Intelligence and Miscellanies. 173 
Not having an opportunity to refer to the original com- 
munication of the celebrated Haiiy at the time when I has- 
tily drew up the account you favored me with publishing of 
the minerals of Sparta, I may possibly have been inadver- 
tently led into some trifling error in the statement of the cir- 
cumstance alluded to by Mr. Seybert. | 
, “To err is human,—to forgive, divine.” 
For assuredly, I never entertained the presumptuous idea, 
of attempting to grasp at a single leaf of the immortal lau- 
rels of the great, and venerable and lamented Haiiy! 
But, I hope in future, Mr. Seybert will view me with less 
jealousy, for I should be sorry to beconsidered any thing less 
than his friend, orthat of any young man of such eminent pre- 
tensions to useful science. I have no pretensions to analyiti- 
cal chemistry, having ly amused myself occasionally with 
a few imperfect essays, to satisfy an ardent curiosity concern- 
ing the character of a few ambiguous minerals. I under- 
I am, Sir, with high respect, 
y umble servant. 
THO’S. NUTALL. 
2. Iron Conduit Pipes. 
The increasing efforts which are making in this country to 
supply our cities with good water, give a peculiar interest to 
every thing connected with this subject. One of the princi- 
pal practical difficulties in these undertakings arises from the 
bursting, leaking and decay of the waterpipes. Many years 
ago they were formed of cast iron in Scotland, and it ap- 
pears that cast iron pipes are now in full and successful use 
the new river water works near London. We have be- 
fore us the report of the watering committee of Philadelphia, 
which contains an important correspondence between the 
committee and Mr. Walker the engineer of the London new 
river water works. We are assured by Mr. George Vaux 
of Philadelphia, to whom we are indebted for these facts, 
that the information communicated by Mr. Walker, “ has 
been found by experience, during the last four years to be 
