The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-21
American Geographical and Statisticai so
cAefy--Lectnre az Major SsnaN.


1he small Of the Society, the New York Uni
versity, pretty ws filled isss eveeing by highly
respectable and nto1< tusi audience, who assembled
therein to hear the unusually interesting AID inru va
lecture Of MINOR Sears HS,bmaripe Explorations >
The eutject coed oe and was rreatei in able
by Mo jor Sears who is possessed OF all the quail
Gcations necessary for iectureIan ample knowledge
o. the matter ea,ed ciesr AID distinct uacatou
and graoefn! delivery.
At O'Clock Judge Bradford introduced the Major to
the Society would he impossible 20 10 justice TO the
Lecture. without giving 1t in fan lie conf ed his
marks the Giving bell and commenced by sidng to lis
general inheritance commercial point Of view, by az
forcing ci ities for the typcfaioa IL harbors &C., and
then briefly rcve seG the several improvement from the
sne Of - invention that hsss lsa trade upon the
iosynerJ experienced aquatic experiments by tho i'm
perfect regulations for the supply Of sufficient qu-ntil
Of air for breathing purposes the nimnen peril to afc
occaioncd by the DETECTION Of tho bell from vertical
any prsiton approaching to the hotsontat add nom
provision of means OF communication by from the
bell suhmersed IN the water to persons above the
frce After dwelling on the numerous fertile eXpedients
attempted to do away with the dangers and supply the
deceLci es which existed in the construction Of the div
pg bell and explaining the method cs which air rscd
be furnished 10 the divers in desoendng by towering bar
res of air &C and Swe plan Of attaching tubes in
connection with air pump 70 tie ball hy which fresh
air could be admitted and impure mir allowed
exit, the lecturer proceeded TO show how sweaton, in
1850 brought the diving bell To is present lection
by constructing what he called the nautlusso named
m the circumstances Of iss having charactesstics
in COMMON with that animal The nautilus IL made of
the lsbtest material available, and is provided with
apparatus for llipg two chambers with air water, by
means OF which, without any pulling from above, tho
bell is either raised pwcrtd. Iete,t arrangements
made for speaking to those sbove The surface OF the
water. The sub marine amor wcs next taken up and the
two varieties explained st gFea: length. The lecturer
explained the difference between the open and the
cos cd submarine Tho orHcr consisted merely
a a brass helmet, open at the base, supplied with
cir hy mes ms Of trbe NJ the top connecting with
pump above the nrfce. This subject To great dan
gtrs The closed arinor more perfect consisting
also of helmet bsoss) and large India rubber
ips ior The whole of the body, which joaed TO the
helmet. supply OF air ;uroished in the same as
with the oIen armor.
Several diagrams, Illustrating the various descriptions
OF diving bells, and number OF TIC machines them
selves small scale, were exhibited, wit, which the
Major performed some very interesting experiments par
ticulary agreeable to the ladies' io rewarded the Ice
turer with their Kind smiles and spprcving locks VITA
tic ordinary diving bell aud the nsutus MAJOR Sears
showed their adaplat y for laying ,hc foundations for
lighthouses, rasingawrecar pearl andIcoral sng aud
demonstrated their power in raising lowering great
weights. Dnling The lecture be amused the audience
with several ldcrcus Anecdotes which added greatly
the interest Of tie evening.
On concluding he was yehemcntly checred, aud vote
OF thanks was proposed and passed upon hin for the
high Iiellecua! treat mo had nm rdod the society.