ON THE AUGMENTATION OF BOUNDS.. 6'.9 



not directly concerned in the production of the primary found. 

 This opinion appears to be countenanced by an experiment, 

 which I have repeated at different times under various forms 

 and of which the following is the fubftance: If a wire be 

 frretched by two pins fixed into a bad conductor, fuch as a 

 block of ftone, the found produced by it is much weaker than 

 that of an equal wire fimilarly ftretched upon a board, which 

 is a better conductor. In like manner, if a circular piece of - 

 wood be firuck by a leaden ball conflantly falling from the 

 fame height, the report will be heard at a greater diftance, 

 when the wood is placed upon a good conductor of found, 

 than when it refis upon a bad one. Thefe facts create a high 

 degree of probability, that the leading maxim of this efiay is 

 applicable to founds of every defcription, embracing fuch 

 as are continuous, as well as thofe of a momentary dura- 

 tion. 



Dr. Matthew Young's Enquiry into the Phenomena of Similar theory 

 Sounds has fallen into my hands fince the foregoing remarks ^J Matthew 

 were committed to paper, and a partial perufal of the work 

 has convinced me, that the prefent theory has not all the 

 claim to originality which I once fuppofed to be due to it. 

 The juftice and neceflity of the preceding obfervation will 

 appear from the Doctor's two theories of the fpeaking-trurnpet 

 and echoes; in both of which he has made ufe of my leading 

 principle with fuccefs. The maxim, however, has been ex- 

 tended to a greater number of cafes by thefe obfervations ; 

 befides which, an attempt has been made to demonfhate the 

 truth of it by experiment, and it is on the two circumftances 

 here Hated that the merits of the prefent letter muft reft ; for 

 I am far from defiring to rob the celebrated author of the 

 enquiry of the honour due to his fagacity. 



JOHN GOUGH 



Middle fhaw, Jan. \, 1805. 



Obfervations 



