The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-17 00:00:00

PDR THg.SUN,

TEMPERATURE OF WATER.
Mr. EDITOR.—The observations made bl
Captain FRANKLIN, during his expedition to the
Copper Mine River, have afforded an additional
proof that however low May be the temperature
of the atmosphere, that of water beneath the ice
is always considerably higher. In this instance
we are informed by the gallant Captain, that
whilst the thermometer stood at not less than 47
deg. below zero, the temperature of the river at
Fort Enterprize was always 32 deg. on the sur-
face, and as much as 42 deg. at the bottom of the
stream, which was only two-fathoms and a half
deep. This fact was ascertained by a spirit
thermometer, in which, probably from some irre-
gularity in the tube, a small portion of the coloured
liquor usually remained at 42 deg., when the
;;2lumn was made to descend rapidly. In the
instance here alluded to, the thermometer stand-
ing at 47 deg. below zero, with no portion of the
fluid in the upper part of the tube, was let down
slowly into the water, but drawn cautiously and
rapidly up again, when a red drop at 42 deg;
clearly indicated that the fluid must have risen
to that point, if not even above it, while it stood
at the bottom of the river.
The mere phenomenon of congelation is well
known to be effected by the passage of caloric
from water into the surrounding air, when the
temperature of the latter is reduced below 32 deg:
By this process, water loses its caloric of flui-
dity, and is brought into a solid form or into ice.
In thus changing its external appearance, water
departs from the general law of bodies; for while
they are contracted by cold, water on the cows
trary expands in proportion as it loses its caloric
of fluidity; and this expansion, which is immenier
performs many important operations in the eco-
nomy of nature. This departure of water, from
what may be considered as a general law of na-
ture, is well worthy of attention.
Within a certain range of temperature, water,
following this general rule, is expanded by heat,
and contracted by cold ; but beyond this de-
terminate point, it is affected in a different man-

ner. If heat be applied to water at 32 deg., this
liquid will gradually contract until it reaches
40 deg., but when it has reached this tempera«
Lure, it expands Ile every other substance.
When boiling water is cooled gradually, it uni-
formly contracts, until it once more arrives at
40 dog ,and then expands as it is further cooled.
'ln this singularity we discover another striking
instance of the kindness of that -Providence which

has ordained all things for the happiness of all
creatures, as well as for our own particular ad-
vantage. This peculiarity of water is intended
to prevent the too rapid congelation of large quart.
titles of water, and by preserving a proper de-
gree of warmth in the waters of the lakes and-
rivers, to preserve the life of their various inha-
bitants.

It has been already remarked, and indeed it
is generally known, that water never freezes
the
t u
until its temperature is reduced to 32 deg. As
s qis th
the particles of the fluid are either expanded or
contracted by variations in their temperature, they
rboeurnodmieng p
speacrititiccalelsly,
ainigdh‘tveilrle uen hl
ya r noci o• heavier e
in hre-
former, and sink in the latter, of these cases. Hence-)
when the water of a stream, which we will sup-
pose to be at 60 deg., is gradually cooled by the
approach of winter, the particles upon the sur-
face are the first that lose their caloric, they con-
tract, and, becoming specifically heavier, sink.
Their places are supplied by others, which are-
cooled, contracted, and sink in a similar man-
ner ; and thus the whole mass of the water is
gradually cooled. If it were not for the pecu-
liarity already mentioned, the same process would
continue, and the whole quantity of water would
be cooled to 32 deg., where, being suddenly frozen,
it must prove certain destruction to all the animals
it contains. This is prevented by the peculiar
property of water. As soon as the water of the

stream is all cooled down to 40 deg., the particles
upon the surface no longer contract, but on the
contrary they expand ; and becoming, in conse-
quence, lighter than the particles below them,
they cannot sink, but remain at the surface,
where, being further cooled, they at length loose
their caloric of fluidity, and assume a solid form.
This process is a regular crystallization, and it is
known that in this process water crystallizes in
filaments, which are uniformly joined at an angle-
of 60 deg.

Now, as ice is a had conductor of heat, the pro.,
cess of cooling proceeds slowly ; and whilst the

air and the ice are cooled far 1.)elow 32 deg., the
water under the ice preserves a pretty even tem•
perature, and continues at 40 deg. or thereabout.—

And such, the extract given ..;bove informs us,
was found to be the case by Captain FRANKLIN,
even when the temperature'of the air was much

more considerably ;educed.

A. P.

COAL-MARKET, JUNE 16.
Ships at Market. Ships sold
29 Newcastle -
4A Sunderland - 4A

Prim.
- 3ls Od to 39s Od
- 3 ls 3ls Od to 40s 6d

BIRTHS.
On the 9th inst, at Wootton Bassett, Wilts, the hicly of the
Rev. Thomas Hyde Ripley, of a son.
On the 15th inst., the lady of Dr. Seymour, of George-street,
Hanover-square, of a son.
On Monday, the 14th inst., the lady of James Heygate,
of a daughter._ _ _

On Thursday, the 10th inst., Mary, the wife of Edward,
Marshall, Esq., of the War-office, of a son.

MARRIED.
On the Bth inst., at St. Giles's church, Reading, the Rey.
Josias Torriano Chaplain to the Honourable the East India
Company on the Bengal Establishment, to Louise, second
daughter of John Hooper, Esq., of the same place.
At St. Mary's, Islington, on Tuesday, the 15th inst., "Wil-
liam Stephen, Esq., Advocate, Isle of Man, to Nessy, eldest
daughter of Mr. Samuel Thomson, of Park-terrace, Islington.
On Wednesday, the 16th inst., the Rev. Joseph Hewlett,
8.A., of Peppard, near llenley-on-Thames, and of Worcester
College, Oxfbrd, to Charlotte Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr.
Hewlett, of the latter place.

• DIED.
On Monday last, at Sydenhath, Kent, Mr. William Holmes,.
of the firm of Soulsby, Holmes, and Evans, in the 35th year of
his age.
On the 13th inst., at Buxton, Mr. A. Baker, of Bakewell,
aged 67.

At Florence, ob the 23d ult., William Crosbie, Esq. his
Majesty's Secretary of Legation at the Court of Tuscany.
In January last, at Calcutta, Maria, the wife of Mordaunt
Ricketts, Esq., the Resident at Lucknow.

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