Notices of American Steam Boats. 311 



4. Chair of Comparative Anatomy in the room ofG. Cuvier at the 

 Museum of Natural History. 



The committee presented as candidates MM. Flourens, Serres, 

 Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, Dumeril and DeBlainville. 



The number of votes deposited in the urn was forty five, of which 

 DeBlainville had twenty two ; Dumeril, twenty ; Flourens, one ; 

 blank, two. DeBlainville was declared elected. 



Session of July 23. 



A letter of condolence on account of the death of Cuvier, address- 

 ed to the Academy, was received from the secretary of the Royal 

 Institution of Great Britain. " Cuvier," says this letter, " by the 

 power of his geeins, and the vast extent of his knowledge, held the 

 most eminent rank in science which it is given to man to attain. His 

 death is not a loss to France only, but to the whole world. The 

 Royal Institution which reckoned him in the small number of its 

 foreign honorary members is forcibly imjaressed with an event which 

 deprives it of the lustre which his name reflected upon it, and of 

 the example held forth by his admirable works." — Rev. Encyc. 

 Juillet, 1832. 



Art. XIV. — Notices of American Steam Boats ; by W. C. Red- 

 field, of New York. 



The increase in the number of steam boats in the waters of the 

 United States, within the last fifteen years, which has not failed to 

 excite both surprise and gratulation, is hardly greater than the im- 

 provements which have been made in their structure and efficiency. 

 Before the commencement of the period alluded to, the steam en- 

 ne had been brought nearly to the maximum of its efficiency, as a 

 ] ^-rng power, and the adaptation of its energies to the purposes of 

 gation, though less advanced, was supposed to have nearly reach- 

 ^ die same stage of perfection. About ten years since, the steam 

 Its which navigated the river Hudson, and which were doubtless 

 lerior to any others of that period, performed the passage between 

 w York and Albany, in from eighteen to thirty hours, according 

 :. he favor of circumstances: five years later, and from one to four 

 ")ly laden vessels, each of more than two hundred tons burthen, 



