16 On Volcanos and Earthquakes. 
as, the air absorbed by water, Se a compound of the 
three same gases, contains them in different proportions. 
The analysis of the air contained in spring water has been 
made at different times, in different places, and by different 
persons, and, a the results are all different and 
uncertain. nalysis of the air contained in rain water, 
river water, stk piatiealally sea water, should be the object 
of our immediate researches, as going more directly to our 
purpose; but I could not find any publication on this sub- 
ject. To arrive at any positive result would require no small 
trouble, and meet with many difficulties, as the ~ le 
should be a pero a — in ars ican 
bo 
quantity of oxygen, which alteration must increase its densi- 
ty. These Senediereticns have induced us, in the foregoing 
table, to represent the density of the air and water by the 
numbers 800 and 1, instead of 853 and 1. This is the expla- 
nation we have promised to give. 
The depth of the sea water is not a variable, it is an abso- 
lute quantity ; a measure which will be determined to a foot 
by calculation as soon as we have exactly the relation of the 
three gases it contains. — By our aie which is, how- 
ever, not far from the truth, we found it twenty-five thou- 
sand six isi feet. or four miles stad seven-eighths ; but 
whatever be the depth, at the point of contact, the air must 
be exactly of the same density with the water. It cannot be 
ess ; for, if it were less, it would rise to the surface ; 
if it were. more, a new quantity of it would shower again 
through the water. 
ompressed ai 
placed in this tube would acquire a velocity sev oom 
ral {mes greater than that of a cannon ball; ——_ 
LST Re ee ee ee eee eee A Ree Le ee ee RRS E SEL ey Ne TM ee een Niet eS 
