OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
texture Von cooling is highly crystalline and porous. Although ,$b 
iron in t^is state is as pure chemically as any bar-iron, its mechai^al 
state does not assimilate it to malleable iron, and the ingots rarely 
present th<| compactness of cast-iron of the coarser qualities. *A 
careful examination of the specimens suggests the condition, that 
much of the Character of fluidity is also due to the presince of the 
engaged carbonic oxide, which, like any gas disengaging from a 
dough-like semi^solid, causes it to flow. 
u This mechanical constitution of the pure iron removes the diffi¬ 
culty which every Iron-master must have conceived to exist, in the 
descriptions of the new method heretofore published, and it will be 
seen that the effects piqduced in the old an§f new process are strik¬ 
ingly similar ; while the iuel in the one case* is iron, in the other the 
ordinary coke or coal, In \emoving the iron from the furnace, the 
puddler depends on forming a\ude pqyous aggregate, while Mr. Bes¬ 
semer, by a.refined mechanicaKapmtion, converts the whole into a 
semi-solid, crystalline mass, full/# gas-bubbles, which flows from 
an inverted vessel, and takes th6 formkof the moulds.” 
Mr. Charles Jackson^pressed a apubt as to the practical 
value of the new pj^cess, and adduce^ the significant fact, 
that it had not in^the least affected the pyice of iron in the 
market, nor the amine of iron-works. \ 
Dr. Hayes p^joiried, that he had presented toHfie Academy 
only the interesting chemical points, avoiding the Economical 
bearing of the discovery. He was, however, prepared to 
discuss this fact, in view of its importance to the English, 
rafher than to the American matiufaEt'Cifer. 
Professor Gray presented, in the name of Dr. Engelmann, 
the following 
“ Corrections and Additions to the Synopsis of the Cactacece of the 
United States. 
“ On p. 279, the var. minor of Cereus dasyacanthus should be can¬ 
celled, and after C. longisetus , p. 280, the following added : — 
“9|. C. Rcetteri, E. in B. C. R. : ovato-cylindricus, 10- 12 costa¬ 
tus ; areolis ovato-orbiculatis ; aculeis e basi bulbosa subulatis-rubellis 
apice obscuris exterioribus 10-15, interioribus 2-5 robustioribus 
vol. hi. 44 
