PROCEEDINGS, &c. First Day, September 20, 1848. IN conformity with a resolution of the "Association of American Geologists and Naturalists," adopted during its session at Boston, in September, 1847, that body agreed to resolve itself into the American. Association for the Advancement of Science, and that the first meeting, under the new organization, should be held in the City of Philadelphia, on the third Wednesday (20th day) of September, 1848; and, agreeably to the arrangements and invitation of the Local Committee then appointed, the new Association held its first regular meeting this day, September 20, 1848, at the hour of 10, A. M., in the library room of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. At 12, M., the meeting was called to order by Prof. Wm. B. RoGERS, of Virginia, Chairman of the last Annual Meeting, who, after some preliminary remarks, read the draft of a Constitution and Rules of Order, which had been prepared by a committee, appointed for the purpose, at the meeting in Boston, in 1847. The Chairman of the Local Committee then submitted letters, which had been received in reply to the letters of invitation issued by that committee, accepting the invitation, from Lieut. J. M. Gillies, of Washington; Samuel Henry Dickson, of New York; Z. Allen, Esq., of Providence, R. I.; Prof. J. C. Booth, of Philadelphia; Prof. J. S. Hubbard, of Washington, D. C., and J. H. C. Coffin, of Washington, D. C. Letters, accompanied by promises to make communications to the Association, were read by the Secretary, from Prof. Joseph Henry, of Washington, D. C.; Orson Kellogg, Esq., of New York; P. S. Hunt, Esq., of Norwich, Conn.; Prof. Stephen Alexander, of Princeton, N. J., and Prof. Chester Dewey, of Rochester, N. Y. Letters, expressing the regrets of their authors at not being able to attend the present meeting, but manifesting, generally, a strong and abiding interest in the objects of the institution, were read from Prof. Edward Lasele, Williamstown, Mass.; Robert Gilmer, Esq., Baltimore; William Elliott, Esq., Henderson County, N. C.; George R. Perkins, Esq., Albany, N. Y.; Prof. Dennison Olmsted, New Haven, Conn.; Hon. Levi Woodbury, Portsmouth, N. H.; Richard C. Taylor, Esq., Philadelphia; Albert D. Wright, Esq., Brooklyn, N. Y.; H. C. Perkins, Esq., Newburyport, Mass., and Dr. J. B. S. Jackson, of Boston. The Standing Committee, appointed at the last annual meeting, then offered the following resolution, which was, after some deliberation, postponed for the present, the draft of Constitution and Rules having previously been read from the chair. Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be presented to the committee appointed at the Boston meeting, in 1847, to draft a Constitution and Rules; and that the draft prepared and circulated by said committee be adopted for the organization of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The Standing Committee also recommended that, for this day, the Association transact its business as a single body, in order to give time for receiving the titles of communications intended to be made to this meeting, and that the Standing Committee may be enabled to recommend such a division into sections, as the business before the Association may seem to require, which recommendation was agreed to. The Secretary, Prof. JOHNSON, elected at the last annual meeting, then read the following communication: Hall of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, To the Secretary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Sir,-At a meeting of this Society, held last evening, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to address a letter to the officers of the American Association for the Advancement of Sci ence, inviting the members of the Association to visit the Hall of the Academy during their stay in Philadelphia. Which I have the honour to transmit. Very respectfully, WM. GAMBEL, M. D., Recording Sec'ry. Prof. JAMES B. ROGERS, on behalf of the Local Committee, presented the following letter: University of Pennsylvania, Sept. 5, 1843. Dear Sir,-At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, held this evening, I was instructed to tender the use of the college hall to the American Association of Geologists and Scientific Men, about to assemble in this city. Will you be good enough to see the Provost upon the subject, and make such arrangements with him as will suit the Association and the college? Very truly yours, GEORGE EMLEN, JR., Sec. of the Board of Trustees. DR. JAMES B. ROGERS. Prof. ROGERS then stated that the above invitation had been accepted, and that accommodations for the meetings had been provided at the Hall of the University in Ninth street. WM. C. REDField, Esq., offered a resolution, inviting the members of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia to attend the sittings of the Convention, which was unanimously adopted. PETER A. BROWNE, Esq., submitted a resolution, that the members, as a mark of respect for the memory of their late associate, Lardner Vanuxem, Esq., deceased since the last meeting, should wear crape on the left arm during the present session. Dr. HARE would heartily concur in any suitable testimonials of respect to the excellent and estimable deceased member, but objected to the proposal of wearing crape, and suggested the possibility that before the close of the session the decease of other members might be brought to the notice of the Association. On his motion, seconded by Prof. J. B. Rogers and concurred in by Mr. Browne, the resolution was postponed for the present, and referred to the Standing Committee. Prof. J. B. ROGERS stated that, in addition to the invitation from the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, a similar invitation had been received from the Trustees of the Jefferson Medical College, to hold the meetings of the Association in their hall, when, on motion of PETER A. BROWNE, Esq., it was Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be tendered to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and of the Jefferson Medical College, for their kind offers of accommodation. The Association then took a recess till 12 o'clock, in order to allow the Standing Committee time to prepare for a future division of the body into Sections, and to attend to other duties enjoined by the existing rules. 12 o'clock, M., September 20. The first business, on re-assembling, was to have the reading of the draft of "Objects and Rules of the Association, prepared in obedience to a resolution passed last year at the meeting in Boston." The draft was read, and its provisions explained, by the chairman. The question of adopting the rules now submitted, for the permanent organization and government of the Association, was then put, and carried unanimously in the affirmative, as follows:— OBJECTS AND RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION. OBJECTS. The Society shall be called "The American Association for the Advancement of Science." The objects of the Association are, by periodical and migratory meetings, to promote intercourse between those who are cultivating science in different parts of the United States; to give a stronger and more general impulse, and a more systematic direction to scientific research in our country; and to procure for the labours of scientific men, increased facilities and a wider usefulness. RULES. Members. RULE 1. Those persons, whose names have already been enrolled in the published proceedings of the Association, and all those who have been invited to attend the meetings, shall be considered members on subscribing to these rules. RULE 2. Members of scientific societies, or learned bodies, having in view any of the objects of this Society, and publishing transactions, shall likewise be considered members on subscribing to these rules. |