350 On the Corahustion of Hydrogen in Water. 



I 



Next I took another small tin cup filled with water, and 



with my blowpipe applied its flarae to its external and ver- 

 tical surface, at an inch or two below the level of the surface 

 of the water it contained ; when in a short time, the metal 

 became heated to redness, next to whiteness, and very soon 

 afterwards a perforation appeared, through which the water 

 escaped and the flame entered. Very soon after the ap- 

 plication of the flame, the waterboiled violently in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of the heated metallic surface; it became beauti- 

 fully luminous, and strange as it may seem, the redness and 

 whiteness of the heated metal as mentioned above, was ex- 

 hibited, not on the exterior surface of the cup only, 6i^^ also 

 on the very surface to which the water was contiguous. The 

 experiment was often repeated, and with great gratification 

 to the beholders* How great then must be the energy of 

 the hydro-oxygen flame, compared with that of a smith s 

 forge ! 



This flame also burns beneath the surface of alcohol — 

 but this inflammable fluid has not only the inconvenience of 

 burning on its surface, but in consequence, probably, of this 

 inflammability, is more liable than water is, to recession. 



I have thus far detailed the little experiments which have 

 lately amused me and my friends, I am not much disposed 

 to indulge in speculation on the applications, which, in the 

 course of the progress of science, may be made of these 

 facts ; yet I cannot refrain from observing, that the 

 possibility of effecting the combustion of most substan- 

 ces, with an agent so energetic as the heat evolved by the 

 gases in question, seems to point distinctly among other 

 things, to their employment as a sub-marine instrumenl of 

 naval warfare. From the experiments I have made, {and 

 these loo, with means having no reference -whatever^ to the 



accomplishment of such a purpose,} I am fully satisfied that 

 success may be commanded, and that, in this respect, it 

 will depend on, and be obtained by, the existence of these 

 three circumstances, to wit : 



1st, On causing the mixed gases to issue from fine capil- 

 lary lubes, of one or two inches long so as to prevent reces- 

 sion. 



2d, On cxpelh'ng them with such velocity as io cause 

 them to effect a considerable displacement of the water, and 



