168 Intelligence and Miscellanies, 



and various articles used by savage nations. Otherwise we 

 have no certain data; no historical facts to guide us in our 

 enquiries into this subject. Not even tradition, for the 

 tribes inhabiting the country when discovered by the 

 whites, were more ignorant, if possible, of the origin and 

 uses of these mounds, than we are. They had not even the 

 shadow of tradition to give them the smallest light on the 

 subject. All we know of them is derived from a very few 

 obvious facts, the rest is speculation drawn from slight 

 probability. Very respectfully, yours. 



J. MORTON. 

 Wheeling, Virginia. 



INTELLIGENCE AND MISCELLANIES. 



I. Domestic. 



1. Protest of Mr. Henry Seybert, in vindication of his 

 claim to the discovery of Fluoric acid in the Chondrodite 

 (Brucite of Col. Gibbs, Maclureite of Mr. Seybert) in 

 reference to a passage in the Memoir " on the minerals, 

 &;c. of Patterson, and the Valley of Sparta," &:c. by Mr. 

 Thos. Nuttall, with the reply of the latter. 



Remarks by the Editor. 



As Mr. Nuttall happened to be present with me, when 

 Mr. Seybert's communication was handed in, I thought 

 it but candid to show it to him and to receive his reply. 

 I will not deny that I was actuated also by the hope of 

 bringing this difference to a prompt issue, without having il 

 continued into a subsequent number. 



Letter of Mr. Seybert. 



Trenton, Nov. 11, 1822. 

 Sir, 

 Absence from Philadelphia, until within a few days, pre- 

 vented my having an opportunity, to peruse the second 

 number of Vol, v. of your Journal of Science and Arts. 



