140 Dr. Blagden’s Experiments on the 
fluid. Thefe faCts, though they do not fhew but that a film of 
water, in contaCt on both lides with air below its freezing 
point, would at once congeal, yet, I think, are fufficient to 
prove, that its formation into thin plates is not a general caufe 
of its early freezing. 
From a confideration of the above-mentioned caufes of 
freezing, and their various exceptions, I am led to think, that 
the matter in queftion depends upon fome circumftance of the 
more intimate nature or compofition of the water; for in- 
ftance, the arrangement, attractions, and perhaps Ihape, of 
its particles. If we fuppofe the particles of water to poflefs a 
kind of polarity, that is, to have particular attracting points 
or furfaces, properly arranged, not only its cryftallifation ill 
regular angles, but likewife moft of the above-mentioned phae- 
nomena, admit of fome kind of explanation. For latent heat, 
be it a matter or motion, may be confidered as a caufe either 
leflening the power or impeding the operation of this polarity ; 
the effeCt of which is gradually diminifhed by external cold, 
till at length the polarity entirely overcomes the refinance it 
occafions, and the attracting points or furfaces rufh together. 
Whatever tends, therefore, to bring thefe particles into a ftate 
more advantageous for their junction, as by prefen ting their 
attracting furfaces more direCtly to one another, forcing them 
nearer together, or removing attractions of a contrary ten- 
dency, and allowing the particles free fcope to follow the im- 
pulfe of their polarity, mufl tend to haften the congelation. 
When particles of water, already frozen, are prefented to 
other fluid water of a proper degree of coldnefs, not only the 
attracting furfaces will be in the mod favourable pofition from 
the arrangement they have taken in the freezing, but very 
poffibly their power may be ftronger from their union with 
out 
