Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-16
The National Academy OF sciences.


The sixteenth annual convention OF the Ma
tional Academy OF Sciences, commenced at the
Smithsonian Institution yesterday. The
Academy as Incorporated in 1855, and char
ter was granted upon the condition that when
ever called upon by any department of the
government 10 would investigate, and report
pensation, the actual expenses Of said inv estqa-
tons. however. to be borne by the government
The membership numbers about fifty, among
whom are many of the leading scientific men OF
the country. The following are the officers:
Joseph Henry, president: William Chauvenet,
vice president; DIR. Wolcott Gibbs, home secre-
tary; Lonis Agassiz, foreign secretary; Fairman
Rogers, treasurer; John T. Hoover, clerk.
At the opening session yesterday afternoon
Prof Henry, the president, presided, and DIR.
Asa Gray, the celebrated botanist, read q
eulogy on the late Dr.: John Tory, of the
Pierce followed with learned paper on ssTbe
Determination Of Singular Points Of Curves
and Surfaces by the Methods of Quaternious, .
items on the black board.
To-DAY's PROCEEDINGS.
The academy resumed its session at the
Smithsonian Institution at noon to-day, Prof.
Joseph Henry, president, in the chair, and Mr..
John Hoover secretary. There were present
Professors Joseph Henry, Benz. Silliman, Benz.
Pierce, s. +. Baird, j. H. c.. Coffin, j. T.. Hill
gard, j. Homer ILane, j. L.. lie COnte, +. b.
Meek, w. Ii. Rogers, 8. Newcomb, Chas. A.
Scbott, James c. Waters, W. ID. Whitney, Ar
mold GayOt, s. s. Newberry. and j. III. Trum-
phreys. Several ladies were also present.
Prof. j. T.. Hilgard read a paper on determ:-
nations of longitude between Europe and Anne
rica by the United States coast survey. He il
Illustrated by means of the blackboard the de-
Examinations between certain points in Europe
and America, by the electric current throu Oh
the cable. The time of transmission between
Brest and st. Pere and Valencia and Heart
Content Il about identical; the former distance
Is $50, and the latter $50 miles, and the time
OF transmission between the two points FIRST
named Is "a Of q second, and between the last
two .33 OF second. The time of transmission
between st. Pere and Brest and return occu-
PIES &c OF second. and between Valencia and
Hearts Content sc of a second. The differ
ence between Greenwich and Washington is
i've hours, eight minutes, and twelve seconds.
Dr. y. ). Newberry, of Columbia College,
New York, read an able paper on the structure
OF the "Cincinnati ant-climal," illustrating
geological structures by colored drawings.
The Professors essay elected number of
queries from Prof. Hilgard and Others all of
sv hich he answered in such a manner as showed
entire familiarity with the subject. The Pro-
fessor is a blue-eyed, scholarly-looking man;
wears long, fun beard, and is apparently
about forty-six or seven years of age. He is a
ready speaker. and evidently thoroughly inves-
tgates his subject before preparing his ESSAYS.
Prof. Simon Newcomb, of the Washington
Naval Observatory, a studious, young look
ing gentleman, next read a paper on the need
of more accurate stigations. and tables of
the celestial motions, and was listened to with
great attention. He was speaking when our
report closed.