PHENOMENA OF THE UNIVERSE. 131 



proof was this, I marked the weight of the water which was 

 in the vessel, under the line aforesaid, and then the weight 

 of water contained in a pint, and collected the ratios of the 

 measures from those of the weights. 



CAUTIONS. 



Observe whether, perchance, a closer contraction of the 

 body from the united force produce a greater ratio of weight 

 than is in proportion to the matter, whether or not this be 

 the case, will appear from the peculiar history of the weight. 

 If it should be so, the calculation is certainly erroneous, 

 and the more bodies are extended so much the more of 

 matter they possess, than is in proportion to the calculation 

 of weight and measure which depends upon it. 



The smallness of the vessel which I made use of, and the 

 form of it, although very convenient for the receiving of the 

 beforementioned cubes, was not equally suitable for the 

 taking of the ratios with the strictest accuracy. For it 

 could not well receive particles beneath a half or a quarter 

 of a grain, and that square surface, in a small and imper 

 ceptible ascent or altitude, was capable of attracting a 

 remarkable difference in the weight contrary to what it is 

 in vessels rising to a point. 



3. There is no doubt, that very many bodies noted in the 

 table receive more or less within their species, according to 

 weight and dimension. For waters, wines, and the like, 

 differ from one another in gravity. Therefore, as it respects 

 the minutest calculation, the thing itself receives some mo 

 dification ; neither can the individuals, upon which our 

 experiment falls, decide with exactness the nature of the 

 species, nor perhaps agree minutely with experiments made 

 on others. 



4. I have set down in the above table those bodies which 

 could conveniently fill the space or measure, each with its 

 body in the lump, and could, as it were, be assimilated, and 

 from the ratios of the weight, of which a judgment might 

 be formed respecting the collection of matter. Three kinds 

 of bodies, therefore, could not be brought into our compu 

 tation ; first, those which would not satisfy cubical dimen 

 sion, such as leaves, flowers, fibres, membranes ; 2dly, bo 

 dies with unequal pores and cavities, as sponges, fleeces, 

 and cork ; 3dly, pneumatic bodies are without weight. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The collection of matter in those tangible bodies, which 

 have come under my observation, is within the ratios of 



