New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-03
Subioined IS the summary Of the week
NETWORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The New.York Historical Society held the first
meeting of the last evening the President the
Hon. LUTHER BRADIsH in the Chair. After the read
ing Of the minutes, the President read an extract Of
letter from Mr.. MecGIegor OF Edinburgh in explana-
ton of, and accompanying, painting OF Ne~ York,
executed the year after it was taken BY The Eogsh
Mr. Buchanan had forwarded it, through the kininess
of Capt. Chadwick of the packet Robert Peel Mr..
MacGegor purchased il at the sale ofthe collection Of
Lord Fitzgerald. The President read resolutions Of
thsnbs TO Messrs. MacGregor, Buchanan, Chadwick,
nd Mr. Brodhead, who had, three years ago, inter-
ested himself to procure the painting for the Society
which were unanimously adopted. Messrs. Mac.
Greeor and buchanan 70 ed 0to honorary mem-
bershp n the spot, ard CAPT. Chad sick was made
corresponding member. The painting exhibits clus
ter of ied.roofed buildings, grouped about heavy
Dutchy church. On the East River two or three
vessels are building. What is no. the Battery, ia
low beach sloppg TO the waters edge On the North
River is bluff twenty or thirty feet high at least.
From the manner in which big ship, with port holes
and without masts lies po2ped up on the shore her
keel just on the waters edge, one can guess that
either they had in those days, as in these latter way
OF launching vessels sideways, or that the artist
trusted considerably to his imagination.
The Trustees Of the Building Fnnd reported that
they had contracted for freproof building for the
use Of the Society at cost of 695. The site IL On
the corner of Second and Eleventh ST., and is -
feet by 3d. The 18th Of the present month was hxed
upon for laying he corner stone.
The Rev. Mr. OsGooD, as Home Corresponding
Secretary Of the Society, presented an autograph OF
Daniel Boone and in the course OF his report read the
following letter from Agassiz, in answer 70 inquiry
wbeti er his forthcoming work would bear upon the
civil history Of the country:
CAMBRIDGE, July 7, 1875.
DEAR SIR. In answer to your ioPiiry hariiy
Dd you of the fact that the aSenuoA Q, hls-
toaos hos but recently been called To the importance
of orsiderrg the physical character OF the dlerent
parts Of the world u connection Win the successive
centuries OF civilization and the primitive aOoce oil the
different races Of But there Is one feature OF
this subject which seems t0 have thus lar been en-
tircy neglected. / allade TO tue character OF the
vegetation and the animal creation IN each natur q
area of the Globe which must o. all times have greatly
il fuenced everywhere the progress OF cviizahnn,
| picture of whcs may in future be expected as sH
of frontspece to The general history Of every great
country. ,:...
There are sill other more general features yet ttIc
known even TO Haturasts which may in time ADJ an
other charm 10 these coniem p-Hons OF the
the contract between the different pats OF the woro
when compsrt with the previous comb Ions Oh oui
globe Ia successive geological perlofs For las ahc-
| Europe has physical character pow WHICH Is NO
eXeippbed IN any OF the pas, ages vi ou 0oi a..
New.H olabd as it il now reminds Us oil tue Ggudiuol
Of certain portions of Europe during the mi ide geo
logical aecs The Jurassic period in pntlealT aal
North America recalls both by its hyscal condloa
lis large lnkes among others, and i's ANNALS an
plsnts, features prominent in Europe during IN
tertiary times; ard reed only alude 70 Tue opo5som
the swapping. tmtle, the oulhoy, the large salaman
ders &c., he bickories the swamp cedar, the whit
sum-uee, &c.--su found il tue ,eraAries Of EdrOpe
and now eI.tuely e. ne, LeGe-t0 .ho. the reseu
bIaDce. M)Te0Ter, Norm Anle:lcs roEnshes now
uuoshe- o:fstgs and chc- drna.f, ssct IS ,ha Kin,