Miscellaneous Intelligence. 141 



was backed three times, but without entirely losing headway. It is a 

 very important and interesting feature of this engine, which I demon- 

 strated some years since, that the reversing power is greater than the 

 propelling power; it is nearly twice as great. When the engine is re- 

 versed, the magnetic electric induction is in favor of the battery cur- 

 rent, and augments its effects. The defect of the cells is easily reme- 

 died. The trouble growing out of the oscillating motion of the car 

 can all be obviated by using rotary instead of reciprocating engines. 

 The greatest speed attained on our last trip was about nineteen miles 

 an hour, and about seven more than in any former experiment. 



Washington, May 1, 1851, ' Chaeles G. Page. 



2, Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science at Cincinnati. — The Cincinnati meeting of the Association 

 commenced on Monday, May 5th, and continued through the week. 

 ihe attendance was large, and the papers presented numerous and 

 important, as will be seen from the following calalogue. The depart- 

 ment vvhich had the most attention was that of Geology, while at the 

 preceding meeting at New Haven there were very k\v papers on this 

 subject. The papers read are as follows : 



Astronomy, Mathematics, Physics, &c. 



4 



On the limit of perceptibility of a direct and reflected sound. By Prof. Hexet, 

 of the Smithsonian Institution. 



On an Apparatus fur determining Altitudes by means of the Boiling Point. By 

 Prof. J. Heney. 



On the Constitution of Saturn's Riuj?. By Prof. Peirce, of EQirvard, 

 xtepoii; of the Committee upon Prof Mttchel's System of Astronomical Observa- 

 tions. By Prof Peirce, Chairman of the Conmiittee. 



On a Method of determining the Velocity of Sound by Coincidences. By Prof. 



W ■ ^^^^^^ Supermtendent of the U. S. Coast Survey. 



Notes on the Zenith Telescope in determining latitudes in the Coast Survey, by 

 laJcott's Method, and on the reduction of the Observations. By Prof. A. D. Bache. 



tun-ent Chart of New York Bay, from Observations in the Coast Survey. By 

 I'rof. A. D. Bache. ^ 



p,9/^'JP^'i^Json of Curves showing the hourly changes of Magnetic Declination at 

 Philadelphia, Toronto, and Hobartown. By Prof. A. D. Bache. 



On a Modiiication of Apparatus for the Eegistration of Time, for Astronomical 



^"l^oses by means of Electricity. By W. Wurdema.nn, of Washington City. 



On the Motion of the Sun about the Centre of Gravity of the Solar System. By 

 ^rof. Geo. W. Coakley, of St. James. 



On a new method of geometrically constructing the Integration by Quadratures. 

 % Rev. Th. Hill. b j c o 



On the Longitude of the Cmcinnati Observatory by Telegraphic Operations, in 

 connection with the U. S. Coast Survey. By Prof O. M. Mitchel, Director of the 

 tmcmnati Observatory. 

 ^.On a new Theory of Statements by Proportions. By Prof Thom.vs Rajney, of 



pa a method of distinguishing between Bi-axial and Uni-axial Crystals wlien in 

 ^plates, and the results of the examination of several supposed Uui-aiial 3Iica3. 



V\^^^^AM P. Br.AKE, of New York. 

 era! • *^^*^ital courses of Storms, as opposed to the received liypotheses of gen- 

 rai wmds, founded on the allet'ed influence of equatorial temperature. By W. C. 

 ^^^nviKLD, Esq., of New York. 



^u the Mean Temperature of Cincinnati, and the Methods of calcubtmg Mean 



n!?t[^^'i^''^- % ^'- JOSEPH Rat, of Cincinnati. , . , ^ 



'^n the Ltfects of the Areas of Oceanic Temperatures on Meteorological Phe- 

 ^omeua. By Capt. C. Wilkes. 

 on a new Form of Railroad Curves. By Rev. Th. Hat. 

 ^a a curious fact in relation to a Turbme Wheel. By 3Ir. Cn.iSE, of Mass. 



