58 Experiments iipon Gtmpowder. 



Upon an inspection of this figure, as well as from an 

 examination of the foregoing table, it appears that the 

 velocities determined by the two methods agree with 

 great nicety in all the experiments after the 87th ; but in 

 the 87th experiment and also in the 86th, but particu- 

 larly in the 85th, the difference in the result of these 

 different methods is very considerable : and it is remark- 

 able that in those experiments, where they disagree most, 

 the velocities of the bullets, as determined by the pen- 

 dulum, are extremely irregular ; while, on the other hand, 

 the gradual increase of the recoil as the bullets were 

 heavier, and the great regularity of the corresponding 

 velocities, afford good grounds to conclude that this dis- 

 agreement is not owing to any inaccuracy in the new 

 method of ascertaining the velocities, but to some other 

 cause, which remains to be investigated. 



But before we proceed in this inquiry, let us separate 

 the five last experiments in the foregoing table ; and 

 summing up the velocities determined by the two meth- 

 ods, we shall see by their difference how those methods 

 agreed, upon the whole, in this instance. 



Velocity. 



Weight of 

 Experiments. the Bullets. 



Grs. 



88th 600 



89th 603 , 



90th I 184 



91st 1754 



92d 2352 



Sums & difF. of the Velocities, 



Here the difference in the result of the two methods 

 does not amount to 5-oVo"th part of the whole velocity ; 

 but I lay no stress upon this extraordinary argument. 

 I am sensible that it must in some degree have been 



