Oji the Thconj of Mixed Gas^s. ¥>1 



opponent considers as useless tlie mechanical 

 maxim upon whiclr mine is founded. Thi^ 

 perplexity must be removed if possible ; auci 

 the following observation perhaps will place it 

 in a clearer light, than that in which my friend 

 has left it. The grounds of my inferences have 

 been already stated at large^ and should any 

 of the arguments prove false, they are exposed 

 to criticism. On the contrary, i\ir. Dalton's 

 reasons liave not been published ; consequently 

 any mistake they may happen to contain, will 

 be guarded from detection by our ignorance of 

 his principles, unless his conclusions can be re*, 

 futed, by comparing them with facts and the 

 axioms of Natural Philosophy. — This compa- 

 rison has been made on my part in varioiK 

 instances, to shew the incompatibility of Mr. 

 Dalton*s system with sound principles, and the 

 operations of nature. But this gentleman .en- 

 deavours to invalidate certain inferences of 

 mine, which press too heavily upon his hy- 

 pothesis, in a manner that may be called rash ; 

 because it contradicts an essential proposition 

 in Mechanics. He refuses to introduce into 

 the dispute, the centres of gravity of the fluids 

 which are to be mixed, on a presumption that 

 the consideration is useless : and this bold iir- 

 novation in the mechanical philosophy is sanc- 

 tioned by nothing but a solitary observation, 



3 



