XXV. On the hydrometer

Abstract

On the tS_),drome/er. ~5~ portion of inflammable ai~ take fire at the e]c(~rle flmek, and produce thole luminou~ and fiery meteors ib al]:onif}fing to mankind ; while thole whi.ch contain lefs inflammable matter, but a greater quzmtity of the fb, rriferous principles, are formed into fire-balls ,)r ferruginot~.s Roues of difl'erent magnitudes, which defccnd on the earth i whili~c the more light, or thole which are compofed only~of inflammable gales, mount into the upper regions (~f the atmoli~hcre , where, taking fire, they tly off in luminous vapours. The height to which fome of there vapours are carried before they are decompofed is amazing ; reachimr into reaions where we [hould imaFinc the atmofphere would not he of fut'ficient denfity to fuft:~(n them. But the natural hittory o[ the terreih'ial atmofphere has not yet been fi'!l,y invet~i.gated.; nor the. power, and effe&s, of ele&r city in the formatmn of litho!ogmal, mmeralogmal, vegetable, and animal fubfiances;-fub~e&s that demand the attention of the molt able chemiRs and fagaeious ptfiloibphers. Duolin, S~'l~t, 16, ~8oz. XXV. On the Hydrometer. By WILI, IAM SPEEII, Efg.