268 Dr. Reynolds on Meteors. 
Qdly. The situation of the earth’s surface in respect to the sun, 
the influence of his rays thereon, and the nature of the elements 
or compounds on which these rays act : 
And 3dly. The identity that exists between the component parts 
of meteoric stones, and the elements that enter abundantly into 
the composition of our globe ; and by several other facts and ar- 
ments. : 
Under my first general specification, I will select such princi- 
ples from the established doctrines of philosophy, as have an im- 
mediate bearing on the subject; without engaging in any of those 
subtle speculations in which certain recondite properties of mat- 
ter, or the identities of quality and body are affirmed or denied. 
"Thus, Ist. Heat is the universal cause of fluidity and volatil- 
ity in bodies ; hence no solid can assume the state of gas, until 
it absorbs, or unites with, a certain portion of caloric ; and the 
ubtilty and volatility of compounds thus formed, will be in a due 
ratio to the quantity of caloric they employ. oe: 
_ diy. The heat employed to maintain a body in the gaseous 
state, is said to be latent or fixed, and may be regarded as an 
ocean or atmosphere of fire, holding'the ultimate particles of the 
body in a state of extreme division, and wide separation, from 
which they can be driven only by some change in the affinities 
or condition of the compound. a 
Sdly. If the latent heat in a gaseous compound be suddenly 
abstracted, as in explosion, its escape is attended with the emis- 
sion of light and sensible heat, when the volatilized particles 
held in solution being no longer able to maintain the state of gas, 
suffer approximation in a due proportion to the quantity of calor- 
ic they have lost. eo 
| 4thly. Caloric, in reducing solids to the state of gas, lessens, 
but cannot in any case, as far as we know, totally destroy their 
gravitating force ; the diminution of this force, however, being 
in a direct proportion to the quantity of heat employed. mene? 
the following inferences may be fairy drawn, as they eem 
to be in unison with the relative dependence and iegniet 
ny existing between the material elements of this globe, and, | 
believe, are contradicted by no direct experiments 5 via. that 
