On Barometric Pressure, 85 



Distinctions are made between it and other branches of science, 

 making it a separate and insulated jDortion of human knowledge. 

 Whereas every student must have observed that, in every advance 

 he makes in chemistry, his views of Nature are enlarged, and he 

 is enabled more correctly to ascertain the laws and principles of 

 the operation of tlie grand power, the cause of all the motion 

 and union of matter. The further therefore v.'e advance, the 

 more these artificial divisions of science will be confounded, and 

 the more certainly will be preindicated a time when they will be 

 lost in the magnitude and splendour of truth. 



Notwithstanding these partial definitions and arbitrary di- 

 stinctions, every description we have of the powers, the objects, 

 and the application of this science does more justice to its im- 

 portance, and develops, not an insidated portion of knowledge, 

 but, in fact, all that v,-e include by the phrase Natural Philosophy, 

 and, more than this, the word Chemistry impHed and included. 

 I am firmly persuaded that improved chemistry, or, which is the 

 same thing, correct views on the laws which attraction or the 

 power of Nature observes, will simplify science, and render its 

 acquirement easy, delightful, and rapid. It will not appear 

 strange that I should hold chemistry destined to this honour, 

 after what has already been said ; nor do I argue so much from 

 the wonders it has already accomplished, as fiom the nature of 

 the science. Its professed object is to remove the veil from the 

 face of Nature, — to discover the wonderful properties of mat- 

 ter, — and to become acquainted with the mysterious power by 

 which they are made to produce the various movements and 

 changes in the order of things, as well those of Nature, as those, 

 of art in civilized society. Does it not comprehend the elements 

 of every science? Is it not the centre and circumference of a 

 great circle, in which they all have their origin and termination? 

 Can it be otherwise, when its sole consideration is the primuvi 

 mobile of matter ? 



[To he continued.] 



XX. On Barometric Pressure ; Whether affected by bein^ po- 

 sited Ijejieath a Balloon in the Act of ascending or descending ? 



By A Cv)KRESPONDENT. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, — xx CONVERSATION among some friends a few evenings 

 since occurred, respecting barometrical pressure; and whilst en- 

 deavouring to account for some of the phaenomena presented by 



F3 the 



