New-York tribune., 1876-04-21
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
ANN1,,r. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DAY.

OF IMPROVING INSTRUMENTS AND oRCHEsTRAs
THE NEWLY ADMITTED FIVE.
fFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsnINeroN. April l9.-The Academy's time is
more than usually absorbed by its private sessions
10 which mono but members are admitted. lis total
membership increases slowly under the peculiar
provisions OF its charter. Originally it was organ
lied 10 contain jusl 80 membeTsnO aecretiOn being
possible In tins respect il modelled after the
French Academy. But this feature was subse-
quently modified so to permit the addition by cleo
ton of i've new members each year. 1t was calcu-
lated that the loss of members, principally
by death would average two per year; hence that
the net increase Ould not exceed three per annun
But a considerable minority Of the Academy have
long favored a less exclusive system, and the Dus-
ness sessions have often been the scene, in conse
quence If this difference of opinion OF stormy de-
bate After a contest of this Sort two years ago. IN
which Prof Benjamin Peirce vainly endeavored to
carry out such measure for pOpularizing the Acad-
emy he shook the dust of it from his feet and has
never since attended its meetings. There are III the
United States perhaps 80 men eminent In scieAthc
research who have made some notable advance III
original discovery, and have therefore the prime
qualifications of membership, but still stand at the
door ontsde 1t is scarcely an excessive eStl'
mate to suppose that in the whole country
there are produced an average of five new
the ranks of deserving candidates are not thinned
by the annual admissions. At the present session
IL candidates are pressed on the Academy, each sup
ported by a group of influential friends within BE-
fore close this letter u of these applicants viii be
disappointed and among them will be some who
far better deserve the honor of election than did sew
eral of the members with whom the Academy
started, who won their laurels in their youth ana
since have rested upon them. In short the National
Academy and the American Association for the Ad-
yancement of science each made a mistake at the
beginning the by being too exclusive, The other
by being too ndiscriminate in its membership; and
each has modified its plan by advance to the mid
die ground, whereon is safety.
WHAT THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN DOING.
Prof Henry opened the public session by delivering
the annual report which review OF the year
1t was confined to the official affairs Of the Academy ii
it wore possible to the annual address made re-
view OF the progress science during theyes or
even of some greater branches of modern discovery
the annual meeting OF the Academy would Deco me an oc
cason OF great public interest Bat the labor OF prepar
tion which such address would requre,s eVldehuy
TOO severe for the years of the venerable secr
tary and il cannot be fairly required oi Inn in addition
TO his other cares The report OF tAiS year con
tains touching aiinslPn 10 the ee death of
Prof Joseph Wlnlock. the astronomer OF Cambrldse,
the Academy who have been called away by death
during past year was VicoFroSdent "A nI} Mison'
who although not member, was one OF Inc IOuhIcis
He chief share in tbe preparation OF inc O uhr
s Wni0n snS Sn. R~viSn fine pfes.nt con dton OF
the Academy Prof. Henry remarked tnat ine pan ~
which its Headquarters were liked at washington
presented some lDcOnyenice AS center IN comparison
with la ger eties but there is 10 otaer pace III tae
men inhabitants and the local society devoted TO
science is among the most prominent IN inc lah Lne
establishment OF tine johns hOphhe UulVVrslts az ~
more certain also To concentrate at no great as
from Washington eOns'dcTSVo Oaiu o pr
men of scieuce There good Reason u nope hat
means will be found to defray the expenses OF non
resident members in travelling W ana trom Inc meetings.
The Academy, Prot Henry said. becoming IN d csI-
tam sense leader OF public opinion IN 81 Fes ~ se a
thonty. This It's appropriate POSITION INC Ieeens
instances in which the government las sought ls au
were tlen briefly uenuCHed lt4 judgment hdd been re-
quired respect To microscopic do'ermlh toi wi II
reference collecting dateSl Oh the o "oo
imported in invoices OF calves halri aud IL vas est-
mated that million OF dollars woud DO sAEea 90 ''e
revenue IN consequence. sun more ro&co1S & ~ @
tOus had been ordered to ascertain the Naue OI cftau
c1rencv: and AS to the crys,.i lztOH OF different
grade. OF sugar, as means fOr cass$lnS thei' lhe
was intrustsd 10 the Acsdomy. Dr. Emil Bcssei mas
been engaged preparing tGe material ootn,c Tor Pn
lcatiOn. Three volumes nculy complete. 1heJ
will contain the results Ia the doE-itnens Oi hfuoS-
is now under way OF winch A,m.T1,l DAVIS clarc
this will contain the narrative or tLe eXQeelOh ana
the NayS Eepartmont Tic legacy Iett by Alexander
Dallas BaChe the Academy has been aQioi ~ 90 the
preparation of magnetic survey % the Uhlel ota'es'
l to observations on sunspots eonduetod 80 CaD'iAo
Mas; 90 certain researches on isht ana Lea'. Ino
nsst vi these UNDERTAKINGS Is III coitivh 10, 10 iii
siderable progress The map Nnen com lcted vi" Pto'g
of
topography generssuy, as II will tern'no tho up sBu
direction Of the needle Tor all locnlt,es ny
the record Of these data now' the students u
years 20 the rate ami laws OF the great secl
variations, - yet ony imperiecty unaei 81 o
seryations conducted by Use late frOI
Ninlock since IA death some arrangements hato been
projected for eohalnS his WORK 4hd cohnuiHS -, rno
researches hght aud nat Are carried on .! LIARS
Plree sen Of Prof benjamin PcTce Pat or the reg
ulnF wOrk OF tho Academy CONSISTS IN having mrnofs
prepare OF s deceased members, and ne results OF ts
work stated.
THE SMITHSONIAN AND THE FUTURE.
Prof Henry took the opportunity slso TO say Few
things about the SIN tbsopiau Institution lis condition
may be briefly described nourshiDg Its fund at
prrsent having been increased by donations dJudl-
cious Insnagsment amounts TO *7l7,OO0, although
$500 900 has been expended the building ana The
ofiginai Legacy reduced only sJ4l,OOO CONGRESS mas
gIea service the Institution ana Rave relieved II OF
mAnJ expenses, suon as tne coS' ,,I oI Jaiin5 ~
for the grounds and library; ana hstery az
al,propTiation OF $4,000 per year has cleared
tba exsn National Museum IH hoei ant, mas
enabled the Smithsonian 10 devOe larger shtio Oi S
income toward publishing works OF original frseitch'
and to deiray expense OF It's system oI seeht nc eA
changes winch mas the whole Nord lOI Us noiu iho
puocaOns already issued and under way were Shlior-
atsd. Prof Hehiy sad that II vas contsinIla.od 70
authorize series o. experiHcnts 10 oeteilhino ac-
curately OF increase OF Tao ear'hs
temperature at progressive depshs ms Wa no"
rendered more pr&cecaDe Iaah sS'VIo ~ tao tsJ
aFesan wells country. AnotIer project hciGded
new and careful experiments on t.e pe11''S Oi Sn.,
taoce OF tie sun sOmo steps had been taken 10
carry TINS project ana gentleman an h"u ,0n
ised TO gVo special 1nhu iol t.io PuiP19o. , 10
The work Of obtaining accurately Tao Ncisht Oi lHo
earth by the method devised by CaveDdish would also
probably be undertaken anew, thefe DeS 40 'ae
d4y better fOr TINS purpose hau 'hO1o oI Vo Vu
e1perments Prof Henry ALLUDED 10 ms own ADVANCING
years and his anxiety 10 nave tbo -" " =,
tion VI permanent security before tHe ccse O a ne
siock tne building, and when lhe collections that
have been sent Philadepaia are returned. lIeIe
win urouinent member OF Congress ne had recently
STATED hs firm conviction that the pFoDcu couu SS' y