( 3^9 ) 



fion when reduced to vapour, which, by 

 its elnftlcity, caufed the violent effedts that 

 followed. 



When the furface of the tin was cooled 

 and cdnfolidated fo that the^ water could 

 not penetrate to the part which ftill re- 

 mained fluid^ the latter only boiled, and re- 

 folved into a fmall vaporous cloud which 

 rofe in the air. 



In thefe explofions, however, irregulari- 

 ties happen for which it is not eafy to affign 

 a reafon. For example : after five or fix 

 explofions had been produced by letting 

 fall drops of water on the tin in fufion, 

 they would fuddenly ceafcj though I conti- 

 nued the fall of the drops, which, when 

 they reached the metal, only boiled and 

 evaporated. Bui: what muft appear mofl: 

 extraordinary was, that after three or four 

 drops had produced no explofion, others 

 which fell immediately after again caufed it. 

 Nor muft we imagine that the failure was 

 occafioned by the water falling not imme- 



VOL. III. B b diately 



