I70 MOTION of Small Lighted WICKS 



That the equilibrium, however, amongfl; the parts of water, 

 is difturbed by the local application of heat, though in a much 

 fmaller degree that what obtains among the inflammable fluids, 

 appears from an experiment I was led to make with a fmall 

 thin cup fwimming on water, and fo contrived as to carry and 

 feed with oil a wick, placed a little way down from the lip in 

 the infide, fo as to be on a level with the water. 1 he confe- 

 quence of this conftrucflion was, that tlie cup moved upon the 

 water very flowly, but always with the flame evidently ftern- 

 moft. The fame cup, when taken from the water, and put in- 

 to a bafon of ftrong rum, failed a great deal fafl:er, and accord- 

 ing to the fame ufual law. 



I A M much afraid, that by this time I have wearied you by 

 fuch a detail of minute fa«fls and circumflances, and by thofe 

 frequent repetitions which every new fubjedt more orTefs re- 

 quires^ And 1 ever remain. 



Dear Sir, 



Your mofl obedient faithful fervant» 

 Pat. Wilson.. 



p. S. Should you be inclined to repeat any of the experi- 

 ments, the following diredlions and mifcellaneous obfervations 

 may be attended to : The thread I made ufe of for the wicks 

 was of that foft kind commonly employed in the flowering of 

 muflin. After making the pundlure in the bafe, you put throvigh 

 a bit of the thread, which clip ftiort oflF below, and with a pin 

 force in the burr gently round the thread, to give the bafe a 

 proper hold of it. Then clip away the fuperfluous thread above, 

 leaving the wick about a quarter of an inch long ; and fo the 

 lamp is completed. Set it then upon the oil, by taking hold of 

 the wick, that the paper bafe may not be bent or diflorted by 



handling 



