1. ANIMALCULA OF INFUSlON^S, l^f 



reflexions do not feem ufelefs towards perfeding 

 the interefting fubjed. With the greateft eager- 

 nefs I fhall read the brief commentary which you 

 propofe oa the- letter, when it is pvibliftied at the 

 end of your new Diflertation. This commentary 

 will undoubtedly contain a number of fa6ls ; and 

 many refleftions on them will be neceflary to en» 

 hance the value of the text, too deftitute of the 

 former, and too much loaded with the latter. 



Before confidering feveral articles in your ob- 

 liging anfwer, I haften to acknowledge- a mifcon- 

 ception, or error, which the learned and eflim* 

 able M. de SaufTure has pointed out. As he 

 knows me well, he is aware that my regard for 

 truth is fmcere ; and that I am always grateful 

 to thofe who difcover my errors. In the hypo- 

 thefis, where I attempted to account for the phe- 

 nomena of animalcula, in their germ ftate, fup- 

 porting the heat of ebullition, and periihing at 

 1 06° and 108*, when developed j , and fuppofed,. 

 a5 you have feen,,that the extreme tranfparency 

 of the germs proteded them from the adion of 

 heat ; I corroborated my fuppofition,. by con- 

 Udering that the folar rays da not fenfibly warm 

 the atmofphere on high mountains, becaufe it is 

 too rare or diaphanous. I then quoted obferva- 

 tions, proving organized bodies to be mere and 

 more tranfparent as we afcend towards their ori- 

 .jia. Finally,.! infilled much on the extreme 



rarity. 



