National Institute of the United States. 469 



sition which, arising in the political institutions of that country, per- 

 vades all classes of men and affects all attempts at organization ; a 

 feeling which is the reverse of every thing like centralization. The 

 Philadelphia meeting demonstrated the possibility of success, not- 

 withstanding these adverse circumstances. 



The National Institute, therefore, under the immediate auspices 

 of the government, proposed to hold in Washington, during the first 

 week in April, a general meeting, and issued a circular inviting those 

 interested in the advancement of knowledge to attend. 



At the first session the chair was taken by the President of the 

 United States, the cabinet ministers being present, and many mem- 

 bers of both houses of Congress. 



The President in a very appropriate manner stated the objects of 

 the meeting, and briefly addressed the members of the Institute. 



A preliminary oration was made by the Hon. It. Walker, senator 

 from Mississippi ; he gave a general sketch of the progress of science 

 in America, of the different philosophical discoveries which had been 

 made in that country, and dwelt on the necessity of an organized 

 union among the men of science. 



The scientific business of the Institute was then opened by a paper, 

 read by Professor Draper of the University of New York, on the 

 physical constitution of the solar rays, and on the existence of a new 

 imponderable principle ; the results given in this communication we 

 expect to publish in this Journal shortly. Prof. Loomis, of Western 

 Reserve College, Ohio, then read a paper on the great comet of 

 1843. Iff aoiauhaoo 



The Institute continued its sittings for seven days, during which 

 a great number of very interesting communications were made ; 

 these embraced the various departments of philosophy and letters. 

 Among them we may mention the following as being those con- 

 nected with physical and natural science : — 



Prof. Bache, on science in Europe and America. 



Lieut. Maury, U.S.N., on the Gulf Stream. 



Prof. Hallowell, of the Medical College at Washington, on certain 

 chemical changes attended with a disengagement of caloric. 



Prof. MacCulloh, of Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, on the at- 

 traction of a planet for a material point in space. 



Capt. Mordecai, of the United States Ordnance Department, on a 

 ballistic pendulum used for experiments in gunnery at the arsenal. 



Prof. Locke, of Cincinnati, Ohio, on some geological, magnetic, 

 and meteorological observations made at Lake Superior. 



Prof. Mather, of the University of Ohio, on the physical geology 

 of the United States. 



Prof. Jacobs, of Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, on the Indian 

 Summer. 



Mr. Gill, of New York, on some relations of mathematics to na- 

 tural science. 



Mr. Agnew, of New York, on the glacier theory. 



Prof. Norton, of Delaware College, on an extension of the nebular 

 hypothesis. MjriJ at ylnnsra iud 



