The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-31
The Inauguration or the State Geological
Hall at ALBANY.

GREAT GATHERING OF sAvASs-spEKcH OF PRO-
FEssoR AGAssIz-UNcoMMoN HUMoR OF THE PAR
SONS, ETC., ETC.
The formal Inauguration or the State Geological Hall a,
Albany, which opened days since in which
tho local committee of Albany gave soiree, the other
evening" to the members OF the Scientific Association
took pace on Wednesday Il had been deferred in order
that The scientific Association should be present
The original arrangement was that addresses be
delivered by the Hon. William II. Seward and the Hon.
Mr. Gray, Of Boston, but the former pleaded his OIL al
duties for not attending while the latter 4 At
the preseni time confined to his bed By Illness AT the
last moment orators were obtained among the members
Of the association and according TO announcement Al
O'Clock on Wednesday the ceremonies began.
The members Of the association assembled the CAPT
toll, at quarter to three and escorted to the AGA
deny Park by the Burgcsses Guard, professional
Ger On the Park tent had been erected under which
level flooring, with seats and an extensive PLATFORM
had been laid over . thousand persons, some said,
while others spoke OF several thousand. seated by
three O'Clock, the ladies' appearing TO be In the majority
The tent itself a handsome affair, with broad white
and blue and red stripes coursng from side to side.
Round the trees which enclosed the and stripes
wrapped In the interior hung flags bearing such
Inscriptions as Astronomy, Geology" "Mncralogy,"
zoology" Botany" "Ethnoogy,n. "Palrontology,n
"Tbe Press" &C. &c. To front Of the platform convo
rate desk being arranged for each New York journal
presented this nion the work OF Dr. Armsby Of
the local committee.
In the front Of the platform noticed the Hon. Edward
Everett, (who was much sppauded his entrsnce),
Hon Geo. Bancroft, Gov. Clark, Chancellor walworth
Judge Parker, Dr. Be,hune, Prof sliman Prof Bache
nshop Potter, Dr. Hare Dr. Dewey Sir William Logan
and many other persons OF note.
Mr.. Gerri Y. Lansing. Of the Local Committee, intro.
duced Dr. BrrHusr, who offered prayer.
Professor AoAssn was then introduced, and was 70
ceived with immense applause.
AGkssrz-SArrRs AN INTELLIGENT WHOLE.
LADIES AVID GRSrrxxES-we here assembled 10 In.
the Geological Hall OF the of New York
state You are perhsps aware maj speeches were ex
peced on this occasion from the Hon. VIM. n Seward
and rom the Hon Mr.. Cray, Of Boston Public duties
detan the former At his post at the federal capital
sickness confines the latter 70 his bed. deeply lament
that shall not hear in this place the voice Of my friend
Of science In the absence OF these gentlemen sp
pea we're made 70 several others 70 speak In their place.
mites 70 be one Of the substitutes appear therefore
before you wholly unprepared and most unfit 70 address
tbs suaience; Ian no, public speaker never could
rich imagery Of the orator the ART Of clothing topics In
graceful and appropriate garb shall therefore limit
myself TO a few remarks the which should In
duce you patronze aud foster science and especially
institutions Of the Kind as the inau
gursng. tell you, member Of the Association for
the Advancement OF Science that consider this naugua
event Of the highest interest and most i'm
poran step the history OF the progress Of science BY
give sanction 10 the survey, and testify that the
results obtained deserve commentator. and that Of
The scientific world The benefits already rendered TO
science by the survey great and notable. II has
given a nomenclature 10 geology which minute
investigations are every day sustaining and whose nhu
has already spread beyond the borders not only Of
this state, but Of the United States and commanded
sent In foreign realms. In future In any country
prosecute the study o geology any without
referring 10 the State Geoloca Survey Of New York
Now the collections upon which the conclusions ORA
from this survey based have been hitherto stored up
ia many Inaccessible places where students could
obtain them for examination. These collections
hereafter whenever geologist arrives IN tbs country
from Europe the first question he must ask will be-
Which is the way 10 Albany ~ so that, especially Il
may be possible continue the description AMI ilura
Vi, o the fossils In the magnificent style ia which
the work has been commenced. And now TIN the sur
vey has reached this point the time has come when
may properly AK the question: What are the results Of
geological surveys Gold has not been found
certainly; but that has been found which IL much
better, namely, lesson which enables 10
penetrate deeper into the knowledge or the
works Of the Creator. This has been the fruit
OF the survey. In former ages thought OF them
selves only Man A. the subject Of their philosophy
his being, his essence, his soul The step the
in fesueson Of few natural phenomena which natural
" courted nqurysmpe points In physics or astrono.
thinkers exhausted their efforts Lastly IA only com
rsrsuvey within time that men have begun 10
study living beings, animals and plants IL clear
OF all the three classes 81 subjects the one whose
investigation tends rsost directly enargs the spheres OF
intellectual cGtae Ipurlose % Tie present 9SSAsloa "a