NAVIGATION. BOTANY.

The proceedings of the day were opened with prayer by Rev. GEO. W.
BETHUNE, D.D., of Brooklyn.

Hon. GARRIT Y. LANSING, of Albany, then introduced Professor LOUIS
AGASSIZ, of Cambridge, Mass., who was the first of the "seven men of
science" to entertain his audience, always with the aid of the
inevitable black-board, without which the excellent Professor would be
as much at a loss as a chemist without a laboratory. Professor AGASSIZ
spoke for an hour, giving his views of a new theory of animal
development. He began by saying:--

We are here to inaugurate the Geological Hall, which has grown
out of the geological survey of the State. To make the occasion
memorable, a distinguished statesman of your own State, and Mr.
FRANK C. GRAY, were expected to be present and address you. The
pressure of public duties has detained Mr. SEWARD, and severe
sickness has detained Mr. GRAY. I deeply lament that the occasion
is lost to you to hear my friend Mr. GRAY, who is a devotee to
science, and as warm-hearted a friend as ever I knew. Night
before last I was requested to assist in taking their place--I,
who am the most unfit of men for the post. I never made a speech.
I have addressed learned bodies, but I lack that liberty of
speech--the ability to present in finished style, and with that
rich imagery which characterize the words of the orator, the
thoughts fitting to such an occasion as this. He would limit
himself, he continued, to presenting some motives why the
community should patronize science, and foster such institutions
as this. We scientific men regard this as an occasion of the
highest interest, and thus do not hesitate to give the sanction
of the highest learned body of the country as an indorsement of
the liberality of this State. The geological survey of New York
has given to the world a new nomenclature. No geologist can,
hereafter, describe the several strata of the earth without
referring to it. Its results, as recorded in your published
volumes, are treasured in the most valuable libraries of the
world. They have made this city famous; and now, when the
scientific geologist lands on your shore, his first question is,
"Which is the way to Albany? I want to see your fossils." But
Paleontology is only one branch of the subject, an