360 Mr. P. Cooper on Cajnllary Attraction, 



brought into the same form, will, in addition to its weight, 

 resist a considerable pressure.* 



The disposition which is found in fluids to assume a 

 globular form, cannot be derived from any central force ; 

 for if there were any such force in one particle, from their 

 exact similarity, there would be the same force in every 

 particle ; and these equal forms, disposing each of them to 

 be the centre of its own system, would destroy each other. 



It is only, however, in the absence of bodies with sur- 

 faces favourable to a union with the positive and negative 

 terminating surfaces of the lines of fluid particles, that this 

 circular arrangement is made ; we have already observed 

 that there is a force constantly opposed to it, and the mo- 

 ment such surfaces are presented, this force urges the fluid 

 particles to resume their rectilineal position to form a 

 union with them. In this state, the inductive influence of 

 the positive and negative terminating surfaces of the fluid 

 particles, produces a considerable degree of attraction be- 

 tweeen the fluid and the surface of the solid to which it is 

 by these means united, and the lines of particles, which, 

 for instance, stretch from one side of the containing vessel 

 to the opposite side, adhere to these surfaces with con- 

 siderable force. 



In consequence of this adhesion, when the two surfaces 

 to which the lines are attached are very near to each other, 

 as in capillary tubes, the weight of these lines of particles 

 is in a great measure removed from the surface of the fluid 

 and transferred to the sides of the capillary aperture, like 

 ropes stretched between two opposite walls ; the included 

 column, in consequence, presses with less weight upon the 

 liquid surface than similar surrounding columns, and to 



• It is probable, that water in a gaseous form is divided into particles, consist- 

 ing of an atom of oxygen and an atom of hydrogen ; that, when it forms a visible 

 vapour, whether under the appearance of clouds, or in steam, or dew, these 

 particles are united into globules, varying in size under different circumstances, 

 until they become too large for their external atmospheres of light to support them ; 

 and they descend in rain, or when frozen in this globular state, in the form of hail. 

 Snow, on the other hand, and all those efflorescent incrustations of ice which are 

 formed by the progressive crystallization of water floating in the atmosphere, are 

 probably produced by the union of particles in right lines, the terminating surfaces 

 of which being unconnected, are constantly prepared to unite with any other 

 particles that approach within the sphere of their attraction. 



