[ *49 ] 
XIV. Experiments on Water obtained from the melted tee 
of Sea-Water , to af certain whether it be frefh or not ; 
and to detei mine its fpecific Gravity with re fpeci to other 
Water . Silfo experiments to find the Degree of Cold in 
which Sea-Water begins to freeze . By Mr. Edward 
N airne. Addrejfed to Sir John Pringle, Bart. P. R. S. 
TO SIR JOHN PRINGLE, BART. P. R. S. 
SIR. " Hampftcad, 
Feb. i, 177 6. 
*" frti f T havin S been fuggefted, in a converfation at 
-*■ which I was prefent, that the ice of lea-water 
is not frefh ; and that if the ice found near the poles be 
really fo, it mu ft probably be the ice of frefh water dis- 
charged into the fea from large rivers in thofe parts : I 
thought the prefent cold weather afforded an opportunity 
too favourable to be loft, of afeertaining by experiment 
whether the water obtained from the melted ice of lea- 
water be free from the tafte of fait or not; of comparing 
its gravity with that of the fea-water, See.; and of find- 
ing the degree of cold in which the latter begins to 
freeze : and I beg leave to lay before you an account of 
my refearches in thefe matters, and of the methods I fol- 
lowed in making them. If you, sir, fhould think them 
worthy of notice, and would communicate them to the 
learned body over which you prefide, you would confer 
an honour on, &c. 
Vol. LX VI* K k 
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