
fusion of knc wledge which is already known and
hence some OF the most profound and Valuable COM
munications nay be Of too technical character to
please prom ,iscuous audience, while others, how
ever, of less abstruse nature, viii most probably
be interesting to all ~. -..'. ~
AT its first Meeting there were present an array
of honored an, distinguished names in science, as
well as hume rous attendance of visitors of both
sexes.
At about II O clock the chair was taken by Professor
~ nd bra.p sorane
by PRAYER to ths throne of grace by the Rev. Dr. BA
coz, of Columbia 'ollege, DC
The Chairman Il zen re and addressed the body in h
following terms: . .....
Gentlemen Of tbs Association In taking this place will
which YOU have ht nored me- permit 50 alludc brief
to one or two of til, objects which have brought US to
gether.
One great end proclaimed in the name OF the Asso
ciation is the adv ancement of science" whchimPhe
that we are not to LAY suggishy or ignoranty oer ot
facts but earnestyt gather in the news that our facts
be not ephemeral Thich the next passer-ey w dssi
pste bat sure nal facts, as enduring as adanant
5bot sb nil Give soiC y increasing extent and beauty
.be edice Of truth Such facts best welcome wher
least adorned and d sencumbered nearly may he
the rub bish of word They reach their ultimate ent
when clear insight INTO principles enables nne
of Natu re- thereby exat cur knowledge Of its Divine
Author. d.. . =, :.
Rut + ,ere is anotbe prominent object in view in this
annual Meeting 1t is the cultivation Of good feeling
kindly entirnents end sympathy ameng the lovers o.
science the land that, with aim before ustraa
and net elf, the cad of every nvessgahon-we may
90 forwa Il harmonorsly rejoicing in each others sue
cess and glad for the new light we may each receive
This end alone ACCOMPLISHED the meeting will have been
abundant profitable But with success N ooth oeet
we shall ave occasion to remember long this gathering
In Washns ton in 1854 and may such be the result!
report was then reesived from the Standing Commit
tee on the rbset of business during the session. which
was ordered to be printed ..
The numb or Of members of the standing committee be-
inr twelve which there annual vacancy of
six it was eHed by Prof W. B. ROGERS that the existing
vacancy be pponted by the other members This drew
out on inter tng discussion which lasted for half an
hour the que an being the comparative fitness of the
choice of their fellows by the SIX exstng members OF py
the association st large.
Tho motion IN which this debate grounded having
heen withdraw d. the question for the present dis
posed Of The speakers Professors Rogers, BAcHE
HackLEY PIER, ", HARE and others. ..."
Responses wei then made to several courteous invita-
1ons to the mem bers of the Association from the Mayor
and Corporation Of Alexandria to call at their town on
the Assoca;ons return from their projected visit to
Moant Vernon Saturday next and partake of its hos
pitaes; also fr the Faculty Of Georgetown College
These were accepted.
An offer Of the rooms of the National Medical College
for the use of the Association received and thankfully
acknowledged, but declined the ground of sucency
of accommodation in the Smithsonian Institution
The meeting then adjourned to P NJ. to give mem
bers opportunity to attend Congress- and the commit
tees to take order for the conduct of business.
The following are the officers of the Association:
President, ]. u. DANA, of New Haven; General Secre
tary Prof J. Lawrence Smith, of Louisville; Treasurer
DR. A. L. Elwyn, of Philadelphia Permanent Secretary
Prof J. Levering of Cambridge
Standing Commatee-Prof b. Pierce, Prof s. T. Baird
Prof j. d. Dana, Prof J. Lawrence Smith Dr. A. L. Ell
wyn, Prof J. Leverng Prof A. D. Bache, Prof. John Ii
Conte, Prof J. p Kurtland, Prof W. Gibbs Prof D. Sill
liman, jr., and Prof. J. W. Bailey. .
n EVENING SESSION.
The severity of the storm having prevented the meeting
at FIVE o'clock yesterday evening" at six the chair wa
taken by Prof DANA.
The CHAIR called upon Lieut. MAURy for his paper oil
the ukal but that gentleman, not expecting to be calle
npon last evening, had left it at home.
Prof RuSKEL then read a very learned paper Prof
Benjamin Pierces Lunar Tables, and their comparativ
value contrasted with those of Burckhardt.
Remarks the subject of the paper were offered b.
Professors PIERCE BAcHE, and HENRY.
The next was q paper Irradiation by Prof. W.
RooERs, which followed by observations of Prof
HARE
Then paper by Lieut.. C. II. DAVIS, U. s. N,
constructive method Of projecting solar ecipses
-Chauncey Wright Lieut. Davis presxed the perusal 9
the paper with the following remarks:
ssIn the of the 'Annular Eclipse Of May &C. th
suns places taken from Carlns tables the place
of the Pierce's Tables of Moon com