on some of the leading doctrines of caloric , &c. 37 1 
and intricate province of caloric. While I hope to be able to 
fix this now indeterminate point, by a new train of investiga- 
tions, and consequently to prove the entire fallacy of his 
doctrine of temperature, the key-stone of his system of heat, 
I do not mean to affirm the absolute uniformity of expansion 
in bodies, by equal increments of that power. I think it 
indeed highly probable, that every species of matter, both 
solid and liquid, follows an increasing rate in its enlargement 
by caloric. Each portion that enters into a body must weaken 
the antagonist force, cohesion ; and must therefore render 
more efficacious the operation of the next portion that is 
introduced. Let 1000 represent the cohesive attraction at 
the commencement ; then, after receiving one increment of 
caloric, it will become 1000 — 1 = 999. Since the next 
unit of that divellent agent will have to combat only this 
diminished cohesive force, it will produce an effect greater 
than the first, in the proportion of loco to 999 ; and so on in 
continued progression. That the increasing ratio is, however, 
greatly less than Mr. Dalton maintains, may, I think, be 
clearly demonstrated. 
According to his table of equal increments of temperature, 
vol. i. p. 14, New System, we have the following intervals, 
corresponding to the five successive intervals of 90° on our 
scale. 
From 52 0 to 122 0 , to 212°, to 302°, to 392 0 , to 482°. 
Intervals by Fahr. of 90°, 90°, 90°, 90°, 90°. 
True intervals by Dalton, io 2°.4 77°.b 6^°.g 55 °.? $ o°.5 
The relative inequality of these intervals is deduced from 
Mr. Dalton's law, that “ all pure homogeneous liquids, as 
“ water and mercury, expand from the point of their congela- 
MDCCCXVIII. 3 C 
