on Spirituous Liquors T 
veflel filled with water. The ktter was preferred for the 
3 2 7 
following reafons. 
When a ball of glafs, which is the propereft kind of folid 
body, is weighed in any fpiritnous or watery fluid, the adhe- 
fion of the fluid occafions feme inaccuracy, and renders the 
balance comparatively fiuggifh. To what degree this effedt 
proceeds is uncertain ; but from fome experiments made by 
Mr. Gil, PIN, with that view, it appears to be very fenfible. 
Moreover, in this method a large iurface muft be expo fed to 
the air during the operation of weighing, which, efpecially in 
the higher temperatures, would give occafion to fuch an eva- 
poration as to alter eflentially the ftrength of the mixture. It 
feemed alfo, as if the temperature of the fluid under trial 
could be determined more exadtly in the method of filling a 
veflel, than in the other: for the fluid cannot well be ftirred 
while the ball to be weighed remains immerfed in it ; and as 
fome time muft neceffarily be fpent in the weighing, the change 
of heat which takes place during that period will be unequal 
through the rnafs, and may occafion a feniible error. It is 
true, on the other hand, that, in the method of filling a veflel, 
the temperature could not be ascertained with the utmoft pre- 
cifion, becauie the neck of the veflel employed, containing 
about ten grains, was filled up to the mark with fpirit not 
exactly of the lame temperature, as will be explained pre- 
fently ; but this error, it is luppoied,, would by no means equal 
the other, and the utmoft quantity of it may be eftimated very 
nearly. Finally, it was much ealier to bring the fluid to any 
given temperature when it was in a veflel to be weighed, than 
when it was to have a folid body weighed in it ; becaufe in the 
former cafe the quantity was fmaller, and the veflel contain- 
