of Liquids to each other. 309 



which M. La Place supposes the particles of the liq- 

 uid to be endowed, does not differ essentially from 

 the force which I have designated by the name adhesion ; 

 and with regard to the pellicle, of which I have often 

 spoken, since the calculation of this learned geometrician 

 and philosopher is founded on the supposition that the 

 mutual attractions of the particles of the liquid situated 

 a certain distance below the surface of the liquid do not 

 contribute in any way to the rising of the liquid in a 

 capillary tube, nor to any other similar effects which he 

 has considered, it seems to me that the calculations of 

 M. La Place simply relate to the force of cohesion of 

 the layer of particles at the surface, or, in other words, 

 to the pellicle in question. 



I must, however, confess that I am not sufficiently 

 well versed in the higher geometry to understand fully 

 the calculations of M. La Place on this subject ; and 

 I shall take good care not to pass judgment on them. 

 One must have, without doubt, a very profound acquaint- 

 ance with analytical methods to feel the force of his 

 demonstrations ; but I have such a high opinion of the 

 talents of this man, learned and worthy of esteem both 

 as a geometrician and as a natural-philosopher, that I 

 am always inclined to receive his opinions in matters of 

 science (as well as on every other subject) with the 

 greatest deference. 



The researches to which I have sought to call the 

 attention of philosophers would be, no doubt, of less 

 importance if it was merely a question of the explana- 

 tion of a few facts, isolated and of little utility in their 

 applications ; but the adhesion of the particles of liquids 

 to each other is probably the cause of a great variety of 

 phenomena which affect us intimately ; and for this rea- 



