The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-26

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
or ScENcE-THE MEETING AT ALBANY-Tm
COMET OF Or. PETERs.-Thc 26th annual meet
ing Of this body was held in Cheltcnham, on the
9Th Of this month-the learned DR.. DanbeITy in
tie chair II was attended by eminent savans
Of England and other countries; and their sclec-
ton Of watering place for their session may
have been owing TO their desire to make use Of
purgative water TO carry OF the i'll humors which
sometimes prevail in the most scientific bodies.
II would have been we'll perhaps, If On this prin-
ciple our Swans at Albany had chosen Saratoga
rs their place Of assembling ThePresident's ad-
dress alluded TO the progress Of chemistry, and
the great practical results which had followed its
discoveries. lie mentioned among other things,
Tie probable reproduction of quinine from the
elements Of ammonia-thc fact that the loss Of
cochineal, with It's beautiful dye, may be repaired
from guano that OF animal food, by the concen-
trated juices which can be collected in the anti
podes by boiling down the flesh of cattle nov
wasted and thrown aside in those countries and
the possible scarcity of useful metals, for which
aluminium affords brilliant and malleable sub
for analogies between plants and animals; the
existence of moving molecules in ferns and
other eryptogams the distinction Of sexes (the
| idea Of Linnnus) in the lower algr; the lou
geyity OF seeds; the explanation Of the Cam
brian and Silurian systems, carrying us back TO
| periods previously unknown 10 us and finally
giving forceto the opinions Of eminent gcologsts
"a Al. IL. 81.
earih's history, no graduation Of beings can, in
! reality be detected.
The discoveries in geography during tho last
year were also alluded to In the instance o. Dr..
| Kane OF Mr.. Kelly, Of this city, who Instituted
| the surveys Of the AtFato for the purpose OF
nteroceasA canal navigation; OF the Australian
! exploring expeditions. and Of further exnmina.
| tons among the Rocky Mountains commenced
| by Colonel rromont) lie maintained Ion, scien-
| tic studies were in no way inmieal TO revealed
religion. but quite the contrary. Thoprogammc
| or the business was highly interesting. The lee
turcrs we're Professor Powell. on metcors Smy,h.
| on solar radiation Pearson. on bismuih and
| chromium voelcker. On the corrosive action
| smoke on buildings: Owen. on fossils; Hartand
/ on the erUptions OF Nesuvius Macdonald, on the
| carly races and distribution Of mankind, and Mr.
Danson. on the connection between slavery in th,
| United States aud the cotton manufactures 0
| Great Briaiu-a curious and well timed subject
| Of discussion. Many other distinguished per.
sonages were announced 10 read papers Of i'm.
! poriance Thus we sec on both sides Of The At
| lantic the savans arc busily at wolk,
| Among Tie communications which have been
| made 10 The Association at Albany we NOTICE one
by Professor Peters who has called their attention
to The periodicity q a small comet which he dis
covered some years AGO at Naples. and which be
expects will re-appear the present year. lie did
not state the elements o. his calculation, and
| though we have them before "a we do not think
they arc as attractive to general readers
a. many others Of The 2ls comets Of which we
have a catalogue. and which have been subjected
' 70 obec YaiioE and calculation. Ths thirteen