New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-01
HE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
EFFORT OF THE PRESIDENT, PROF. JOSEPH
HENRY.
DEAD AT THE RECENT MEETING OF THE ACADEMY

FL GENTLEMEN: It is part of the bylaws of
Dc National Academy that the President at each
successive annual meeting, shall present report Of the
condition and operations of the establishment during the
previous year. II has been usual however, previous
meetings, to make this report TO the Society while in
business session; but since the public generally have
evinced interest in the Academy, have thought it,
the present OCCASION to depart from this usage and
mead this report at the public meeting well to add
no facts with regard to the history of the Association
Z Vhich may be Of general interest.
The Academy had its origin during the late civil war;
- idea. am informed being suggested by the estab
hment of Commission under the authority OF the War
I'D Navy Departments TOR examining multitude Of in
<Untons and propositions intended to improve the art
~ The officers Of the army and navy at that
&me engaged in active service and therefore such per-
pns OF scientific reputation were at the command Of
Dc President selected rs members OF the Commits
q The Survey; Charles II. Davis, SUI erinendcnt
the Naval Observatory and Joseph Henry Director of
&c Smithsonian Institution Toward the close OF the
S Xar Gen j. g. Barnard was added TO the number. The
1sbcr and responsibility II met three times week and
nequently prolonged ITS sessions until late hour Of the
light About 300 propositions were critically examined
nd reported upon. 1t during some Of The last
IONS OF this Commission that the respected and beloved
ad OF the Coast survey Prof Baohe exhibited the first
NmptOms of that Inalady which consigned him. in the
tower OF has age, TO an uniimcly grave.
The abOrs of this Commission having been stated TO
+. PRO-; AsasSz he suggested the establishment of an
Adcmy which should act as the scientific adviser OF the
government. while at the time by unity of sentiment
sni combination Of labor, striving 10 advance physical
smilar kind in Europe ard with that enthusiasm which
tcteri2e all his acts he presented the plau OF such
PRESENTATION to the lion Henry Wilson Of the senate
a the United States. This gentleman highly appreciated
81 propositions and through the influence which ne has
AYR maintained OH account Of his enlightened views and
y rsenai integrity III the councils OF the nation The
a catc0y Was organized by an act approved March g.
he r section Of the act Of incorporation declares IN
i'ucc that Louis Asassz and 40 other citizens Of the
- l,-t States hereby incorporated. constituted and
. lcmy Of Sciences Ne second section declares that
80 Academy ot SCIENCES shall consist Of not more than
20 organization iuciu ling its consultation. bylaws,
Itu.cs and regulations to provide for the election of
n cui or useful 70 such iDtiu and 10 report the
10 Congress rdc third section declares that the
adeiny shall hold annual meeting such place in
tshe United safes s BE- designated. and shall whom
a called upon by department of the Government,
3uy SUBJECT ol science and art the actual expenses Of
flch nNestistlCs eXaninatlons experiments and re-
'Nnrs, IA De paid from appropriations which may be
Tor the purpose, bat ne Academy shall receive
fc"ncnsaion whatever for any service 10 the Govern
N mt O. the United States.
showed by subsequent All OF Congress The actual
unb members al the present time is ST. six having
a he Frencb ACADEMY composed eyClusiyely of men
sdge he other OF wslch the ho,al Society in London
~ ~ c ccn'delcd The type Is composed OF men of high
% cntc reputation, Ociatcd with patrons nnd anna
sqirS Of sotnco The National Acadcny Is OF The first
q while the Ame1ci Philosophical Society and other
ocs societies are OF the second class The condition OF
fhe country al me tine OF the organization OF the Ma
1ional Aoadcmy involving hs meet On th2 part OF the
sutircly relied upon rs well a. the formation OF an
Reorganization which miGAt servo to stimulate research
fnd patronage the inducements presented by Proi
q eassl ~ 't or OF an AedIey sIh as lhoS VIII Mhieh
- had familiar IN Europe. know not ny whom the
NJ OF fftv members compiled. II comprised, how
"a or With perhaps few exceptions. the prominent
Ia Al of .cieuihc reputation in the United states The
y w members that have been added to The Academy have
81 every been chosen after critical examination OF
1her caiu the distinction, based their published
contributions 80 positive science and since the resric-
4iou a. to mcmbers has boen abolished IN time every
+sfive h"rer IN the line OF science IN i,i tne
y ne Academy docs not interfere with any OF the local
Societies the cOuutry, since these are usually OF
alana0le the charge of offensive eXcluslveness
=sny the various societies which are ablshed
80 and advocating the principles Of special classes,
saoh A. OF tbe0ogans, Physicians lawyers and III
lie National Academy Of Science, though not sup
has vet done good service in The way of reports
On succs which have been submitted 10 n by dlneTent
Executive departments Of TIE dOverAn,ht ~ Is ufue
the Government has not In all caSes atacu lleII 9i
Pic Sryc which tn9 AGGmy nronuioSs pTesened
Ifo Congress of which their advocates do not desire
sI year in connection with the Superintendent of
a. Nava, Observatory the superintendent Oh me IOs
the Preslde ut Of the Academy has acted as
one OF hc OF [le I11s' of o. me Acsd
P ~ ne FSpdon OF what has been accomplished
sp cs s % DC of s tne oO%%ssioG
swhic the following statement OF the work done by Dr.
IssoI. on the observations OF the P0aris Expedition
80 10 science which have been rescued from the III
sacd termination of that remarkable voyage During
past year DR. Besses has been engaged at the smith
sonian Institution in working up that part OF the sclel-
inc material which was saved, collected during inc 10Y
Ia G of the Poarjs IN the years 1871, letZ 800 Inc
r. uts of the Investigations will be given in three vol
mas of which the first Is nearly ready 10 he put in the
p @ Of me Rps and lS at sea-
phcal remarks Teating 70 Ban 81 ny, tS a S
Sound aud isoboson Channel OF e sea ana
.ou2 G aaa is sT MOTION a. @lO
t13sy, comprising eight lnnauonA
!; fATl M tge Sat at Poaris Bay Poaris House. the
Winter qgaTeIs D. st Of Iee Gre' Ifn@g bS%
81 & INV e Amos pressure J. Winds. 0. Face
Ui tho SKY D. ozone 4 ao t anu siSw nc tbe relative Inmid
81 force o. power dewDont for each tenth OF degree
IA %4Ef n NJ Astronomical observations.
PART Y. Magnetism and aurora
The second volume VIII DC devoted TO naniai mrtoiy'
soorTfiDg 1 FS Se g lRd volume sg0 T cof o
.fnnlogy Of the Equimaux. The Whole VIII nc eOpou3g
illustrated by wood cuts ana eI1s' % For The expe1se
OF the illustrations Congress appropriated SIooVo al It's
se.ena ation Tor experiments the bursting OF
s+an boilers was made about two years 20" ana as .s
subject which %0 "a rsised letter on The sub
tect to the secretary OF the Treasury me s'p
a commission OF eNperis, anu mas
49, heen nut under the charge Of Prof WILCOX De-
Der on tnV aies boweyer devolved upon the Academy
'bcse have mentioned. The late Alex Dallas Bache
10 lis care all his property win te eAcePU
OF house bequeathed 70 his slst ors % The
amount Of the property is nearly foVHVo' years sS
has yielded during the Of i tbis portion has been
eYnended on observations IN various pa,s " sc rao
taes for deteTn1nY Inc HgaTd the results to be
hied on maps In lines OF intensity, UP, ,be inco,ne
with accompanying table, hesn apUroDraed for series Of
photographic observations OF the sun uueI we Ibicb
~ Pref WinOck OF the Cambridge Observatory, ".on
-