cf mixed Gafes elucidated. l']X 



of motion in Us collifion with other bodies, and when it is 

 brought into fecming contad with them ; fo is a particle of 

 one gas when it is brought intofeemingcontaa; with a parti- 

 cle of another fpecies ; and in this caie the bodies may be 

 faid to have a repulfive power: but this power is eirentially 

 different from the other, in that it extends to no definite di- 

 ftance. Further, conceive a very fine capillary tube placed 

 perpendicular to the horizon, into whicii let a number of 

 correfpondent fmall magnetic wires, or particles, be inferted, 

 with their poles of the fame denomination together, or, more 

 Itridly, as near as their repulfive power would admit, one par- 

 ticle above another, the air having intercourfe amongft them. 

 Then, as the magnetic particles would not aAually touch one 

 another by reafon of their repulfion, they would feem to be 

 fupported'by the intervening air ; whereas in reality they are 

 fupported and kept at certain diftances entirely by the repul- 

 fion inherent in themfclves and their own gravitation: and 

 thus, I conceive, particles of gas fupport thofe of their own 

 kind above them, though, were they vifible, they might fecm 

 to rert upon others imnTediately nnder them ; and the ground, 

 or lowed folid or liquid furface, by fupporting the lowcft par- 

 ticle of each kind, has the weight of the whole to fuftain. 

 Thefe obfervations, together with a view of the plate above 

 alluded to, muft, I think, be fufficient to fatisfy'any one 

 what the hypothefis is. And it may be proper to add, there 

 is fomelhing much refembling polarity obfervable in the ul- 

 timate parti°lcs of bodies at the inftant of tranfition from the 

 ■ liquid to the folid ftatc': witnefs the congelation of water. 



II. Conftquences. 



It is plain from tlie above account that T conceive any one 

 gas to be conllituted of perhaps 07ie pnrt f(jlid matter, and 07ie 

 tbonjand or more parts vacuity or pore, if it may be fo called ; 

 and that into this vacuity we may throw as many other gafes 

 as we plcafc williout materially didurbing the firll, provided 

 we do not abfolutely fill the vacuity with folid matter (for fo 

 I denominate common liquids or lolids). Thus, we might 

 have hsd a dozen gafes in our atmofphere inllead of ihrcc or 

 four, all in the Hime compafs, and each retaining the fame 

 denfity it would have had alone. The heavier gas has no 

 more tendency to raife the lighter than a quantity of fliot has 

 to expel the air from its intcvftices. If iherelbrc Dr. Thoryi- 

 fon, or any other, can (how how one fluid, which is not dif- 

 placed nor any way a6U'd on by another, fliould by its r*- 

 (ttlion caufe that other to move into a higher or lower Ihilion, 

 then the mallaniaticul world will be cbht^^cJ to reconfidrr 



llieir 



