New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-02
Aeh Orleans 4afIp Grsstsut.
TUESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 2, 1853.
DIR. Boynton's Lectures.

DR.. Boynton delivered bis first lecture last night
at Odd Fellows Hall his subject being mechanical
astronomy the laws which govern the foundation,
form, motion, and situation Of the heavenly bodies
including the earth. very large and Intellectual
looking audience was present, including large pro-
portion of ladies. The stage was handsomely decor
ated with the different small paintings and diagrams
used in illustrating the lectures
The Doctor at the start commended himself TO his
audience by auding, in general terms to the unalter
able laws and the harmonies Of creation, manifested
in its visible workings, evidences of q prior and
mighty thought-an infinite intellect-for which ne
knew no better name than that Of GoD As he pro-
gressed with his lecture-speakng clearly, simply,
and with an evident enthusiasm, upon his theme-it
was evident that his hearers perfectly absorbed
and in general highly pleased. At times the silence
was profound, and occasionally the appreciation Of
the listeners manifested itself in hearty drumming
Of the floor.
The first part Of the lecture was devoted to an ex-
planation of the law of gravitation, by which the
original particles atoms Of creation were drawn
into cohesion, forming the different elements, which,
in obedience to the primary law and its notifications,
combined to create the planets-the solid matter
upon which we live, and part Of which we are.
The form Of the planets was next dlscoursed of,
and the fattening at the polls explained by expert
ments showing it to proceed from centrifugal force
There was nothing, of course, in this, but the
lecturers foFcible manner Of explaining it, and his
Illustrative experiments made it very interesting
his heares. He stated that as long ago as ten or
twelve years he had advanced in bis lectures, the
theory that the rings of Saturn were fluid and thrown
off that planet by the velocity of its rotationa the.
ory at the time original and startling, but one which
had since been advanced and sustained by some of
the most eminent astronomers in the world
Next the lecturer proceeded to explain the laws Of
motion which govern the planets. He showed that
their progressive motion from the conflict OF
two forces-the centrifugal force and the force Of
gravitation. This, also was not new thing to treat
Of but the in which he forced it into the un
derstanding of his hearers by means Of his expert
ments with that ately-discoyered and wonderful
instrument, the gyroscope, make it exceedingly in
| terestng.
| With the gyroscope he performed a series of ex-
permeDts illustrating the principle upon which the
| planets revolve in plane round the sun, and upon
which the moon revolves around the earth in its
lutions This part Of the lecture was the most in.
teresting of all, and the audience testified their ap
probation of it by the hearest applause. We regret
that our limited space forbids us going into detail
of the experiments with the gyroseope-an instru.
rnent which illustrates forcibly and clearly the
primal law of creation than anything yet discovered
| by man.
In conclusion, DR.. Boynton explained the position
of the planets in the solar system-each following it,
unvarying orbit, at just such distance from the sur
as is determined by its degree of density its strength
of gravitation and its consequent velocity of rota
ton. The rotatory motion of the sun he explained
as being necessary to the rotation of the planets
he were to put ball in motion by string srount
his finger, be could not keep it in rotation without
slight oscillation of the finger; and just SO the sun
by his slight movements, kept the planets going, b
the mighty but invisible connection of gravitation.
Judging of the remainder of Or. BOynton's lee
lures by his first we can safely assure our reader
that they will lose nothing and may gain much, b.
going to hear him. He gives his second lecture tc
morrow night The subject will be, " The igneou
condition of the interior of the earth, the causes
volcanoes earthquakes, and the elevation of cont
nents and islands Three beautiful paintings are b
be exhibited in lustration-a volcano by night light
the interior of volcano and the crater of the grea
volcano of Owyhee.