t^^ On the Conir action which takes place in Mercury 



To recapitulate the foregoing Experiments-^ 

 Observe, 



^t A, mercury Is of the specific gravity 13'6l3 at the tern* 

 perature 50. 



At 3j afcohol is of the specific gravity 'SHI at the tempera- 

 ture 50. 



At C, silver is of the specific gravity 1 0*362 at the tempera^ 

 ture 50. 



At C and D there is error shown to exist in estimating the 

 ..^specific gravity of bodies in the usual mode, without hav* 



t (ing regard to a fixed point of temperaturcj at which the 

 medium chosen to compare other bodies with should be 

 estimated at rOOO j and without having regard to the ratio 

 of contraction in the body weighed, and the medium in 

 which it is weighed. 



At E, a variation of contraction between mercury and al- 

 cohol expressed by 22 in weighing 5276 of mercury. 



At F, the error of common practice noted at D is confirmed, 

 the increased loss of weight showing the contraction of 

 water to be greater than that of mercury of equal volume; 

 it is expressed by 4*7 in 150^ on the quantity 3024. 



At G, mercury in its frozen state weighed by the hydro- 

 static balance lost 59*9 to 61 on the quantity of 100. For 

 the calculations from these facts, see L and the annexed 

 table. The mercurial thermometer felhbelow 270^ on the 

 scale below zero. 



At H, silver, going down 1 50 degrees of Fahrenheit's scale, 

 contracts -j^-^^h, part of its dimensions, which is called its 

 visible contraction^ 



The silver at 117 above zero is 10*321 



-^-^ 50 10-362 



. r- 56 below zero 10*426 



The increase of silver in its specific gravity is '0006114 

 each degree. 



At I, the error of general practice observed at D and F is con- 

 firmed. A rule is given for finding the specific gravity of 

 the al^^ohol. When '8141 at 50 above zero it appears to be 

 •86G5 at bQ below zero. 



At 



