( 36i ) 



I began my experiments with pouring 

 fix ounces of well-water into a cylindrical 

 clay vefPel, about two feet in diameter, 

 which had for fifteen days been nearly full 

 of melted fadiitious cryftal-glafs. The water 

 immediately difperfed itfelf into a number 

 of globules, in the fame manner as mercury 

 divides when thrown upon a plain furface. 

 Thefe globules rolled about, gradually di- 

 minilhing in fize, and, in lefs than two mi- 

 nutes, difappeared. All this time not the 

 leaft detonating found was to be heard ; 

 but, attentively obferving the larger globules 

 by the bright light of the furnace, I could 

 perceive them in a ftate of fcarcely difcerni- 

 ble ebullition. I repeated this experiment 

 by emptying into the vefTel a pot contain- 

 ing eight-and-forty ounces of the fame 

 water, which now dividing into larger glo- 

 bules, enabled me to obferve the appear- 

 ances which took place in them with greater 

 precifion. At firft the globules, moving as 

 ufual on the furface of the melted glafs, 

 ihowed no fign of ebullition ; but this, a 

 few inftants afterv/ards, became vifible, in 



thofe, 



