On the Ring of Saturn. 409 
recent discoveries, to a theory of the intimate composition and 
combinations of bodies, appears to me to have been extremely 
happy; at the sane time that it may not be correct in some 
points ; that its different parts may not be perfectly connected ; 
in short, that it may be an outline rather than a theory well 
established :—this is our opinion, but it does not diminish the 
value of this application. 
We regret that the extent of this article does not permit us 
to cite some passages from the work itself, in which Mr. Higgins 
has developed his ideas, and which would serve much better 
than all we could say to make known the importance of this. 
work : but that would lead us far beyond our limits. 
Mr. Higgins presents also in the work before us some views 
on the mode of action of electricity, which he considers as dis- 
engaging a portion of the caloric of gases, and by that means 
-producing the phenomena of thunder and lightning, of voleanic 
eruptions, of earthquakes, of combinations, &e, We do not 
feel ourselves called upon to follow him on this object, which he 
eifers only as an hypothesis equal to the explanation of the facta 
which have also been explained in so many different ways. 
LXVIII. On the Ring of Saturn. By Count Laruace. 
Two principles are necessary to maintain the ring of Saturn, 
in equilibrio round this planet. One of them relates to the 
equilibrium of its own parts, which recuires that the particles of 
the surface of the ring should have no tendency to detach thems 
selves; and if we suppose this surface to be fluid, it is maintained 
in consequence of the different forces by which it is acted upon. 
Without this, the continual effort of its particles would end by 
detaching themselves, and the ring would be destroyed, like alf 
the works of Nature which have not in themselves a sufficient 
cause of stability to resist the action of contrary forees. I have 
proved in the third book of the Mécanique Céleste, that this 
is an atom of sulphurous acid : a second particle of oxygen unites so as to 
produce an atom of sulphuric acid ;—the one particle of sulphur and the one 
of oxygen are combined with greater force than the one of sulphur and the 
two of oxygen in the atom of “sulphuric acid. He extends the same prin- 
ciples to bodies which unite ] and 3, ] and 4, and Land 5. He instances 
the different compounds of azote and oxygen in nitrous acids and nitrous 
gases; and so on, to the union of oxygen to the different metals. These 
principles heing once developed, it is easy to conceive the play of affinities, 
gad the phienomena which are produced during the chemical action of 
bodies on each other, This part of the doctrine has beea demons‘rated by 
means of diegrams and numbers, &c. It is extraordinary that this valuable 
part of the system should be passed over in silence by those who have en-~ 
gaged themselves on the subject of definite proportions.—Tr. 
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