ON THE ELECTRIC COLUMN. 245 



The above consequences may be deduced frcm the most Meteors best 

 common atmospheric phenomena, even when only viewed ^^""'^^ among 

 from the plain, provided they are observed in all their con- 

 sequences; but it is on high mountains, the very region of 

 meteorst that, from other circumstances not perceptible in 

 lower situations, the observer is induced to wish for more 

 knowledge in the astonishing operations performed in this 

 laboratory. Such has been the case with Mr. de Saussure 

 and myself, on account of our frequent visits to the moun- 

 tains of our native country, for the geological pursuits in 

 which we were engaged at the same time. The surprising 

 phenomena concerning mofjfMrf, which we observed in these 

 high regions of the aift led us separately to the pursuit and 

 construction of our respective hygrometers ; in order to Hygrometere. 

 understand, by experiments and observations with this in- 

 strument, ill what really consists Tnoi^/wre in the atmosphere; 

 and to follow certain of its modifications, as its sudden in- 

 crease and diminution without perceptible cause : a know- 

 ledge which, if not leading to immediate discoveries on the 

 other atmospheric operations, might at least clear the way 

 to these discoveries by dispelling and preventing errours. 



When our experiments and observations were first pub- Observations 



lished, they attracted much the attention of natural philo- ^*. T^"^"^® 



•^ ' ^ with the sup- 



sophers; but by degrees they have been forgotten, from the posed compo- 

 increasing prevalence of the hypothesis of a composition of ^'^'^""^ "'*'*'• 

 water, to which they were opposed, in consequence of their 

 connexion with the most common meteorological pheno- 

 mena ; an opposition explained even before this hypothesis 

 was so much relied upon as to effect a change in the whole 

 nomenclature and language of chemistry. 



This inattention, for a time, to real and important disco- 

 veries, an effect occasioned by prevailing prejudices, is oh* 

 served under various forms in the History of Sciences; but 

 there it is seen also, that an obstacle of this nature could 

 not be perpetual, and it may be expected, that it will not 

 be so in this case ; therefore I shall here assemble some un- 

 controverted results of observation and experience, for the 

 consideration of natural philosophers. 



Article I. Evaporation, the original source of «#»»ospAwH> Theory of era- 

 ft^ei^omenai ia not ^ <iis&olution of water by air, as is now so P<'^*"°"' 



commonly 



