PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 705 



made himself fully intelligible on the many interesting points 

 touched on in his discourse. In the course of the discussion an 

 expression bordering upon irreverence drew from the chairman 

 the folio winsr remarks: 



The chair deejjly regrets that a single expression has been used 

 in the heat of debate which might be construed to imply disre- 

 spect to the Deity. The tendency of all profound study of heav- 

 enly bodies is to elevate our conceptions of the Great First Cause. 

 The revelations of science confirm more strongly our belief in a 

 Creator having infinite attributes. Modern investigations prove 

 that the countless stars or suns are parts of one grand sj^stem, 

 guided and governed by the same fiat. Research has shown that 

 the known portion of the Universe is pervaded by a subtle ethe- 

 rial medium in which all celestial bodies are immersed, and through 

 which an ubiquitous power is incessantly exerted; and further, the 

 elasticity of this medium of light, heat and actinism compels us 

 to the conclusion, that within it there is a still more attenuated 

 agency, reaching to the confines of the spiritual, and through 

 which the Creator may communicate with his intelligent ofispring. 

 Push our material conceptions as far as we can, there is still a 

 void which can only be filled by the Divine aftiatus that animates 

 creation. From the fields of mere speculation, we are compelled 

 to return with the exclamation "His ways are past finding out." 

 Science can only definitely testify to the presence throughout the 

 the Universe of a unity of power and design — that power being the 

 Divine energy, and that design a direct emanation from the Deity. 



Adjourned. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, 



January 17, 1807. 



Prof. S. D. Tillman in the chair ; T. D. Stetson, Esq. Secretary. 

 The Chairman presented the following report on new discoveries 

 and inventions : 



Belladonna. 



The London Hospital reports, recently published, contain ac- 

 counts of two cases of poisoning produced by the external appli- 

 cation of belladonna preparations. 



Meteoric Stones. 

 Leichenback calculates that on an average at least twelve meteoric 

 bodies fall daily upon the earth's surface, so that in 1,000 years 

 [Am Inst.] SS 



