266 DEPRESSION OF MELTED METALS 



ductors of caloric and electricity. Hence it is 

 that when water is poured on a perfectly dry 

 clean silk dress, it runs off, or collects in large 

 globules, while it is rapidly absorbed by linen, 

 which is a much better conductor of caloric. 

 For the same reason, a lock of wool, cotton, 

 down, or fur, will float on water a long time 

 without becoming wet. Or if one end of a 

 perfectly dry skein of silk be suspended in a 

 vessel of cold water, it remains for hours without 

 attracting the water through its fibres ; whereas 

 a skein of linen or hemp becomes very soon 

 wetted throughout. But if the water be made 

 hot, it rises through the silk also. 



In accordance with the above facts, it has been 

 found that mercury, and other melted metals, 

 instead of rising through capillary glass tubes, 

 are somewhat depressed, because they have a 

 stronger attraction for their own particles than 

 for those of the glass. That they have also a 

 stronger attraction for caloric, is evident from 

 their greater conducting power. Hence, there 

 can be no transition of caloric from liquid me- 

 tals to the glass, for the same reason that there 

 is none from cold water to silks, resins, &c. there- 

 fore no attraction. But if plates of gold, silver, 

 and tin, be inserted into mercury, the latter is 

 attracted by them, rises above its level, and is 

 incorporated with them by virtue of the same 

 power that causes all other attractions between 



