The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-23

iectuIe ed these might have been dissolved
1t was q very curious point 1t WAS certain that only
four O. NETS had been known TO return regularly ~
would be worth study 10 acerain whether these would
remain steady. There 10 but we'll known in
stance Of iii, solution. That the division of Belas
comet in 1885, into two parts He (Mr. Peters) would
recommend to amateurs the study and research OF comets
II not the business OF astronomers to look for them
they should be occupied IN seyerer studies. the DISCO
very OF comets had materially decreased Of late years.
this was partly owing to the cessation Of the an OF
awarding comet medal 10 the dlscoverer of comet.
For several years this medal had been given to every
discoverer by the KING Of Denmark his useful institution
abolish ed in 1913. He was sorry for it, The anna
of science, who the proper persons to search
for COMETS would have been encouraged by the hope Of
some such reward He of opinion that the interest
science the decline in Europe and the In.
in fhis country He would like to see o comet
mt dial offered 10 every discoverer in America
DR.. EAII inquired whether any recent doctrine had
been started respecting the luminosity Of the tails Of
comets.
Or. PETERS was not aware Of any.
DR.. GOULD, OF Cam BRIDGE was happy TO express his
gratitude to Prof Peters who had labored persev erngy
"a ieference TO this comet for period OF eleven years.
lie w.ad like to see the attention Of scientific men d.
rected TO the subject of the dissipation Of comets The
case Of Brunnow's was most striking instance aad so
was the other which had been lost to vie~. What had
become Of them? This was perhaps the highest question
in theoretical astronomy We know hat the nuclei OF
Belas comet alternate In brightness; became OF the
highest importance TO study this variation Of luminosity
and to see whether it had any bearing on the nonap
pearance Of certain comets at their TO their peri
helon. Prof. Peters had rendered q good service in
mapping the field and dra sing lines on which to search
IL would prove saving Of nineteen twentehs OF the la
Dor OF observers. He gladly subscribed 10 the project
of establishing come, medal for discoveries 1t was not
little curious that since the establishment Of the ooser
vatory at Pultowa the realm Of Denmark had contributed
200 per cent more to the progress OF astronomical
science, p cpcron to is population, than any o,ncr
country. The comet medal, whose institution was sug
gested by Schumann, continued to be awarded for fifteen
years, during which period the dscovere, Of comets
averaged i've to seven per annum and the average dis
oyeres Of each comet by independent observers nree
10 four. Since has been abolished the discoveries Of
comets have not averaged three per apnum the
independent simultaneous discoveries of the
have become exceedingly rare The business OF disco
vering comets did not properly belong to asr nomers it
the affair OF students Most Of the comets had been
discovered by students, ard he thought comet medal
would stimulate hem 10 exertOn.
Prof BRuNNow made few remarks on the falling of
in the discoveries OF comets
CURIOUS STATE OF Atmosphere.
The Rev. G. SSAIIwooD of Canada, read paper on
the state of the atmosphere al place nine miles IRON
Montreal in 40 deg 81 min. north latitude, and - deg
SO min west longitude on the 23i May, 1885, The spot
is lis feet above the sea. noon on the day 10 qies
ton there a haze in the southwest horizon, the
zenith and the horizon being coudless. At
o'clock the haze in the west southwest at aI altitude OF
deg was very recuas Sad ins ni
il hid the sun from view. At 6l5 the horizon was per-
fecy coudless. At an altitude Of deg above the hort
ION there curtain Of dull reddish or coppery
color The sun was completely oOscured. AT . a. p
m. the haze had dark blush tint; the fowls went
till dark the observer gathered large quantity OF burnt
leaves and ashes which tell from the SKY. proved
afterwards that there q fire in the woOas on the OF
tawa at great distance, and the peculiar meteorolos
cal due the fact that the white rays
Of the sun were intercepted by the haze wnc, the Gallo
| rife rays passed. Next morning there was heavy
Professor HARE made some remarks In reference to
| Professor HENRY paid high compliment TO Mr. Small
WOOD, whom he considered the most ndeatgabe mete
geological observer on the continent.
AMMONIA IN THE AIR.
Professor HoRsfRD took occasion 10 correct the OPT
MONS he had expressed ON former occasion in reference
to He understood IN that he had mod
fed his opinions with regard TO the effects OF Currents Of
air
Professor PIERCE, Of Cambridge, made a commun MICA
motion Of body under the acton OF central
forces II Of no public interest," being purely scien
tic.
The section then adjourned 10 the afternoon.
AFTERNOON sEssI0N-GENERAL SESSION.
| REcK1ioS MONTREAL DELEGATION
Alta garter pact four Pro- HALL called meeting to
order. The business before tAe meeting, he said was
| the reception Of the Montreal delegation.
Dr. wycoH had tho honor introduce to the meeting
Messrs W. Daweon President Of Mc6l College; Prof.
C. Snaiwood Professor Of Meteorology; the Row. Mr..
Hapagap Dr. Jones' Mr.. Renne; also Sir W. F. Logan T.
Hunt, NJ Barnston and Dc. Hinkston. He bade the
dcleessson welcome the city and the association.
The CaAR very happy to perform the duty Of In
PRODUCING the gentlemen from Montreal 10 whom he paid
well turned compliments II was very gratifying 70
association know tina, the Canadian geologss who
possessed ogcal territory mary times larger than
the STATE Of New York had consented 70 a'cep, inc no
thing 70 Canada and he was sure the representatives, OF
that State would lind q hearty welcome here:
Mr.. RANKIN, on behalf OF the Board OF Regents, re
eraicd the welcome. and only experienced one regret
connection with their Wait, which arose from IT,
revity.
Mr.. nswscs, OF Montreal. returned thanks, aud
observed that the reason Of their asking for formal
introduction was That tney were bearers o. an omcs
ton invitation from the Natira History Society
and the city of Montreal 70 hold the next meeting Of the
association in that city The Common Council and the
citizens trust that the invitation may be accepted aud
that they may have an opportunity Of extending hosp
Prof Foster moved that the invitation be accepted.
The CHsw remarked that similar invitation had been
Committee. The letter OF the Canadian Committee was
before the committee.
Prof GRay moved the reference OF the Canadian nvi
i taton 10 tho Standing Committee.
Prof. rnRcE seconded the motion, and II was carried
Mr. oroorr begged to state that tho mcmbess OF the
association and tboir friends invited 10 enter
| ,ament in the Capitol this evening.
Mr. W 9. REpFiEiD moved that the invitation be &C
Mr.. s1iasR Of Balti more in a h imorous speech,
viewed the invitation Of the Maryland Institute II was
also referred 70 the Standing Committee
The association then adjourned into sections,
sKorIos or NATURAL HISTORY AYb GEOLOGY.
The chair was taken al ta past four ~ Professor
l Rogers.
a PAPER was read by Mr.. A. wNaEii on the geology
| OF Middle and Southern Alabama.
heavc to discussion, IN which Prof sssor TroS,
| sbd Professor ACsssfz took part.
a Communication was then made By Principal J. "
DAWSON, OF Montreal on the paraelsn Of rock form
tons In Nova Scotia with those II other parts OF Aner5s
4 EMOTION OF MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AMI CHEMtsrRN
The chair was taken at half past four by Procssu
4 C,flin
Professor HKSHy read paper acoustics apple
TO pubic buildings published In yesterdays HEnstpD
Professor BAtnE then read the fo lowing paper on ~
progress MADE IN the coast survey In prediction tbt-
i ior the tides OF the coast Of the United St,tc.:-
| on THE LAWS OF HUMAN MORTALITY: APArEs REAn
| NY G. F.MCoy, PRESIDENT or THIS =. Q. CoLLEGh J,
BEFORE THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION foR THE AL
vASctnExr or SCIENCE, 2lsr AUGUST, lsJ6.
Various attempts have been made to determine the laF
Of human mortality al different periods Of lie. 10 -
early part Of the eighteenth century II suggcste
tlss equal number die a, every age in a stationary ~
pulsiOn. The Northampton table or Or. Price raths
vored this suggestion; but other tables Of mortality
rsbed bv him IN later editions Of his book destroy.
| tot ndcnce 10 this Law. An arthmecal progression
early manhood and geomerica prog essIon oil
| was then proposed. These not being Satisfactory, ".
Gampcrtz. In the philosophical Traus OF 1925 nrougt
forward atansccndental formula. winch represent tl
r,or,abtv frar, IN ve.rs - ,rh n,oat