1864. Recent Scientific Progress in America. EPA 
d 
the passage in 18 days and 18 hours, though the sea was so rough that 
the accompanying Italian frigate was almost lost. 
As regards the protection of forts by iron, a paper has been written 
by General Barnard, in which it is shown that the only parts necessary 
to be protected in sea-coast works are the embrasures. In landworks 
he suggests having turrets in the salients, and, perhaps, sheathing the 
searp wall. In the constructions of this kind, hitherto tested under 
fire, the plating has been with a double layer of railroad iron. After 
the capture of Fort de Russy, some experiments were made on such 
casemates, when it was found that they were very soon wrecked by the 
fire of 9-inch guns. The appearance in the figure shows the effect 
on casemate No. 2, at Fort Hindman, of the fire of the iron-clad 
‘Lexington,’ at 400 yards. It is copicd from the official drawing. 
aiff | 
The most interesting mineralogical novelty is the development of 
petroleum boring. The quantity of this fluid exported during the 
past year was about 28,000,000 gallons, and the amount derived from 
its sale 2,400,0002. The export in 1861 was 1,112,476 gallons; in 
