ABSORPTION OF THE GASES. 299 



its force on the water, in the manner pointed out in the laft Remarks on 



article, and with J-jo{ its force on the uppermoft ftratum oi^^^^^^f^^^^ 



gas in the water ; The difiance of the two.ftrata of gas mufl by denfe fluids, 



be nearly 27 times the diftance of the particles in the incum- **^* 



bent atmofphere, and 9 times the diftance of the particles in 



the water. This comparatively great diftance of the inner 



and outer atmofphere arifes from the great repulfive power of 



the latter, on account of its fuperior denfity, or its prefenting 



9 particles of Airface to the other 1. When -5*-^ is abforbed, 



the diftance of the atmofpheres becomes 64 times the diftance 



of two particles in the outer, or 16 times that of the inner. 



The annexed views of perpendicular and horizontal ftrata of 



gas in and out of water, will fufficiently iiluftrate thefe po- 



litions. 



7. An equilibrium between the outer and inner atmofpheres 

 can be eftabliflied in no other circuraftance than that of the dif- 

 tance of the particles of one atmofphere being the fame or 

 forae multiple of that of the other; and it is probable the mul- 

 tiple cannot be more than 4-. For in this cafe the diftance" of 

 the inner and outer atmofpheres is fuch as to make ihe per- 

 pendicular force of each particle of the former on ihofe parti- 

 cles of the latter that are immediatel)' fubjeft to its influence, 

 ph^fically fpeaking, equal; and the fame may be obferved of 

 the fmall lateral force, 



8. The greateft difficulty attending the mechanical hypo- 

 thefis, arifes from different gafes obferving different laws. — 

 Why does water not admit its bulk of every kind of gas alike? 

 This queftion I have duly confidered, and though I am not 

 yet able to fatisfy myfelf completely, I am nearly perfuadedi 

 that the circumftance depends upon the weight and number of 

 the ultimate particles of the feveral gafes : thofe whofe par- 

 ticles are lighteft and fingle being leaft abforbable, and the 

 others more, according as they increafe in weight and com*, 

 plexily.* An enquiry into the relative weights of the ulti- 

 mate particles of bodies, is a fubjefl, as far as I know, en- 

 tirely new : I have lately been profecuting this enquiry with 

 remarkable fuccefs. The principle cannot be entered upon in 

 this paper; but I (hall juft fubjoin the refults, as far as they 

 appear to be afcertained by my experiments, 



* Subfequ«nt experience renders this conjefture lefs probable. 



