New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-18
SCIENCE.
Fifteenth Meeting OF the American Association
for thc Advancement OF science.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

BUFFALO August I5 1866.
Tho fifteenth meeting of the American Association for
tho Advancement of Science commenced this morning. IN
St. Jamess Hail. Of the finest places for the purpose
which could possibly have been selected Up to the pres
cnt writing tho arrivals Of members of the Association
and visitors attend tho sessions have not been numer
Gus; but do not despair of the meeting proving per
feet success and profitable alike 10 the Association and TO
science all over the world 1t probable that the hiatus
in the meetings OF tho Association occasoned by the
Rebellion has had much to do with the smness Of tho
attendance TO which 1 have alluded, and which was
noticeable at tho opening of the morning session. Thcrc
has been considerable anxiety felt and uneasiness dis
PLAYED regard the prospects of the present meeting
but think that there is improved feeling upon that
point since the business Of the session commenced II
was thought that tho excitement Of the Troting Fair
would have tendency TO draw away from the interest
and influence which 1t il necessary the Association should
ALWAYS possess places where the meetings arc held
There were many long faces when the hour OF meet
ing came this morning; but inc clouds OF car,
were dispelled a. tho business progressed, and
think the afternoon session closed upon satisfied set Of
individuals as attended meeting OF the American
Association for the advancement In any year oil It's exist
ence This afternoon about two hundred persons attended
the session. and the deepest interest prevailed Tho long
sumber which the Association has been compelled to take
through the operation OF the Rebellion does not seem
have impaired the energy OF the oreanzo but on inc
contrary appears TO have awakened with ygor renewed
by and ready 10 carry forward most successfully the
object OF its formation The Newport meeting IN lsbO
did not give that satisfaction which had been the attend
ant attribute OF the sessions in previous years ana from
some it called forth severe criticism from SW
mans Journal which declared that the proceedings III
1860 exhibited decadencc in the scientific character OF
the Assocaton Of loss of tone, which, II not already
decentralization, threatened to become surh Iho chPc
cncc of the last six years will not be lost upon the Asso
ciatOn and il "dccadenco IN scientific character u6s
manifested the Newport meeting time has furnished an
andoic and restored whatever may have been lost IN ono
The elements OF strength are still within the Asso-
ciation and although denied tho hight
of Agassz's countcnance, aud Henry and
Peircc not among us this year we still have Bar
nard and Gould, and LOOMS, and Lowering and many
other bright and shining lights In the scientific ornament
10 requtc for the oss sustained by the absence of the
eminent men whose names / have mentioned. think
the character Of the papers for this meeting viii compare
vorably with any which have been before presented ard
at the close of the meeting the verdict will be unanimous
that the Association instead of being the Wnne 40
far AS scientific character is concerned Is hardly nj the
summit Of its usefulness aid Importance one mcotns ~
this city brought about through an h'lta'0n eA
tended 6y Col. Bird Of the Buffalo Society Of Naiuh
Science
emitting a fact which may be wuItb fvcurdihE IN 'no
election for that year IT thought advisable 10
select a presiding officer from the southern s's, ~.
Jr tho idea that such act would create an interest IN
the nroceedngs Of the association throughout the SOUTH
and call into action the scientific men IN that section
Dr. Barnard, LII. d., then President oil me Ihtelsy
~ ussisspn and now President of Columbia College IN
mis- state was accordingly elected President of the ASso
caton and Nashville appointed a. the place for the next
annual meeting. But alas the Rebellion frustrated the
expectations Of tho Newport meeting; for when Sptcm-
Der 1851 came Nashville was IN possession OF Rebels,
and il unsafe 10 hold scientific meeting there,
especially when composed entirely OF loyal men iOu inc
North The war prevented the development Of science at
the South except the manual OF arms, and the Association
finds at Buffalo that the election OF Barnard has secured
most excellent officer without appearance of increased
interest in the objects Of tho society everywhere IN tho
South We have vet no visitors south OF Washington,
and it is not probable that single southern member OF
the Association will be present at this meeting.
The telegraph has anticipated my letter in regard 20 the
opening proceedings OF tho Association this morning
The excellent addresses Of Judge Clinton and Dr. Barnard
-, "a In ID
and am precludcd from making further Illusions 10 he
AS ron have them entire, Of course hnd nothing 10
elaborate about them | can only say that they
deemed most reasonable ard udcous, and served
than ANYTHING else could have done, 10 mpaIt life cheer
and hope TO the hearts OF the almost Responding
members of the Association for whom they were designed
As have before remarked, the afternoon session was
well attended and deep interest IN the proceedings was
manifested. The session was opened by Professor Looms
whs presented very attractive paper entitled The Phys
ca Condition of the Suns Surface and the Movement Of
the Solar Spots The Professor said that in bringing
forward the subject OF Solar spots no had Not anything
particularly in regard 10 them There was probably
nothing about them The hypothesis OF iersche the
eminent astronomer had been generally accepted that the
sun is solid sphere black, and emitting but little light
and heat This black sphere is surrounded by strata Of
clouds Of different denses the inner ones being only par
TALLY luminous while the outer circle is highly luminous
The known TO contain MANY elements which are
10 be found upon our own EARTH snch as on nickel so
dium magnesium and Others which are Of very dense
character The Professor claimed that the spots upon
the sun not gmpses OF the SOLID sphere but rather
views Of the strata beneath and less luminous than the
outer strata OF gaseous formation, known as the photo
sphere. Careful investigation had developed the fact that
these spots OF the not Fixed, but have motion
from east 10 west with less angular motion at the
equator. The propositions advanced by Prot. LOOMS In
modified the hypothesis Of lerschcl IN relation
the density of gaseous straia around the SUM- the lines
of light exhibited at the spots and the relative motion OF
the spots themselves.
"1he Glacial Period in the Valley Of the ST. Lawrence
was the title OF paper by Col. Charles Whittlesey Mr.
W. said that he had prepared article upon tho Glacial
Period 10 be published IN the transactions of the Smith.
sonian Institute. The rules of the Institute rendered 1t
obligatory that nothing should be stated except facts
upon any subject, the object Of the Institute was To
contribute TO knowledge. lie had prepared hls paper for
publication with that vew and while the facts which he
would present embodied in what he had already
written for the Institute he would have the privilege OF
advancing something in the way Of theory as well as fact
Mr. w then noticed the dnft deposits found ron the
Lake of tho Woods TO the east far as New-Engand
and 70 the south far the Ohio River in an irregular
line Ho contended that the indications demonstrated
that at some remete period tho northern part OF
this continent was in a glacial state such as can
now be found in Greenland. This whole section OF
country lay under a mass OF ice moving WIN
irresistible force toward the South ald
resembling in character and movement the glaciers OF the
Alps. The origin Of this movement he thought, was IN
the expansion Of the leo while freezing and and "a INC
mass could not lateray, II was pressed forward
toward the ocean, THIS frozen river carried in its
huge boldsrs and deposited them at the line OF ITS ten
nation gradually receding however, until II disappeared
altogether, and leaving the marks or us progress ia
scratches upon the rocks in moraines and IN cavities lie
had found IN his explorations that scratches upon tho
rocks, from the Lake of the Woods TO Lake Miohgah;
parallel and indicated thet the ice mass had moved
in asouth-west From Lake Enc the scratches
were to tho southeast and in New-England the ice
seemed 10 have followed the Of the valleys THIS
immense crust OF ice had facilitated the formation Of earth
by grinding up the rocks is resste.s notion aud eaV-
ing in staas Of clay gravel &C. which he had always
found in an unyayDg position. The mass or Ice was
probably 5000 feet thick according 20 the indications
afforded by the which the boders had been LETT
upon hllltops we'll as in the valleys.
Mr.. T. steny Hunt of Montreal College expressed the
opinion that glacial period had ever existed as accord
va y the tes2y q NJ. Wlti!ssey AZ &29i4 TAI