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XXI. Hijhry of the Congelation of Qukltjilvcr, By Charles 
Blag den, J\f, JO* F. R., S, PhyJicuiH to the rfnny. 
Read June 5, 17S3. 
T H E late experiments at Hudfon’s Bay have determined a 
point, upon which philofophers not only were much 
divided in their opinion, but alfo entertained, in general, very 
erroneous fentiments. Though many obvious circumflances 
rendered it improbable, that the term of mercurial congelation 
fhould be five or fix hundred degrees below o of Fahrenheit’s 
fcale, as had been at firfi luppofed ; yet fcarcely any one ven- 
tured to imagine that it was fhort of ioo°. Mr. Hutchins, 
however, has clearly proved, that even this number is far be- 
yond the truth ; and that quickfilver freezes in a degree of cold 
not exceeding that which fometimes occurs in the northern 
parts of Europe, and frequently in the more rigorous climates 
of Alia and America. It now appears, that quickfilver, fo far 
from containing any effential principle of fluidity, does not 
differ from fome of the other metals, in its melting point, 
nearly fo much as they differ among themfelves ; and as it is 
malleable in its folid flate, and after calcination recovers its 
metallic form by heat alone, without the addition of inflam- 
mable matter, there can be no doubt but it muff be ranked 
among the perfect metals, which, therefore, arranged accord- 
X x 2 ing 
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