288 M. Avogadro on the relation of the Density of Bodies 



wind from the S. W. began ; it was at its greatest strength at 

 3 p. m., and subsided at sunset. 



The climate is very different from that which is experienced 

 in crossing the outer range of the Himalaya at the same 

 season. Here, at the height of 16,000 and 17,000 feet, is 

 abundance of fuel (metoh, bearing a beautiful yellow flower, 

 and no prickles,) good water, and a serene sky ; there, at an 

 inferior elevation, no firewood is nearer than five or six miles, 

 the clouds hang around the mountains, the sun is rarely visible, 

 and showers of rain are frequent. 



Art. XVI. — On the relation of the Density of Solid and 

 Fluid Bodies to the size of their Molecules, and their affinity 

 for Caloric. By M. Le Chevalier Avogadro. 



During a long series of years, the genius of mathematicians 

 and philosophers has been directed to the determination of 

 the laws which regulate the mutual action of the planetary 

 masses. The progress which has been made in this inquiry 

 since the time of Newton, is not more remarkable from the 

 beauty of the laws which have been proved to exist, than from 

 the singular accuracy with which they have enabled the astro- 

 nomer to compute the various phenomena of the celestial mo- 

 tions. 



In consequence of this advanced state of astronomical science, 

 it has for a long time been nearly stationary. The tide of 

 ambition has flowed into new channels, and the efforts of in- 

 tellectual power have been directed to the facts and laws of 

 Molecular Philosophy, as exhibited in the actions, the proper- 

 ties, and the organization of terrestrial matter. The great 

 discoveries which have been made in chemistry during the last 

 forty years have paved the way for this branch of Transcen- 

 dental Physics ; and various important preliminary laws have 

 already been established. 



The law of Definite Proportions was one of the first great 

 steps in this inquiry. The optical law of primitive forms, and 

 the connection between the optical structure and the chemical 

 composition of crystallized bodies, formed another step ; and 



