66 Mr W. M. Rice's account of an ancient Vessel 



electrical state of each side then will be the same as if all the 

 stone possessed the temperature corresponding to this side. 



I have examined before a case where the temperature was 

 increasing at the extremity of the side P, and stationary at the 

 opposite end. To accomplish this we must put the end N into 

 a httle tube filled with ice, and cemented to the tourmaline. 



After the facts which I have related, we cannot explain 

 chemical actions by admitting in the atoms electrical proper- 

 ties analogous to those which heat developes in the tourma- 

 line ; for as electrical polarity does not exist but when there 

 is an elevation or diminution of the temperature, the combi- 

 nations would cease of themselves at the moment when the tem- 

 perature becomes stationary. By supposing even a permanent 

 polarity in the atoms, we cannot see how the electrical modifi- 

 cations by the increase of heat, analogous to those which are 

 observed in the tourmaline, could produce the effects due to 

 affinity. 



I do not pretend to explain in this paper how the atoms 

 become electrical, or if they possess a permanent electricity. 

 My object has been to study the electrical properties of the 

 tourmaline, and to prove that it is not possible to establish an 

 electro-chemical theory, by considering the atoms of bodies 

 like little tourmalines, or possessed of analogous properties. 



Since writing this paper, I have heard of a work of Berg- 

 man upon the tourmaline, which has been nearly forgotten. I 

 shall speak of it in my next paper, in which I shall explain 

 some new researches. 



Art. IX. — Account of an Ancient Vessel recently found under 

 the old Bed of the river Mother in Kent, and containing the 

 bones of men and animals. In a Letter. from William 

 M'Pherson Rice, Esq. F. S. A. late of the College of 

 Naval Architecture at Portsmouth, addressed to Henry 

 Ellis, Esq. F. R. S. Secretary. * 



The late discovery of a vessel under the ancient bed of the 

 river Rother having given rise to various conjectures and con- 

 tradictory statements, respecting her age and former service, 



• From the Archaeologiay vol. xx. p. 553, Lond. 1824. 



