EXPANSION AND CONDENSATION. 137 



all the powers, motions, combinations and de- 

 compositions of the elements by which we are 

 surrounded and sustained ; and, when perfectly 

 unfolded in all its relations, will be found to fur- 

 nish a simple and rational interpretation of the 

 book of nature. 



Constitution of Liquids. 



It has been shown in the preceding chapter, 

 that there is an intimate relation between the 

 elastic force of gases, and the proportions of igne- 

 ous aether which surrounds their atoms that 

 hydrogen contains a larger amount of caloric, in 

 proportion to the quantity of ponderable matter, 

 than any other known body, and possesses a cor- 

 responding degree of expansive force : but that 

 when it unites chemically with oxygen, it gives 

 out a large proportion of caloric, by which its 

 volume and elasticity are diminished. 



It has also been shown, that other things being 

 equal, the elastic force of other gaseous bodies 

 is in proportion to the amount of igneous matter 

 which is combined with any given quantity of 

 ponderable matter. 



I shall now proceed to show, that the lightest 

 and most volatile liquids are composed of ele- 

 ments which contain a large proportion of caloric 

 around their atoms. I am not aware that any 

 one, since the time of Boyle and Newton, 



