4(58 /% PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I7O9. 



whole body of it, as I found on examination. 6thly, That the air lodged in 

 the interstices of the ashes, was protruded through them as the water ascended, 

 was manifest by the intumescence of the bladder: and notwithstanding the ac- 

 cident of the bladder's falling off, I cannot but conclude that the quantity of 

 it must be equal to the like bulk of water which supplied its place. 



I repeated the same experiment in vacuo, in a tube much about the same 

 diameter as the other, but not above lO inches in length: this tube, being filled 

 with ashes as before, was placed in vacuo, where it remained some time, to 

 give liberty for the air contained in them to escape. Then plunging the lower 

 end of the tube under some water, I found that the water rose faster in the 

 ashes in that medium, than in common air; for in about 4 hours time, it had 

 reached its top: which plainly shows, that the presence of the air is so far 

 from being necessary in the production of this odd phenomenon, that it is 

 a manifest impediment to it. 



The same Experiments continued. — The ascent of water in capillary tubes 

 has been noticed some years since; but that it should rise between two glass 

 planes, whose sides lie open to the air, I had not so much as received a hint of, 

 before I first discovered it. And I find that this phenomenon is not limited 

 to glass bodies alone ; for stone, or brass, and perhaps most other bodies that 

 have smooth surfaces, or that their surfaces may become nearly contiguous to 

 one another, may give the like appearance ; as is plain by the following expe- 

 riments. I procured a pair of marble planes, that were ground as true as the 

 workman could make them : these joined together dry, without any thing be- 

 tween, I plunged their edge about a quarter of an inch under the surface of 

 the water, and continued them so for some minutes of time : then taking them 

 out, I found they could not easily be parted without sliding them one from off 

 the other: which when I had done, it was easily discoverable how far the water 

 had made its way between them, which, upon divers trials, I have found differ- 

 ent; but at all times, after newly rubbing over the planes with wood ashes, 

 the water would ascend highest. Now whether the small dust of the ashes 

 adhering to the planes may contribute any thing towards it ; or that they better 

 clear them from an oily or viscous matter, that may be communicated to them 

 from our hands, I cannot yet determine. I then took a pair of round brass 

 planes, and ordered them as before ; the success of which was the same as the 

 former. 



We may remark the extraordinary fact of the ascent of spirit of wine, or oil 

 of turpentine between two planes, without any thing to separate them, or held 

 fiat together. It cannot be imagined but that these planes must touch each 

 other in a multitude of parts ; yet, notwithstanding they are held forcibly 



