203 Relation between the Specific Gravities and 



Column II, of all the tables, gives the specific gravities 

 of the correspoading mixtures of spirit and water in Co- 

 himn I, compared with that of distilled water at C0°. 



In Column III, 100 parts by measure of pure spirit, at 

 the temperature marked on the top of every separate table, 

 is assumed as the constant standard number to which the 

 respective quantities of water by measure at the same tem- 

 perature are to be proportioned in the next column. It is 

 entitled " Spirit by Measure." 



Column IV therefore, which is entitled " Water by 

 Measure," contains the proportion of water to lOo mea- 

 sures of spirit, answering to the proportions by weight in 

 the same horizontal line in Column I. 



Column V shows the number of parts which the quan- 

 tities of spirit and water contained in the third and fourth 

 columns would measure when the mixture has been com- 

 pleted ; that is, the bulk of the whole compound after the 

 concentration or mutual penetration has fully taken place. 

 It is entitled " Bulk of Mixture." 



Column V'l gi\e3 the effect of that concentration, or 

 how mucli smaller the volume of the whole mixture is than 

 it would be if there was no such principle as the mutual 

 penetration. It is entitled " Diminution of Bulk." 



Column VII shows the quantity of pure spirit by mea- 

 svire, at the temperature in the table, contained in 100 mea- 

 sures of the mixture laid down in the fifth column ; and i% 

 entitled '^ Ouantitv of Spirit per Cent." 



And, lastly. Column VIII, entitled "Decimal Multi- 

 pliers," gives the proportion by measure of the beforemen- 

 tioned spirit, when reduced to 60° of heat, which is con- 

 tained in any measure of each compound, if measured at 

 the temperature expressed at the head of the table, pursuant 

 to the idea suggested in sir Charles Blagdcn's report, that 

 *' the simplest and most equitable method of levying the 

 duty on spirituous liquors would be to consider rectified 

 spirit as the true and only exciseable matter." 



The whole of these tables, therefore, contain, as appears 

 by the forcsroing account of them, no less than 80,000 de- 

 ductions from experiment or calculation. It is difficult to 

 speak V, ith sufficient praise of this work : those only who 

 have been in the habit of conducting similar operations are 

 at all capable of appreciating labours like these. 



§ 'Jf). There seems to be no doubt of the authenticity of 

 the experiments on which these tables are founded. They 

 ■were repeated again and again with extreme care, with the 

 most exquisite instruments^ and with great knowledge of 



the 



