50 OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES. 



gases with great care, and gave a table of the 

 specific gravity of 21 bodies, calculated from 

 these data, and the doctrines of Gay-Lussac, 

 respecting the mode in which gases combine. 

 These results of Berzelius and Dulong differed 

 so much from 'mine as to excite my surprise ; 

 while the well known accuracy and dexterity of 

 these gentlemen naturally induced me to dis- 

 trust my former results, and to endeavour to 

 verify them by new experiments. After a good 

 many fatiguing trials made with every pre- 

 caution that I could think of, I was unable 

 to find any flaw in my former results, or to re- 

 concile them with those of Berzelius and Du- 

 long. I was satisfied that I could not approach 

 any nearer the goal by the direct road. But 

 another method of proceeding occurred to me, 

 susceptible, I thought, of an unlimited approxi- 

 mation to the truth. This method applied only 

 to oxygen and hydrogen gases. But these bo- 

 dies constitute the keystone of the building. 

 And were their specific gravities once deter- 

 mined with precision, we are enabled, by means 

 of the atomic theory, to determine with accu- 

 racy the specific gravities of most of the 

 other gases. 

 Method of I propose in this chapter to lay before the 



the author. , r . * J 



reader, a set or experiments which seem to me 

 to settle the specific gravities of these two gases, 

 without any error which can much exceed 



