Domestic Intelligence. 399 
know whether any contrivance is now in the hands of ar- 
tists for adapting the graduation of the thermometer to the 
irregularities of the bores “Ifthere is not, the instrument of 
Mr.. Kendall has the important peculiarity of supplying the 
defect,—supposing a number of points in the scale to have 
been previously ascertained by comparison with a standard 
thermometer. We are not authorised by the inventor fully 
to develope the principles of his instrument at tHe present 
time’; but we can state in general; that for every point in 
the scale whiely has. been experimentally determined, the iti- 
strument furiishes:the ordinate ofa curve. When the bore 
is uniform, the curve becomes d straight line ; but when 
variable, a continued curve is to’ be drawn through the ex- 
tremities of the ordinates, and to bé employed instead of the 
Straight ‘line in the process of graduation. An irregular 
scale is thus furnished, which is exact at the points experi- 
mentally determined, and through the intermediaté space 
varies according tothe law: of continuity. The natiire of 
the operation is such, that if a considerable number of points 
be ascertained, including thosé at which the ordinates are 
nearly or accurately a maximum, the small errors to which 
ié mechanical process of constructing thé curve is liable; 
will have no sensible effect ote eradiation. With stich 
itnprovements in the constraction of Mr. Kendall’s ifstru 
ifient as experience will probably suggest, we think it promi- 
isés to be of very eésetitial service to the artist, ii Construct- 
ing thermometers for those experimental téséarelies which 
require Very accurate ieasures of témperature, and in, 
which, of course, no dependence ought to be placed on the 
uniformity of the bore, isi DPE ee 
‘We have seen an instrument off @ priticiplé similar to that 
of Mr: Kendall, and with some valuable additions, although 
without any provision for an irregular graduation, in thé pos- 
session of Professor Noyes, of Haiilton Colleve: tis due 
to these ingenious gentlemen to state, that édcli has proéead- 
ed without the knowledge of the other, and that both are’ 
entitled to the full credit of their respective inventions. 
