Matthews, in 1834, descriptive of water works in Great Britain, and the exceedingly clever book on Hydraulics and Mechanics, published in our city last year, by THOMAS EWBANK, have furnished or indicated much of the material used in the Essay. To Ewbank's book particular obligation is acknowledged, alike for what is to be found in its pages, and for references they afford to other sources of information.

Many other miscellaneous works have been consulted which are occasionally indicated in the marginal notes.

PREFACE. yji

To Mr. David T. Valentine, the Assistant Clerk of the Board of Aldermen,

the writer is greatly indebted for the means of compiling the Memoir. His long and

faithful service in the office he holds his remarkable familiarity with all that has

been done by the corporation in relation to the water works, and indeed with all the

other business, multifarious as it is, of that body the methodical arrangements of his

office, which enabled him at once to put his hand on any paper or document inquired for combined with the most courteous and obliging disposition, have aided

unspeakably in this compilation, and saved many a weary hour of fruitless research.

A few words as to the style in which the volume is published:

It was the earnest wish and desire of the Author, that a book, commemorating so magnificent an enterprise should be sent forth with some luxury of typography,

and especially with the illustration of numerous engravings, and he earnestly

pressed this view on the Committee. But considerations of economy seemed to