748 Transactions of the American. Institute. 



September 10, 1868. 



Samuel D. Tillman, LL. D., Cliaimian ; Mr. Charles E. Emeut, Secretary. 



The cliairman opened the proceedings witli the folloAving address : 

 Gentlemen of the Polytechnic Association — I heartily greet 

 you at our autumnal opening, confident that 3^011 are now ready to 

 resume your scientific investigations with renewed ^^gor. It has 

 been our custom to report, at each meeting, on the progress of 

 invention and discovery, and*'more particularly on those novelties 

 first published in Europe. As opportunity occurs I shall present the 

 scientific notes which I have compiled since our last meeting. In 

 our own countr}'^ the most interesting event of the past summer was 

 the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, at Chicago, extending from the 5th to the 12th of August. 

 The attendance exceeded that of any preceding meeting ; the 

 number of members reported as present, including those there 

 admitted, being about 500. Nearly all the leading universities and 

 colleges were represented by presidents or professors, and the 

 American Institute furnished its full share, five members of the 

 Polytechnic Association being present. Over 150 papers were 

 presented and nearly all of them were read. During the latter part 

 of the session it was found necessary to subdivide sections, so that 

 four meetings, for the reading of papers were held at the same time. 

 An abstract from the most important of these papers will be laid 

 before you after the ofticial report of the secretary has been received. 

 The seventeenth annual meeting of the association was characterized 

 by the harmony of its proceedings, the great variety of topics 

 presented, and the ability evinced in its discussions. Its complete 

 success was in a great measure due to facilities afforded by the 

 citizens of Chicago and the generous manner in which every wish of 

 its members was met. Nothing more Avas needed to confirm the 

 general opinion as to the benefits arising from these annual gather- 

 ings. They accomplish for science, what conventions do for religious, 

 political, and commercial objects, by securing unity of purpose, 

 concentrated effort, and expeditious action. Indeed, they do much 

 more in dispelling illusions, which are often palrued oft' as truth, 

 among those who are only captivated by novelty. While discovery 

 is constantly extending her domain, opening new paths of progress 

 and erecting new beacons, to direct those who are to follow, it is the 

 special duty of advanced men to see that no false lights are shown, 



