CHEMICAL HISTORY OP A CANDLE 123 



Ing to a cubic foot]. There, by its side, is a cubic inch, 

 exactly the same shape as the cubic foot, and that bulk of 

 water [the cubic inch] is sufficient to expand into that bulk 

 [the cubic foot] of steam; and, 

 on the contrary, the application 

 of cold will contract that large 

 quantity of steam into this small 

 quantity of water. [One of the 

 iron bottles burst at that mo- 

 ment] Ah ! There is one of our 

 bottles burst, and here, you see, 

 is a crack down one side an 



eighth of an inch in width. [The other now exploded, send- 

 ing the freezing mixture in all directions.] This other bottle 

 is also broken; although the iron was nearly half an inch 

 thick, the ice has burst it asunder. These changes always 

 take place in water ; they do not require to be always produced 

 by artificial means ; we only use them here because we want 

 to produce a small winter round that little bottle instead 

 of a long and severe one. But if you go to Canada, or to 

 the North, you will find the temperature there out of doors 

 will do the same thing as has been done here by the freezing 

 mixture. 



To return to our quiet philosophy. We shall not in future 

 be deceived, therefore, by any changes that are produced in 

 water. Water is the same every where, whether produced 

 from the ocean or from the flame of the candle. Where, 

 then, is this water which we get from a candle? I must 

 anticipate a little, and tell you. It evidently comes, as to 

 part of it, from the candle, but is it within the candle before- 

 hand? No, it is not in the candle; and it is not in the air 

 around about the candle which is necessary for its com- 

 bustion. It is neither in one nor the other, but it comes 

 from their conjoint action, a part from the candle, a part 

 from the air; and this we have now to trace, so that we 

 may understand thoroughly what is the chemical history of 

 a candle when we have it burning on our table. How shall 

 we get at this? I myself know plenty of ways, but I want 

 you to get at it from the association in your own minds of 

 what I have already told you. 



