Experiment II, 
Shetving that Mercury mil Appear as a Shower of Fire, vphtlfl 
dejcending in vacuo from the Top to the Bottom of a tall 
Receeiver* 
A Tall Receiver being provided about ai Inches high, 
f\ to whofe upper Orifice was fcrewM aGIafs, refembling 
thole now commonly us'd for Cupping, having an open 
PaflagQ through the Neck of it 3 in vvhich Paffage was Ce- 
mented a piece of fmall Tube, drawn taper to one end by 
the flame of a Candle, which with the Cup then made an 
entire Funnel. The fmall Aperture of which was ftopt with 
a round piece of a Stick as a Plug, to prevent the Mercuries 
entring the Receiver before its time. Within this tall Reci- 
pient was included a Glafs about the height of 17 Inches, 
with a Fvound Crown like a Shade, (as they generally call 
fuch as are put o're Images to keep them from DulL) In 
this maaner ( fee Fig* 2. ) being plac'd on the Pump, and 
about a pound aud a half of Quickfilver put into the Funnel, 
(prefuming now to call it fo,) the Air was began to be with- 
drawn, and in two minutes of time was fufficient to exhibit 
the Fh(Bmmenon. For then Loofning the Plug that ftopt the 
Funnel, the Mercury, by thePreffure of the Air, was driven 
violently into the Receiver, ftriking ftrongly on the Crown 
of the Included Glafs, which broke the Quickfilver into (mall 
Particles, defcending all around the Exposed fides of both 
the Glaffes, appearing like a Shower of Fire in a very fur- 
prizing manner. The form of the Receiver, as well as the 
Included Glafs, was very diftinguifhable by . its light, and 
continued fo till all the Mercury had en t red thro the Funnel. 
What more occurrU to my Obfervation was. That the De^ . 
fcending Mercury did more refemble the falling of Snow, by 
the flownefs of its motion, than that of Rain. That none 
of it appeared luminous but what defcended Contiguous to 
the fides of the Glafles, That the Globules of Mercury de- 
fcended 
