54 Dr. Holyoke’s new scale 
peatisen cio ae and published to the world, not only by indi- 
ials, but by all the literary societies in Europe ; and the mind of 
the public is so inured to the scales hitherto in use, that it may per- 
haps be impossible that an alteration should ever obtain, and come into. 
general use. But as far as the considerations of greater ease and con- 
venience, more precision, and a diminution of the sources of error,- 
will justify an alteration ; so far we have reason for making the pro- 
posal. The following is suggested for the consideration of the 
learned, as a remedy for the above mentioned defects. 
Let a thermometrical tube of a sufficient length, whose bore is 
perfectly true and equable throughout, be properly filled with quick- 
silver and hermetically sealed. Let this thermometer be placed, m 
extremely cold weather, in a frigorific mixture, so as to congeal the 
fluid ; and let the point, at which the quicksilver just begins to freeze, 
be carefully marked upon the glass tube with adiamond. Let this be | 
the beginning of the scale, and let 0 be marked upon it accordingly. 
(See fig. 10.) Then let thethermometer be removed into fair water, and 
let the point, to which the mercury rises in the tube, when the water just 
begins to freeze, be marked uponthe tube. Nowas the points, at which 
the mercury rises in these two cases respectively, are certainly and. 
invariably determinable, and the distance between the freezing point — 
of mercury and the freezing point of water, seems to be a natural and 
convenient measure, by which to adjust all the other divisions of the 
scale ; I would propose, that the freezing point of water be marked 
on. the scale 100, and the space between 0 and 100 be divided into so 
many equal parts or degrees. Or if it be impracticable and inconve- 
nient to freeze the mercury soas to determine the point 0 in that way, 
the scale may be adjusted, by first finding the freezing point of water, 
and marking that 100, and then applying heat to the same water till it 
boils, and marking the boiling point 350; then let the ay ae be- 
cect ft “lam 
BRS OF SG IO GF GES ES ALTE PIG RAS 4 TT SECC FORY 
