ATTRACTION OF WATER BY AIR. 243 



cefTes, furnifties better iron in one foundery than in another, 

 the difference feems frequently to arife in patt from the char- 

 coal. 



Such are the principal caufes of fpontaneous combunions, 

 whofe effects are fo much the more dangerous by being lead 

 expeded. The; Society of Emulation thought they (liould ren- 

 der an important fervice to every clafs of proprietors, and par- 

 ticularly to the inhabifants of the country, by developing the 

 phyfical knowledge which might guard them againft dangers, 

 of which they are too frequently the victims, from ignorance 

 and a fatal want of forefight. I truft I have fulfilled the with 

 of the Society, and of the firfl: Magiftrate, whofe intelligence 

 and confiant folicitude extend, without exception, to every 

 obje6l which may contribute to the profperity of the country 

 and the happinefs of the governed. 



III. 



On the Solution of Water m the Jlmofphere; and on the Nature 

 of atmofplterical Air. By Mr. John Gough. From the 

 Author. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON, 

 SIR, 



1 DO not recoIIe6t any philofopher or meteorologift, who has 

 attempted todemondiale the chemical union of atmofpherical 

 air and water, by help of the following lads and arguments. 

 Should the prefent endeavour, to eftablith the propofition, ap- 

 pear deferving of a place in your Journal, the infertion of it 

 will oblige. 



Yours, &c. 



JOHN GOUGH. 

 Mlddlejhaw, July \6, 1804. 



Exp. 1 . If a cylinder of dry porous wood be put into a flrong Dry vegetables 

 glafs tube, nearly of the fame diameter with itlelf, and water ^""^ '"^^^''' 

 be poured into the veffel, the particles of the fluid will pene- 

 trate the wood, and caufe it to fwell, fo as to burfl: the glafs. 

 Some writers affirm, that the fame arlifice has been ufed with 

 fuccefs to fplit rocks, an operation which is commonly per- 

 formed by the elaflic power of gun-powder, A quantity of 

 R 2 motion 



