The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-13
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE AID
VANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

e.
The Association finally adjourned yesterday. My
letter left Prof. Barnard speaking, after Prot. AL
exander had given his very interesting account OF
the success of the Labrador Expedition. Prof.
Barnard spoke of the auroras and icebergs seen by
the Expedition, the scanty vegetation, the immense
number of loose boulders and the variety of animal
life, except mosquitoes, which were very plenty.
Prof. Alexander added that little bird, unknown
to them, sang out in the middle of the gloom of the
eclipse a song sweet nightingale. He also
alluded to the magnetic variations, which will be
made the subject of careful study by Prof. Bache
and his assistants of the Coast Survey.
Prof. Alexander then gave his address as retiring
President of the Association. He commenced with
the aphorsm of Bacon that it is not less true in this
human kingdom than in Gods kingdom of Heaven
that no man shall enter into it except he becomes
little child. Throughout his address Prof. Al
exander insisted the necessity of this childlike
freedom from bent and prejudice if we would really
advance the cause of science or any other.
DR.. Gould was appointed committee to report
to the next meeting the history and present state
of the application of telegraphc methods to astro
nomical observation and 10 the determination of
longitude.
Prof. VIM. b. Rogers was invited to give lee.
the present state of the theory of binocuar
vision, and Prof Newberry to lecture on the Fossil
botany of the United States.
Prof. Bache, of the Committee on Weights and
Measures, reported that nothing definite had been
done, and he continued with power to open cor
respondence. A number of committees were dis
charged. Capt Hunt, of the Abbreviating Com
mittee, reported Gam. Assn. Sci" as the abbre.
Walton of the title of the Association Prof Bache
of the Committee ON Dr. Hayes's Expedition, re-
ported the facts known to the readers of The Tribune
Prof. Chauyenet, Chairman of the Committee on
the Second Expedition, to determine the Solar per-
alax, reported no progress, and the committee was
discharged.
The usual votes of thanks to the officers of the
meeting, the city authorities the Local Committee
and the Railroad and Steamboat Companies were
then passed and the Association adjourned.
THE NICARAGUA Observation-Disclosures AND FIVE
HUNDRED MEN OFF YUcATAN.-The Mexican schr.
Brilliante, Capt. Espinoa, arrived at this port
Yesterday, from Sisa, with advices from Merida,
the capital of Yucatan, to the 26th ult. The news
is of the most important character.
Gen. VIM. Walker, of whose departure from the
island of Ruatan, on the 2lst of June, we have be-
fore had accounts, arrived off the Yucatan coast,
en- route to Nicaragua, on the 1st ult. He had with
him five vessels and five hundred men, all well
equipped, full of spirits, and amply supplied with
arms, ammunition and provisions. From Ruatan,
off which Island the five vessels made their rendez-
vous, the voyage was a most prosperous one, and
the whole feet passed down the coast in splendid
style. The expedition first came to anchor at the
island of Cozumel, off the coast of Yucatan where
it remained communicating with the main land and
completing the preparations for the expedition till
the goth ut. 1t then set sail for Nicaragua direct,
where it is believed long ere this to have effected
landing While off the coast of Yucatan the ex-
pedtion received large reinforcements of men, and
was amply supplied with provisions.
From Yucatan there is news of particular i'm
portance. The peninsula was, for the moment, in
the enjoyment of comparative peace, but the COM
mercia classes still suffering from the effects
of the long and disastrous war of races.-N. o.
Picayune, Aug.7.