AND THE ATMOSPHERE. 



would be correspondent to its perpendicular 

 height ; it would be similar to the pressure of 

 3. block of lead, in water, or in air, at the centre 

 of gravity. The weight of the water would 

 prevent a diver from rising to the surface, as 

 well a& a piece of cork, or a bubble of air. 

 We may, therefore, conclude, that the pressure 

 which fluids oppose to bodies, is not the pres- 

 sure of weight ; and, consequently, that the 

 proposition is an erroneous one, which asserts, 

 " that the pressure of fluids is proportional to 

 the base, and the perpendicular height of that 

 fluid, whatever may be the form of the vessel, 

 or quantity of the fluid." 



It may, indeed, be stated as a corollary 

 from the demonstration above named, that the 

 pressure upon all the particles of the fluid, at 

 the same depth, is equal in every part, or, in 

 other words, the particles of fluids, at the same 

 depth, press each other every way, and in all 

 directions equally ; if this were not the case, it 

 is very justly observed, that if any particle of 

 a fluid were pressed in one part, more than it is 

 in another, it must give way, or yield, till the 

 pressure becomes every way equal ; otherwise 

 an incessant intestine motion of the particles 

 would ensue ; which is absurd, and contrary to 

 all experience. The particles, I maintain, 

 would press downwards, or sideways, as they 

 are found to do, when a hole is made in the 



