

■ NEW THEORY OF MIXED CASES. 2G9 



other bodies intervene or not, and do not affect thofe other 

 bodies ; in the fame way I conceive two particles of any one 

 gas repel one another with the fame force whether particles of 

 other gafes intervene or not, and do not affect thofe other par- 

 ticles. A magnet is amenable to the common laws of motion * 

 in its collifion with other bodies, and when it is brought into 

 feeming contact with them ; fo is a particle of one gas when 

 it is brought into feeming contact with a particle of another 

 fpecies : and in this cafe the bodies may be faid to have a re- 

 pulfive power ; but this power is eflentially different from the 

 others, in that it extends to no definite diftance. Further, con- 

 ceive a very fine capillary tube placed perpendicular to the 

 horizon, into which let a number of correfpondent fmall mag-, 

 netic wires, or particles, be inferted with their poles of the 

 fame denomination together, or more ftrictly, as near as their 

 repuliive power would admit, one particle above another, the 

 air having intercourfe amongft them. Then, as the magnetic 

 particles would not actually touch one another, by reafon of 

 their repulfion, they would fetm to be fupported by the inter- 

 vening air, whereas in reality they are fupported and kept at 

 certain diftances intirely by the repulfion inherent in them- 

 felves, and their own gravitation : and thus I conceive par- Particles of gas 

 tides of gas fupport thofe of their own kind above them, fu £ p0rt each 

 though, were they vifible, they might feemto reft upon others fion, in the fame 

 immediately under them; and the ground, or lowefl folid or ma nner; whether 

 liquid furface, by fupporting the lowefl particle of each kind, an othergas S be 

 has the weight of the whole to fuftain. Thefe obfervations, prefent or not, 

 together with a view of the plate above alluded to, mull, I 

 think, be fuflficient to fatisfy any one what the hypothecs is. 

 And it may be proper to add, there is fomething much refem- 

 bling polarity obfervable in the ultimate particles of bodies at 

 the inftant of tranlition from the liquid to the folid flate; wit- 

 nefs the congelation of water. 



2. CONSEQUENCES. 



It is plain from the above account, that I conceive any one If a gas be one 



gas to be conftituted of perhaps one part folid matter, and o«e part matter an<i 

 .. r , ., . c . , r „ , a thoufand mere 



thoufand or more parts vacuity or pore, if it may be fo called j fpace, no differ- 



and that into this vacuity we may throw as many other gates e " ceof effe<a 



as we pleafe, without materially difturbing #e firft, provided Tther gafel in° m 



we do not abfolutely fill the vacuity with folid matter, meaning that vacuity, 



by &C> 



