34,2 Mr. W. Brande’s Experiments to ascertain 
five successive days, at the end of which period, four ounces 
having passed into the receiver ; its specific gravity at 6 o° was 
ascertained to be 0,96314. 
It may be concluded, from these results, that the propor- 
tion of alcohol is not influenced by the temperature at which 
wine is distilled, the variation of the specific gravities in the 
above experiments being even less than might have been ex- 
pected, when the delicacy of the operation by which they are 
ascertained, is considered. 
I have repeatedly endeavoured to separate the spirit from 
wine, by subjecting it to low temperatures, with a view to 
freeze the aqueous part ; but when the temperature is suffi- 
ciently reduced, the whole of the wine forms a spongy cake 
of ice. 
In a mixture of one fluid ounce of alcohol with three of 
water, I dissolved the residuary matter, afforded by evaporat- 
ing four fluid ounces of Port wine, and attempted to separate 
the alcohol from this artificial mixture by freezing ; but a 
spongy cake of ice was produced as in the last experiment. 
When the temperature is more gradually reduced, and 
when large quantities of wine are operated upon, the separa- 
tion of alcohol succeeds to a certain extent, and the portion 
which first freezes is principally, if not entirely water, hence 
in some countries this method is employed to render wine 
strong. 
