CONTACT OP ELEM. PARTICLES. 249 



from the principle whence it has been deduced ; namely, 

 the diminution of volume which accompanies depreffions of 

 temperature. Now I fay that this diminution does not at all 

 prove that the elements of bodies have no immediate conta6t, 

 and confequently that this laft aiTertion is fo far gratuitous. 

 And this is the whole of what I defign to prove. 



If it be true that there are numerous conceptions and ex- We can eafily 



amples which are evident and eafy to be given, of bodies ^'""'y! expan- 

 ri- ^ ,., . . 1 r . . . r • r "on Without cef- 



fubjett to dilation and condenfation without Iheir parts ceafmg fation of con- 

 to be in immediate contact, it mufl neceflarily be concluded/^^* 

 that dilation and condenfation can afford no proof in this re- 

 fpe6t. For why (hould we refufe to admit fome of thefe con- 

 ceptions, or to apply fome of thefe examples to the cafe of 

 the elements ? 



1. Conceive the particles to be elongated and united by i. Inftance: the 



their extremities, like the legs of a pair of compaffes; and '^^^ °^ '^°'"P^^" 



. . . n^^y open and 



they may turn with regard to this point of union, as a centre, ihut. 



and produce condenfations and dilations of the whole apparent 



mafs of the body fucceffively. 



2. A dry fponge, or fruit, or mucofity, being plunged in 2. Sponge, &c. 

 water, will dilate without any ceffation of the fenfible con-"^^^']^ *^°'^- 

 taQ; and on the contrary, the fame bodies, when wetted, larged, 



if expofed to become dry, will undergo condenfation. 



3. The example of the dilatation of ice and fome metals by 3. Expanfion in 

 cryflallization, an example formally remarked, lludied, and"^^*'** 



well explained, particularly by the latter of the two learned 

 chemifts I have cited, muft (liew the falfity of the affertion 

 which I refute. 



Upon reading the work of Berthollet, and taking notes of 

 fuch things as I was defirous of retaining, or concerning which 

 I faw reafon to doubt, I wrote what is here tranfcribed, i, e. 

 the fummary indication of the three conceptions, or examples, 

 proper to elucidate this fubjeft. 



I had no intention of fubmitting my remark to its natural Similar remarks 

 judges, when five or fix weeks afterwards, being employed ^^ ^^^^Sc 

 in* a very different occupation, I found in the papers of a 

 learned * philofopher, which were entrufted to me at his 



death, 



* George Louis Lefage, Correfpondent of the Academy of Sci- 

 ,-^nces of Paris, afterwards CorreJ^ ondent of the National Inftitute, 

 •r Member 



