OX THE PROGRESS OE SCIENCE. 15 



that of " Prince Albert's Land." Courtesy, if no other motive, should have 

 prevented a change. 



Lieut. Gillis, who, for more than three years past, has been employed, in 

 pursuance of the directions of Congress, in conducting in Chili the obser- - 

 vations recommended to be made by the American Philosophical Society 

 and the Academy of Arts and. Sciences, has recently returned to the United 

 States, bringing with him a rich contribution to science, in a series of ob- 

 servations, amounting to nearly forty thousand, and embracing a most 

 extensive catalogue of stars. 



Under the auspices of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, 

 Mass., Mr. Lapham has recently made series of complete surveys of numer- 

 ous ancient mounds now existing in the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Lapham's 

 report will be shortly published by the Smithsonian Institution. 



An expedition under the charge of M. Deville, is about to be sent out 

 by the French Government, for the purpose of exploring some parts of 

 Brazil, Paraguay and the provinces of Para, Pernambuco, and Bahia. 



A mission is about to start, under the auspices of the Geographical So- 

 ciety of St. Petersburgh, for Kamschatka, the Kurile Islands and Rus- 

 sian America. The objects are to study the ethnography of these 

 districts, to collect specimens of their Flora and Fauna, to report on their 

 physical characteristics, and to make maps and plans of their roads, coasts, 

 and other topographical features. 



An English exploring expedition, consisting of two vessels under the 

 charge of Capt. Denham, R. N., sailed for the South Pacific in June last. 

 The ibjectof the expedition is to survey and explore all the islands be- 

 tween Australia and Valparaiso, and particularly the Fejee Islands. Mr. 

 McGillivray, the well known naturalist, was appointed to take charge of 

 the department of Natural History, and Mr. S. G. Wilson was appointed 

 artist, to make drawings of any objects in these islands likely to prove 

 interesting, and for which purpose he has been supplied with a photo- 

 graphic apparatus. 



Some months ago a Scientific Expedition was sent out from Copenhagen 

 to explore the hills of Greenland and report on their mineral resources. 

 This expedition has recently returned to Denmark, with a cargo of miner- 

 als as the fruits of their industry. The explorers have failed to find any of 

 the more precious metals ; but they have brought back iron, lead, nickel, 

 tin, and copper mixed with a little silver : the whole valued at nearly 

 two thousand pounds. The society appears to be encouraged by these 

 first-fruits of its enterprise to renewed exertions ; but the rigors of the 

 climate of Greenland deter even the Norwegian miners from embarking in 

 the adventure. 



The exploration of different portions of Africa have been continued with 



