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remark, that the late scientific and literary meeting, of the proceed- 

 ings whereof I give the following synopsis, will be considered an 

 epoch in the intellectual history of this country, if its objects be 

 carried out by a publication of the essays here enumerated, and 

 this be established as the first of a series of successful and well ar- 

 ranged annual reunions, under the auspices of the National Insti- 

 tute at the seat of Government. 



FIRST DAY. 



The first session of the literary and scientific Convention of the 

 National Institute took place at Washington city, on Monday, the 

 1st April, 1844, and was opened by a short, but clear and interest- 

 ing statement of the objects of the meeting, by his excellency John 

 Tyler, President of the United States, followed by an able and elo- 

 quent address of the Hon. Mr. Walker, " on the progress, improve- 

 ments, and present condition of American science in all its branch- 

 es." The exercises were closed by Professor Draper, of New York, 

 by a paper " on the physical constitution of the rays of the Sun, ;> 

 and by Professor Loomis, of Ohio, "on the late comet." 



2d DAY. TUESDAY, APRIL 2d. Hon. Levi Woodbury in the 

 chair. Dr. H. Humphreys, President of St. John's college, Anna- 

 polis, read a paper "on the economy of science in relation to our 

 Government." Professor Benjamin Hallowell, of Alexandria, D. 

 C., " on the liberation of caloric, in some chemical changes, that 

 are attended with an enlargement of bulk." Lieut. M. F. Maury, 

 U. S. N., "on the Gulf stream, and the currents of the ocean;" 

 and Professor George Tucker, of the University of Virginia, " on 

 the dangers most to be guarded against in the future progress of the 

 United States." 



3d DAY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3d Morning Session. Dr. Hum- 

 phreys in the chair. Professor J. G. Morris, of Baltimore, delivered 

 an essay "on the past and present state of entomology in the 

 United States;" Professor R. M. McCulloch, late of Jefferson col- 

 lege, Pennsylvania, a paper " on the attraction of a planet upon a 

 material point in space;" William B. Hodgson, of Georgia, "on 

 the Megatherioid fossils of the Atlantic coast of Georgia ;" Profes- 

 sor Morris read a paper written by Professor E. Foreman, of Balti- 

 more, " on domestic exchanges in Natural History and Geology;" 

 Captain A. Mordecai, U. S. ordnance corps, closed with an article 



