124 Expe7^iments to determine 



fined in the barrel ; for, upon raising the weight by 

 means of its lever, and suffering this vapour to escape, 

 instead of escaping with a loud report, it rushed out 

 with a hissing noise hardly so loud or so sharp as the 

 report of a common air gun ; and its efforts against the 

 leathern stopper, by which it assisted in raising the 

 weight, were so very feeble as not to be sensible. Upon 

 examining the barrel, however, this diminution of the 

 force of the generated elastic fluid was easily explained ; 

 for what was undoubtedly in the moment of the explo- 

 sion in the form of an elastic fluid was now found trans- 

 formed into a solid body as hard as a stone ! It may 

 easily be imagined how much this unexpected appearance 

 excited my curiosity ; but, intent on the prosecution of 

 the main design of these experiments, the ascertaining 

 the force of fired gunpowder, I was determined not to 

 permit myself to be enticed away from it by any extraor- 

 dinary or unexpected appearances, or accidental dis- 

 coveries, however alluring they might be ; and, faithful 

 to this resolution, I postponed the examination of this 

 curious phasnomenon to a future period ; and since that 

 time I have not found leisure to engage in it. I think 

 it right, however, to mention in this place such cursory 

 observations as I was able, in the midst of my other 

 pursuits, to make upon this subject ; and it will afford 

 me sincere pleasure, if what I have to offer should so 

 far excite the curiosity of philosophers as to induce 

 some one who has leisure, and the means of pursuing 

 such inquiries with effect, to precede me in the investiga- 

 tion of this interesting phaenomenon ; and as the sub- 

 ject is certainly not only extremely curious in itself, but 

 bids fair to lead to other and very important discoveries, 

 I cannot help flattering myself that some attention will 

 be paid to it. 



