New-York daily tribune., 1856-08-19

Few persons are aware Of the rapid growth OF
American Science during the last ten years. In
1e46 the United States Occupied a very insignif-
cant position in the scientific world; in 1856 we
occupy place in the very front Iark. The fer
tlity Of mechanical invention, which has always
marked our cOuntrymen, has been turned in d
scientific direction and has been fruitful Of results
in Astronomy, Geology, and Chemistry, which are
among the most important, in practical view, Of
all the scieLces. Tie same cause may also have
bad some influence in producing our recent rapid
advances in Botany, Zoology, and Geology.
In 1S47 the American Association Of GeOlogists,
which was then about Elk years Of age, invited the
scie ntfc men of the country to join with them in
the formation of an American Association for the
advancement Of science. The first meeting under
the new organization was held at Philadelphia in
September, 1S4S the tenth is to be opened at Al
baTy on Wednesday next The object of the
Association is well stated in its title-the
Advancement OF Science; that is, the advance
ment of natural sciences, physics, and mathe-
mhtcs. 1t comprises in its list of members
nearly every scientific man in the country, to-
gether with many of our beet machinists engineers
and other men who are making practical applica-
tion of the sciences. 1t proposes to advance the
interests Of science by the residing aud publication
OF original papers, which contain positive additions
to knOwledee also by the mutual intercommuni-
caticn of thought in the discussions and CONVEX
satioDs that take place at the annual meetings and
by the powerful stimulus which this gives to the
subsequent private researches Of the members in
their own chosen spheres of investigation during
the year.
The coming meeting st Albany promises to be
one of especial interest. The people Of tina. city,
who have shown a most praiseworthy zeal in the
cause of the sciences, and especially in the cause
of astronomy, the parent Of sciences have invited
number Of the most distinguished European ga
vans to be preseLt and several lines Of steamers
have opened their staterooms free to such guests.
At the close of the meeting, that is to say, on
Wednesday, the 9th inst, the Geological Hall
erected by the State tO her great credit is to oe
inaugurated at 4 p IN and addresses have been
announced, to be delivered by the Hon. W. H.
Seward, and the Hon + C. Gray of Boston. On
the next day at o'clock the Dudley Observatory,
noble proof of the enlightened liberaliy of cti-
zens in Albany, is to be inaugurated and an sd-
dress delivered by the Hon. Edward Everett.
There is every ress' to hope that the citizens Of
Albany having gone thus far in this grand enter
prise, will not suffer it DOW to stop but will endow
The Observatory with sufficient means to maintain
an efficient corps Of observers. Nevertheless, if
citizens of New-York wish to volunteer donations
to this euJ, we have no doubt that they would be
accepted. The least total amount for the endow.
ment of a first class observatory should be set at
s2O0WG.
We need not remind our intelligent readers Of
the value of the abstract sciences. 1t is well
known that, even for practical purposes, the high
est theoretical perfection should be obtained; that
the accuracy Of the charts Of our h,rbor is re-
motely. but yitally, dependent upon the most
abstruse retesrcbes Of Pelrce into mathematics
and Henry into electricity; the value Of our dry
goods is materially affected BY discoveries in the
most bic tden departments of chemistry; aud the
quality Of sugar can be practically determined by
mesps Of the uldulatory theory of light. No msa