Year: 1874

chemists of this country, 1t is difilcult TO un-
derstand All other branches of science were
more or less bound in common brotherhood.
Starting many years ago with an assembly of
State geOlogists, and gradually widening Its
borders and strengthening its influence. the
American Association for the Advancement OF
Science had one by one absorbed nearly all
the leaders in the various branches OF re-
search. There were two exceptions. The civil
engineers formed a society Of their own. Ihe
chemical section WAS never strong. Then when
the National Academy of Science was formed
on more exclusive basis, and many OF the
prominent leaders Immured themselves and
their productions in the decorOus soemnty OF
that highly conservative body, there were not
wanting croakers who thought that the Amer
lean Association must undergo a rapid decline
As the weakest part OF such BODY SHOWS
most the effects of a general depletion, the
chemical section seemed the heaviest sufferer
though its loss was probably no greater than
that of other departments. And when alter
ward the American Association displayed its
Inherent vitality and more than redoubled its
membership, the chemical section had fallen
so far behind the rest that it was OyerShad-
owed The chemists did not care to bring
their fruits where they appeared in, an insg-
nifcant minority.


Meanwhile the contrast between the Ameri-
can and the British Associations for the Adj
vancement of Science was in this particular
absolutely mOrtifying Even the French AS
sociatiOn, though of very recent birth was in
this respect outstripping our own. There
seemed to be no way out of the difficulty, and
nobody could he hcld to blame for il. Now,
all at once the happy thought of Western
lady, maturing between secdtime and harvest,
has blossomed in "A full fration that has as
tonished those who tended it; and stranger
still, the swiftly ripcned fruit that has dropped
from the tree at Northumberland, serves Tor
the healing OF the American Association.
Nothing could be more simple than the process.
IL was natural to bring the chemists together.
Like some of their own solutions, and melted
perhaps in the kindly hospitality of their re-
cepiion, the separate individuals at once began
TO unite in crystallzatIOn. The one thought
uppermOst in the minds Of all who met at
Northumberland last Friday was to organize
and prrpetuate their Intercourse. Aitlliation
with the American Association was an after
thought; with many it first took shape during
the discusson.


Compared with the alternative of a weak
and separate body of chemists, the union
with the American Association as strong
chemical section simply appealed to the COM
mon sense of the Convention; and a body of
men with more of good sense indubitably
STAMPED upon their features it would be hard
to bring together. But the gain to American
science that must ensue from this union can
hardly be estimated. II is one more step
toward placing the leading body of thinkers
in natural research i'll this country on par
with their foreign brethren one more section
to fill the complete circle of the sciences
one more indication that long stride III the
advancement of science viii be marked by the
meeting of the Association that has that for
IT'S object on the 12tb inst. at Hartford.