C 4 $TR AQ'£IQ:N OF./ W : AsT&R BY H* At. 345 



created confiekrirable doubts refpecling the exiftence of the pe- 

 culiarity of water ; agai.nft the probability of which, circum- 

 fiance, .all analogical, reafoning, and every argument a priori, 

 ftrongfy: militate. 



Unwilling to remain in uncertainty, andconfidering it as a The author'* 

 pojnt'di much euriofity and interetl, I have endeavoured to in- "/re'oo^macle 

 veftigale thefubjecl by experiments conducted in a totally dif- uncertain by the 

 Jerent manner, equally calculated to exhibit the jingular ^^ s bcfwrc 

 truth,, but free from the objections tq which the others are 

 liable. In -them, it was my object to provide, that neither the 

 changes of the .actual volume of the water,, nor the alterations 

 in the dimenfions of the inftrument, fhoujd have any influence, 

 whatever. . .,,-..• 



I have already taken occafion to flate r that the purpofe of this, 

 paper is to prove,; by experiments- on the principle now men- 

 tioned, that in the confiitution of w-ater there really exifts the 

 fingularity often noticed. 



I (hall fir ft fiat e the plan of the experiments, and then detail 

 the pa/ticulars of the moft remarkable of them. 



When any body is dilated, whether hy heater cold, it necef- His attention 

 farily becomes lefs denfe, or fpecifically lighter ; and the oppofite ^ s %v JjS*? 

 effects refult from contraction. This .is the circumftance, as eve- water rifes or 

 ry one knows,. .which caufes various movements among the par- links ty *he 

 tides of fluids, when any inequality of temperature prevails in changes of 



the mafs;. hence thefe particles are little acquainted with a ftate Feature s 

 of reft. . i . 



If a partial application or fubtracYion of heat produce an in- 

 equality of denhty in a mafs of fluid, the lighter parts rife to 

 the furface, or the denfe.r fall to the bottom. 



It readily occurred, that I might avail to my felf of thefe move- 

 ments, and upon ftatical principles determine the queftion in 

 difpute. 



I had only to examine attentively water, as it was heated or which could be 



cooled in a jar, and to ©bferve, by means of thermometers, done by ^"r 

 . " »i, , r mometers duly 



what fituation the warmer, and what the coojer. parts of this pUed. 



fluid affected. 



If I ihould find that ice-cold water, in acquiring temperature, 

 fhowed, in its whole progrefs, the warmer parts near the top, it 

 would indicate that water follows the ufual law, and is expand- 

 ed like other bodies by heat. 



Or if I fhould obferve that warm water, in cooling to the For the cold 

 tracing point, had the coldeft portion uniformly at the bottom, P ort 'on s of 



the 



