0& THE MATERIALITY OP CAL0RTC. IQf 



h has been propofed to rank barites with the alcalis, whofc 

 Chemical action it in fact performs in many circumftances, but 

 from which it however differs, as I have elfewhere obferved *, 

 in fome characters, which may be confidered as limits, and 

 particularly by its infolubility in alcohol. 



XII. 



A Review of fome Experiments, zvhich have been fuppofed to 

 difprove the Materiality of Heat. By William Henry. 

 From the Memoirs of the Literary and Philofophical Society of 

 Manchejler, Vol. V. Part II. 



JL HE following remarks, on the fubject of heat, were written preface, 

 foon after the publication of Count Rumford's Inquiry con- 

 cerning the Source of the Heat evolved by Friction ; and of 

 the interefting eflays of Mr. Davy, which appeared in Dr. 

 Beddoes's Weft Country Contributions. They were tranf- 

 mitted to Dr. Beddoes, for publication, about the clofe of the 

 year 1799 ; but circumftances, with which I am unacquainted, 

 have, I believe, induced the Doctor to decline the continuation 

 of his periodical work. Thefe circumftances I deem it necef- 

 fary to ftate ; becaufe, had the effay been written nearer the 

 period of its publication, it would probably have affumed a 

 very different form. At prefent, I have not leifure to review 

 the fubject, or to attempt any material alteration ; and ftill 

 lefs, to examine whether I have been anticipated by any of 

 the authors whole effays have been publiflied during the two 

 laft years. 



A Revieiu of fome Experiments, which have been fuppofed to 

 difprove the Materiality of Heat* 



It has long been a queftion among philofophers, whether Queftlonwhe- 

 tlie fenfation of heat, and the clafs of phenomena arifing from thw heat be mat. 

 the fame caufe, be produced by a peculiar kind of matter, or 

 by motion of the particles of bodies in general. The former of 

 thefe opinions, though far from being univerfally admitted, is 

 now moft generally received ; and the peculiar body, to which 

 the phenomena of heat are referred, has been demonftrated by 

 ]fl. Lavoifier, caloric. Againft the doctrine of the French 



• Annale* de Chimie, Vol. XXXI. p. 267. 



fchool 



