XIV. Description of an Instrument for ascertaining the specific 
Gravities of Fluids. By John Godfrey Schmeisser. Commu- 
nicated by Sir Joseph Banks, Bart . P. R. S. 
Read May ib, 1793. 
Although it be well known to chemists, as well as to ex- 
perimental philosophers in general, that the ascertaining the 
specific gravities of bodies is a matter of great importance in 
various chemical experiments, as well as in the analysis and 
chemical investigation of different substances ; yet we find 
that this precaution is too frequently neglected in the ac- 
counts given of the experiments by the authors themselves, 
and that the neglect of it has sometimes occasioned the failure 
of these very experiments, when repeated by others. 
As this defect has, in a great measure, arisen from the want 
of an accurate and convenient apparatus, a defect which I 
have formerly experienced myself, I have for some time past 
employed my thoughts in inventing a contrivance by which 
this difficulty might be removed. I flatter myself that I 
have now succeeded ; having contrived an instrument, which 
I have found to answer every purpose for which it was in- 
tended, to my great satisfaction ; so that the specific gravities 
of fluids may be determined in an easy and accurate manner. 
Every ingenious man will easily convince himself in what 
respect this instrument may differ from, or how far it may be 
