90 Inquiry concerning the Nature of Heat, 



vessel which was placed over ice, in 33^ minutes, was 

 to that which passed off in 39^- minutes through the 

 bottom of the other vessel as 8825 to 8404; and con- 

 sequently, that the velocity with which the heat passed 

 through the bottom of the vessel which was exposed to 

 the frigorific rays from the surface of the cold platter 

 was to the velocity with which it passed through the 

 bottom of the other vessel in the compound ratio of 

 8825 to 8404, and of 39^ to 33^; or as 10,000 to 

 8025, which is as 5 to 4, very nearly. 



From these experiments and computations it appears 

 that the cooling of the hot body which was placed over 

 the ice-cold platter was sensibly, and very consider- 

 ably, accelerated by the vicinity of that cold body, 

 may we not venture to say, by the frigorific rays which 

 proceeded from it ? 



I made several other experiments similar to those 

 just described, and with similar results ; but I shall not 

 take up the time of the Society by giving a detailed 

 account of them. I may, perhaps, at a future time 

 find occasion to mention some of them more particu- 

 larly. 



In the two last-mentioned experiments, as the conical 

 vessels were suspended in an erect position, and had a 

 circular band or hoop of fine post paper, by which the 

 lower end of each of them was surrounded, and which 

 projected downwards half an inch below the horizontal 

 level of the bottom of the vessel, and as the air which 

 came into immediate contact with the bottom of the 

 vessel, and received heat from it (though it became 

 specifically lighter than it was before), could not make 

 its escape upwards into the atmosphere, being confined 

 and prevented from moving upwards by the thin pro- 



