a 
PHYSIGAL ann LITERARY. 73 
Qurx. VIII. Is it not poflible to prove 
by experiment what Sir Iaac Newton 
takes for granted as a reafonable fuppofi- 
tion, that thin tranfparent plates, of any 
uniform colour, divided into fmaller frag- 
ments, would compofe a powder of like 
colour *? And would not this tend to 
ftrengthen the analogy between the co- 
Jourspf fuch plates and thofe of natural 
bodies ? For this purpofe, I have tried to 
freeze foap-bubbles ; but could never 
make any ftand till they were turned to 
ice, except fuch as were too thick to have 
lively colours: .However, I doubt not, 
but, with due care, the thing might be- 
done; efpecially, if the foap-water, in- 
ftead of being blown with a pipe into 
bubbles, were drawn out into a plain 
plate upon any wooden or metalline 
frame: For, the fides of a plain furface 
bearing a greater proportion to its area, 
than a bafe of a fpherical fezment to its 
- furface, the froft would be fooner com- 
municated to the whole water in the for- 
~ mercafethan in the latter, There is this 
Vou. Il. K advantage 
* Newton’s Opt. book 2. part 3. prop. 5. 
