q-)6 Dr. blagden’s Hijiory of 
than I expected on beginning the fearch. By fuch a connected 
view of the different obfervations and experiments in any one 
branch of icience, we are furnifhed with tiie beff opportunity 
of difcriminating what is certain from what is doubtful, and 
acquire as diftindt ideas as the adtual ffate of know ; dge will 
admit. On the prefent fubjedt of mercurial congelation, the 
conclulions have in general been noticed, as the premifes oc- 
curred. Though Mr. Hutchins’s experiments did not ftand in 
need of any confirmation, yet (till it is pleafant to fee their princi- 
pal refult, the freezing point of quickfilver, effablifhed by fuch a 
body of collateral evidence as, taken together, is abfolutely irre- 
liftible. But befides the information obtained relative to quick- 
lilver itfelf, we have been able to corredt feveral vulgar preju- 
dices. The difference between cold climates no longer appears 
fo prodigious, nor the relifting powers of animals and vegeta- 
bles fo aftonifhing and inconceivable. That extenftve fcale of 
heat, which reprefents its diminutions by artificial means as 
continued down fo many hundreds of degrees below the greateft 
produced by nature, however fpecious in profpedt, proves to 
be deftitute of foundation. The ufe of quickftlver for ther- 
mometers is at length fully afcertained. From the boiling point, 
to 39 0 or 40° below o, it muft be confidered as unexceptiona- 
ble, all fufpicion of its irregular contradtion within thofe 
“ de l’argent. Bientot la chaleur de l’atmofphcre lui rendit fa fluidite. Cette 
“ experience intcrcjjante a Ir. double merite d’ avoir ete devinee par un chymijie Tran - 
‘ ‘ fois, et executee par nn autre ; il a fupplee a ce que le climat oppofoit d,' objlaclcs , 
“ un moyen tout-d-fait ingenieux , et qui cxigeoit dcs connoijjances en phv/tque.” Sec 
Journal de Paris, 1 5 Juill. 1783, p. 814. 
The peculiarity of M. cazalei’s procefs confifts in the Iargenefs of the quan- 
tities on which he operated, and the provifion he made for the ufetefs liquor, pro- 
duced by the melted ice, to run off as faff as it was formed. He certainly con- 
gealed the mercury, but did nothing to afeertain its freezing point, which he 
Teems not even to have had in contemplation. 
2 
bounds 
