THE CHEMICAL HISTORY 

 OF A CANDLE 



LECTURE I 



A CANDLE: THE FLAME ITS SOURCES STRUC- 

 TURE MOBILITY BRIGHTNESS 



I PURPOSE, in return for the honor you do us by coming 

 to see what are our proceedings here, to bring before 

 you, in the course of these lectures, the Chemical His- 

 tory of a Candle. I have taken this subject on a former 

 occasion, and, were it left to my own will, I should prefer 

 to repeat it almost every year, so abundant is the interest that 

 attaches itself to the subject, so wonderful are the varieties 

 of outlet which it offers into the various departments of phi- 

 losophy. There is not a law under which any part of this 

 universe is governed which does not come into play and is 

 touched upon in these phenomena. There is no better, there 

 is no more open door by which you can enter into the study 

 of natural philosophy than by considering the physical phe- 

 nomena of a candle. I trust, therefore, I shall not disappoint 

 you in choosing this for my subject rather than any newer 

 topic, which could not be better, were it even so good. 



And, before proceeding, let me say this also: that, though 

 our subject be so great, and our intention that of treating it 

 honestly, seriously, and philosophically, yet I mean to pass 

 away from all those who are seniors among us. I claim the 

 privilege of speaking to juveniles as a juvenile myself. I 

 have done so on former occasions, and, if you please, I shall 

 do so again. And, though I stand here with the knowledge 

 of having the words I utter given to the world, yet that shall 

 not deter me from speaking in the same familiar way to 

 those whom I esteem nearest to me on this occasion. 



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