Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-23
NationaI Academy or sciences.


The National Academy of Sciences continued
its sessions to-day at the Smithsonian institu-
ton. A number Of members arrived last night,
and the meeting was very largely attended this
morning. At the business SESSION Prof. F. A.
p. Barnard, president of Columbia College,
New York, was elected foreign secretary, vice
Prof. AgassiZ, deceased. The constitution and
rules limits the number of members to be elected
annually TO five. The following are the indi
yiduals honored by election to-day: Prot. G. F..
Chandler, N. ", chemist; George Davidson,
San Francisco, mathematician and astronomer;
Prof. y. Q. Marsh, New Haven, Ct, geologist;
George w. Hill, Nyack, N. Y, ma, hemsticisn
Prof. Henry Morton. of the Stevens institute,
HobokeD, n. j., ply sicist.
The following are the
PAPERs ON THE PROGRAMME TO-DAY:
On the Laws of Cyclones, by Prof. VIM. Ferrel
Neurological Notes, by Prof. BENZ. Silliman.
Account of the Scientific Results of the Polaris
Exploring Expedition, by DIR. L. Bessels. On
W. Gibbs. On the Significance of Classes and
Orders in Zoology, by DIR. T. Gill. On the
Polarization Of the ZOdiacal Light, by A. W.
Vulcanicity, by Prof. E. W. Hilgard. Report
on the Great Telescope of the U. 8. Naval
Observatory, by Prof. s. Newcomb. Some
Results of an Examination of the Us. Weather
Maps Tor the Years 1872 and 1873, by Pref. Elias
LOOMS. On Small Correction of the Velocity
OF Light, as Deduced by Experiment, by Prof.
stephen Alexander: Experiments on the Re-
lection of Sound from Flames and Heated
Gases, by Prof. Alfred M. Meyer. An Outline
of the History and Operations Of the u g. Geo
logical Survey of the Territories, With Some
The Geographical Distribution of the Ignite
Group of the Northwest, with Some Remarks
In Regard to its Age, by Prof. F. V. Hayden.
On certain Special Phenomena Sometimes
Presented by Three Of the Satellites of Jupiter
by Prof. s. Alexander.
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.
At yesterdays session, Professor Newcomb,
of the Naval Observatory, a member OF the
ommission on the transit of Venus, detailed
the work already completed by the com mission,
and the plans decided upon for the observations
in December next. Eight parties will be sent
from the United States, and arrans ements have
been made with the German, French and Eng
lish governments to compare and exchange the
results attained by the parties sent from those
countries Three of the parties will be estab-
lished In the Northern Hemisphere, and fl We in
the Southern. Those in the Northern will be at
Wlsdiyostok, In Siberia, under Professor Hall,
OF the navy; at Nagasaki, Japan, under Pro-
lessor Davidson, of the Coast Survey; and at
Pekln, China, under Professor Watson, of Ann
Arbor. The parties established in the Southern
States sloop- Of war Swatafa, and will be dis
tr1huted as follows:-At Croset's Island, Indian
ocean, under Captain Raymond, of the Army
Engineer Corps; Kerguelen Island, Southern
ocean, under Lieutenant Commander Ryan,
United States Navy; Hobart Town, Southern
Africa, under Professor Hardness, United
states Navy; Tasmania, New Zealand. under
Lieutenant Peters, United States Navy; and at
Chatham Island, Indian Ocean, under Profess
sor Smith, of the Coast Survey.
ANOTHER PLANET.-Professor Forster, OF
the Berlin Observatory, announced last night
to Professor Henry the discovery of a new
planet, of the twelfth magnitude, in 13 hours
l9h minutes right ascension, and degrees
minutes south declination.
THE JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEE investigat
Ing District affairs, il is understood, have
agreed to report a bill with reference to the
meetings of the legislature of the District The
Of IL, il lie said, will be to allow the Legislature
to meet. but to restrict the session to thirty
days. This action is taken in order to enable
them to make appropriations and provide the
usual revenue by the ordinary system of taxa
ton to carry on the affairs Of the local govern
meDt.
THR KEY WEST FLoTILLA DISPERSED
Rear Admiral Scott, at Key West, has dispersed
the several sea- going vessels under his com
mand TO various ports OF the north Atlantic sta
tioD. The Csnandsigua is visiting ports on the
north and south coasts of San Domingo: the
Kansas the ports of Hayti; the OssIpee has gone
TO the Spanish main. and will visit AspinwalI
and Greytown; the Wachusett has been sent to
visit PORTS on the gulf and on the coast of Mex-
leo; the Brooklyn Is about leaving for the
Windward Islands, and the Sbawmut to visit
the ports on the south coast OF Cuba. The Col
orado was expected from Havana about the 9th
inst, when she will take the place of the wor-
cester as flagship. The other vessels above
mentioned Will return to Key West probably
about the LIST TO 18th of June.