\£(y ON THE PHENOMENA OF SOUND. 



qualified to difcufs the fubject of harmonics ; and fo important 

 with regard to the qucftion at prefent in difpute, that I can 

 fcarcely conceive how a perfon, acquainted with it, can omit 

 to endeavour to reconcile it with his opinions, efpecially when 

 The grave har- challenged by his opponent to take it into confi deration. Here 

 mixture TutA * s a P r °duct of combination which pofleflfes properties totally 

 compound. different from thofe of its conflituent parts ; its pitch is always 



much lower, its quality of tone is perfectly Angular, and the 

 hearer is fometimes almoft inclined to imagine its direction to 

 he different from that of the original founds ; a circumftanee 

 which he fometimes expreffes by faying, that the found " rings 

 in his ears." Mr. Gough cannot controvert this fact by any 

 reafoning : if he can. perfuade me that fuch a found is a mix- 

 ture and not a compound by partial coalefcence, we fhall then 

 be nearly of the fame opinion. 

 Illustration from Will Mr. Gough deny, that when a fmall pendulum is fuf- 

 a compound pen- pended to the heavy weight of a larger one, its-motion is com- 

 pounded of larger and fmaller vibrations ? Or will he infift that 

 the refult is a mixed motion, and not a compound one ? The 

 eye certainly follows each vibration feparately, although the 

 vibrations may be fo proportioned that a joint order and fe- 

 quence may be obferved, which may produce effects peculiar 

 to the combination, and difcoverable in neither of the original 

 motions. The comparifon appears to me to be perfectly ap- 

 polite, and if Mr. Gough allows it, I can fcarcely imagiae 

 what caufe there is left for further controverfy. 



I beg leave once more to recommend the grave harmonics 

 to Mr. Gough's notice, and to intreat him to fufpend any fur- 

 ther reply to my remarks until he has made him felf thoroughly 

 acquainted with thefe interesting phenomena. 

 I am, Sir, 



Your faithful humble fervant, 



THOMAS YOUNG. 



Royal hijlitution, 

 0.8. \2, 1802, 



II. On 



