THE APRIL MEETING, 1844. 449 



ner have proved. This order has excited the attention, not only of such minds as 

 Cooper, Harlan, and Hays, but has also occupied the best naturalists of France, 

 Britain, Germany, and Italy. 



Fossil conchology has attracted the attention of Conrad, the Lee's, and the Ro- 

 gers', not only calling forth much ingenuity in description and classification, but 

 also throwing great light upon the relative ages of some of the most interesting 

 geological formations. The earthquake theory of the Rogers' is one of the boldest 

 generalizations, founded upon physical rcasoninfr, which our geologists have pro. 

 duced. In the parallel ridges into which the Apalachian chain is thrown, they see 

 the crests of great earthquake wavas, propagated from long lines of focal earth, 

 quake action, more violent than any which the world now witnesses. The geologist 

 deals in such sublime conceptions as a world of molten matter, tossed into waves 

 by violent efforts of escaping vapors, cooling, cracking, and rending, in dire con- 

 vulsion. He then ceases to discuss the clianges and formation of worlds, and con- 

 descends to inform us how to fertilize our soil, where to look for coal and iron, 

 copper, tin, cobalt, lead, and where we need not look for either. He is the Milton 

 of poetry, and the Watt of philosophy. And .here let me add, that the recent 

 application of chemistry to agriculture is producing the most surprising results, in 

 increasing and improving the products of the earth, and setting at defiance .Mai. 

 thus' theory of population. 



In medicine, that great and most useful branch of physics, our countrymen have 

 been most distinguished. From the days of the great philosoper, physician, pattiot, 

 and statesman, Benjamin Rush, down to the present period, our country has been 

 unsurpassed in tliis branch; but I have not time even to give an outline of tha 

 eminent Americans, whose improvements and discoveries in medicine have contri. 

 buted so much to elevate the character of our country, and advance the comfort 

 and happiness of man. Rush, one of the founders of this branch in America, was 

 one of the signers of our Declaration of Independence, and his school of tnedicinB 

 was as independent and national as his course in our revolutionary struggle. Sta- 

 tistics are chiefly concerned, as furnishing the facts connected with government 

 and political economy, but they are also ancillary to physics. The statistical work 

 of Mr. Archibald Russell, of New York, which immediately preceded the last cen- 

 Hus, contained many valuable suggestions, some of which were adopted by Con- 

 gress; and had more been incorporated into the law, the census would have been 

 much more complete and satisfactory. The recent statistical work of Mr. George 

 Tucker, of Virginia, on the census of 1840, is distinguished by great talent and 

 research, and is invaluable to the scholar, the philosopher, the statesman, and 

 philanthropist. 



Most imperfect as has been this sketch — omitting, from necessity, so many who 

 ought to have been named — 1 trust it presents some proofs, that our countrymen 

 have not failed to contribute their full proportion to the inductive sciences, whilst 

 they have, at the same time, established and administered a Government founded 

 upon principles new and sublime, now tested by great and happy results, and as 

 far transcending all its predecessors as the happiness of the whole people is above 

 that of the few. Our beautiful system of a confederate and representative repub- 

 lic appeals to Heaven for light, and aid, and support; and infidelity only can deny 

 the success of such a Government of the people ; for the sacred volume most clearly 

 predicts the advancing march of mankind and their progressive capacity for self 

 government, moving onwards and upwards in knowledge, in virtue, and religion, 



