NATURE OF MUSICAL SOUNDS. 139 



five fubftances which have parted under our review poffefs cer- 

 tain properties in common, and have a degree of fimilarity in 

 their external appearance, yet they differ materially in their 

 chemical nature. There is indeed reafon to conjecture that 

 they are all compofed of the fame elements, combined toge- 

 ther in different proportions and with different degrees of 

 attraction. « 



La voider "* firft made us acquainted with the chemical com- General re- 

 pofition of oil, and proved that it confifts of hydrogene and marks * 

 carbone. This great philofopher alfo demonftrated that wax 

 differs from oil, in containing a greater proportion of carbone; 

 there is every reafon to fuppofe, that a quantity of oxygene 

 likewife enters into its compofition. It may be conjectured, 

 that the five fubftances which have paffed under our review, 

 differ from each other in the proportion of oxygene, hydro- 

 gene, and carbone ; but the prefent ftate of our knowledge 

 will not enable us to determine how far the individual proper- 

 ties will be affected by the different proportions. It had been 

 conjectured, that an addition of carbone renders a body lefs 

 fufible, and at the fame time more foluble in alcohol ; but we 

 find from the experiments recited above, that adipo-cire, which 

 is the moft fufible, is likewife the mofl foluble in alcohol. 

 Probably a good deal may depend in thefe cafes upon the ftate 

 of the combination of the ingredients, as well as upon their 

 proportions. 



II. 



On the Nature of Mufical Sounds. In Reply to Dr. Young. 

 By Mr. John Gough. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 S I R, 



JL HE controverfy between Dr. Young and me has taken aIntrodu£tory 

 new turn in your laft number; for my opponent, with the ad- remar * 

 drefs of an able politician, endeavours to fecure the victory 

 by the aid of a powerful auxiliary. For this purpofe, he has 

 attempted to opprefs my caufe, and filence my reafon s, by the 

 authority of an illuftrious name ; whom he has impreffed into 



* Lavoifier, Mem, Acad. Scienc. 1784. 



his 



