Intelligence and Miscellanies. 181 
that he had demonstrated the practicability of accomplish- 
ing both these objects, by electro-chemical agency. He then 
exhibited to the Society two iron spikes which after being 
filed bright, had been driven into a block of wood, and kept 
immersed in sea water since June 14th, 1827. A part of 
one of the spikes had been accidentally exposed in chipping 
the block in consequence of a knot in the wood 
and the parts of the spike exposed were bright as at first, 
and without the slightest appearance of corrosion. He also 
placed betore the Society a small iron plate which had been 
scoured bright and fastened with iron nails to a piece of 
board his had been likewise immersed in sea water since 
June 14th, 1827—the iron plate exhibited its metallic lustre 
without having undergone the slightest oxidation. Dr. R. 
posed at a future period to publish an elaborate account of 
this investigation. He invited the Society to examine his ex- 
periments made on a larger scale, and among others a boat 
sheathed with iron, and placed at the Navy Yard at Brooklyn. 
11. Steam Pump. 
West Point, Feb. 15, 1829. 
Sir—I take the liberty of laying before you the result of 
some experiments made with the steam pump, an invention 
described in this Journal, Vol. XIV, p. 169. 
The experiments were made at the West Point foundry, 
where a machine has been constructed of cast iron. 
boiler used is fifty inches in length and fifteen in diameter ; 
giving a surface exposed to the fire of about ten square feet, 
or sufficient for a one horse engine of the usual kind. The 
cylinders or receivers are each of about three cubic feet or 
operation of the machine was to make five strokes per min- 
ute, or to fill and discharge one receiver three times and the 
