[ '9' ] 



Mr. Hume however, confiflently enough I muft own, endea- 

 vours to juftify the incredulity of the Indian Prince on this occa- 

 fion ; for, p. 346, fays he, " It muft be confeffed, that in the cafe 

 " of freezing the event follows contrary to the rules of analogy, 

 " and is fuch as a rational Indian could not look for. The opera- 

 " tions of cold upon water are not gradual according to the de- 

 " grees of cold, but whenever it comes to the freezing point, the 

 " water paffes in a moment from the utmofl: liquidity to perfedi 

 " hardnefs. Such an event may therefore be denominated extra- 

 " ordinary^ and requires a pretty ftrong teftimony to render it 

 " credible to people in a warm climate." 



This flatement is incorredl in feveral points. I have already 

 fhewn that the freezing of water is analogous to that of other li- 

 quids, whether naturally or artificially rendered fo, each of which 

 has ils peculiar point of confolidation. And though water (nor 

 other liquids) does not congeal before it comes to its freezing point, 

 yet it may be cooled below that point before it freezes : it does 

 not therefore in a moment pafs into ice when it comes to that 

 point ; nay at all times, if its mafs be confiderable, it muft be long 

 expofed to that degree of cold, or to a much greater, before it is 

 converted into ice, and its converfion is gradual, a cruft being firft 

 formed on its furface, which fucceffively acquires both depth and 

 hardnefs, both being in great meafure proportioned to the degree 

 of cold. In this refped its congelation is analogous to that of wax 

 and melted metals. — He adds that, " as they never faw water in 



♦' Mufcovy 



