New-York tribune., 1867-08-23
SCIENCE.
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR
ITS ADVANCEMENT
morning

MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOX
ITS ADVANCEMENT.
sy rsLEeRAPH TO
BURLINGTON. W., Aug 20, 1857.
The sixteenth annual meeting of this body
onen to-day with large attendance and every indca-
ton OF an important and interesting session. The mum
Der Of arrivals is over OO including many distinguished
scle nnc gentlemen from all parts OF the country 10
days session has been mainly devoted 10 ogaH~'''oh
ana preliminary business
The officers Of the Burlington meeting appointed at
the last annual session. follows: Prof j. 3 New
berry of New-York President; Prof Wocot Gibbs Of
Can6rdgeVicePresd Prof Joseph Lowering OF Sam'
bridge Permanent secretary; PIOI = D ~ man, NV
Haven, General Secretary Dr a. > Elwyn, Irca'uttr
The Association met In the CITY Han at nan past ~ i's
was called 70 order by Prof Lowering OF CambGtsc;
Permanent Secretary St She g te Br
lngtOn meeting. Prayer was then offered by ProI NJ H.
Bgkhan am Of & the Wne NJ of the city then briefly
welcomed the Association TO Burlington. MS honor
feared that they would ma t1e % e o0e receyed at
Buffalo last year but he assured the Association that the
ta theiy distneGshed guests He heartily sympathzed
with the objects OF the Association and trusted tAt Ier
prof Newberry replied in behalf OF the Association ne
said he should not properly express me IVCef Va to
graduated themselves upon the place selected TOT ths
meeting They could not have selected more aBteaDie
essociations He had no fears their reception An
excess Of hospitality, which diverted the o liz rS
me ~ s He thaKed the citizens FOR their Interest
in the Association. 1t was determined to DC nselu me
functions OF the Association are Tor the ehcoui
agement Of learning, which may 20 mgused
among the people on such mission an INSTITUTION 81 M M o.
vance scientific knowledge made IN this county ana
was confident future would develop other ana more
useful and more startling facts VI an aSsoCaQs on 70 iy
that purpose the American was the best IL was IN iaot
the foundation OF all. Modesty prevented many men
from coming forward who could contribute much 10 te
cause OF science IL the object OF this Associa,
tion to draw such ont. lie hoped the Association WOd
flourish aud be Of greater usefulness and Importance 10
prof. Lyman then read list of the papers which had
so far been presented 10 the Secretary.
letter read from Prof WOlrOtt Gibbs, NcePresl
dent regrettIng his inability 10 be present
The following Standing Committee was elected Dy
ballot; Prof Caswel OF Brown U5Vessiy 81 Dr. b 6t a.
Coffin Prof f.. n Hosford Of Cambridge, and President
Angel of burlington. -. A.,
meeting took a recess at "a till 2:3O - A..
THE afternoon devoted 10 reading or papers me
fFst OF which the "Optical Method OF studying
sOnnd" by Prof. Joseph Lowering Of Cambridge Mass
This illustrated by an ingenious instrument recently
patented Pars for measuring the vibrations Oi souhd
The discussion following the paper brought out many
The second paper by Prof Simon Newcomb OF the
United states Naval Observatory, entitled "A New Dc
termination OF the Distance OF the Sun" The author de-
scibed the different methods heretofore used In this
computation. The method which he had adopted was
the comparison OF the results obtained by simultaneous
observations the declnation Of Mars made In both
hemspleres lie found by this method the distance Of
the 20 be 92y3iOO00 miles, with probable error OF
100000 miles He also found the velocity OF light 10 be
ls5 800 miles per second.
10 the energy and ability shown by Capt Gilliss of the
United States Navy In Astronomical investigation-
Prof. &. =. Lyman OF Now Haven exhibited and eX-
planned a simple and ingenious instrument constructed
by himself, for illustrating the theory OF waves
Tho fourth paper by Col Charles Nhittlcscy OF
Cleveland, Ohio the distribution Of precious metals In
the United States, by means Of colored maps he repre-
sented tho GOLD an silver rogons OF The Wost IN an At
rrof NCwberry also added somo fcts gathered Ia his