The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-27
dated iusscus than in the spen air. He placed

the thermometer was greater and more rapid
taan when the same experiment was repeated IN
the air. All the metals are fused more rapidly
in vacuo than in the open air, when acted upon
by the votaic pile, and give out a more intense
degree ofheat and tight Charcoal, in the same
circumstances, igniies with most brilliant
light and this light may be continued for any
length OF time, without any change or decompo-
stion or the charcoal. The light and heat, in
these experiments, cannot proceed from combi-
nations OF Oxygen, but may be supposed to origi-
nate from the vibrations or violence Of action of
the particles OF the bodes which are thus ope-
rated upon. This opinion was also adopted ny
iooke and Boyle. The experiments of DR.
Herschei had shown, that the sun constantly
emitted invisible rays, (distinct from Lightly
whch produce heat other invisible rays are
also emitted, which have the property of revv-
lg metallic csices. The one he calls, heat
asking rays, the Other, deoxydizing rays. DR.
DaVy opinions respecting light, and other RAYS
emiued from the sun, imply, that he does not
believe any ofthose phenomena will admit OF
an explanation by the pulsstions of an ETHEREAL
medium. His observations lead to the suppo
siuon, that the particles of light and of other
'"d'es possess pclarity-If n magnet be broken
iato any given number of parts, each part has
It's attracting and repelling poles, like the large
magnet. II blunt insulated metallic coniuc-
tOr De brought near an excited glass cylinder.
ii acquires electrical polarity the one end IS
hne Ca crystal from Ceylon) be heated, one end
Of the crystal becomes positively electrified,
and the other negatively. If the crysta. be bro.
Ken INTO a number of parts, each part has the
same form as the large crystal snd each of
,aese small crystsls has its attracting and repel-
ihlS electrical poles. Here, some connection
between magnetism, electricity, and crystalli
zation may be traced Capitalization is the
elect ofchemicai affinity, by which the psrti
cses arrange themselves in certain forms ec.
cordinB 20 the shape of the primary mo!ecsle.
and, probably by some law, connected with
,ne polarity OF each particle. Light appears
also to be refracted according &c some law con-
nected with its own polarity and that of the
reirscting medium. The double refrsction of
light, In passing through Iceland crystal. al
ways taxes place on the plane, in a hne with the
AXIS OF crystal and Il the crystal be broken in
10 smaller ones, each ofthese has the same pro
2erty OF double refraction in the direction nj -,
axis. When the light falls upon the crvstnl with
certain angie of Incidence, only one refracti-
on taxes place. in another angie, there are
lour reirhctons, or images of the object seen
Dr. Dayy was Inclined to believe that each par
ticie OF liSht had its polar axis and attractno, &
rePei'ng poles, and thai its refractions and re-
nsrUons "ere GefTndeni on this polarity. II is
only justice to DR.. Dayy to mention, that what
ne advanced on this intricate subject he stated
10 oe' IN considerable degree, hypothetical
Aho ehtltied to no more regard than what II
mIght derive from future experiments We
nave been nofe particular in stating these
cowectures, as they appear 10 offer the
most plausible solution of what are r.s,led
the htS OF easy uaGsmission and rehect,on
tat hgnl hitnerto BIFen-The positive and
negative eiectrIciues natural 20 different bodies
makes their decomposition by electrical aeencv
PrScucaoie' IN cases where they could be de
composed by no other known methods Hence.
the VoitaIc pile, or battery, becomes the mas,
in
mist. The French philosophers have lately pub
lisheu an account OF some experiments made
10 determine the powers of different piles. and
have asserted, that the energy of each nile 70 in
the proportion OF the cube root of the number
OF plates. In order To produce double effect.
.''ey atA'e' mat the number OF plates must be
Increased eight times. DR. Davy, on the CON.
trary, found the energy of the battery to in
crease In much greater ratio with the number
OF plates. en- plates or metal, eleven inches
and half in length and four inches and
nan an breadth, ignited an iron wire two
inches IN length Twenty plates ignited eight
inches, and thirty plates ignited twelve inches OF
the same wire. The error in the Calculations oft
the French, IS attributed to their making use of
pies instead OF troughs, by which means a ron
siderable part of The effect is lost rb.. hate
ry At tne Royal Institution consists of troupbs
made OF WedgwOod's ware, divided into xeDa
rate Gems, hiied with wafer, containing small
Va ~ "N't' nc are suspend
ed rom piece of wood, the length of the
trough, by which means they can be immersed
IN the cells. or taken out, together. When
very powerful battery is wanted, q number of
these troughs are connected. All the metals
are fused by 1t, but more readily in vacuo than
IN the air. Platina, which is the most inf,
SIDE metal by other means, melts, by the opera-
uon OF the voltsic body, sooner than zinc. Dur.
ing the fusion II platIna wire in Vacuo, q mum
Der OF VIVID sparks were given out, which Or
Davy imagined proceeded from the d;senpaoe-
ment OF hydrogen, which forms constituent
part OF carbon andthe metals In regard m me .
teoric stones lie observes, that hydroren gas
or lnriammabe air, will dissolve some of the
lhetais, and form wi;h them, an invisible metal.
lie gas When this gas is exploded, the metals
are deposited IN metallic form on the sides of
ne vessel IN which the experiment is made
arsenic, teliurum, and sodium, were EXHIBIT
ed, IN gaseous state, combined with hydro.
gen. When the hydrogen was inAamed, bv
mixture OF oAymurlatIc gas, the metals were
deposited IN solid form, coating the sides of
the vessels. DR.. Davy observes, that the stonsa
winch hau fallen rom the atmosphere were all
metsi'ic' ans might, perhaps, be formed by the !
explosion OF large quantity of inhammsbie air
IN winch the metals had been dissolved he
was, however, inclined to trace their origin 10
announcer cause, and TO consider them as the. runs
OF some planetary body or, perhaps, they m eht
DC Smah sateiltes, moving round some of tine
planets, which, coming near the orbit ne ,i'.
earth, were attracted to It. We know that tine
opinion has been advanced by some pbiiosn,t,,.,s
ON the continent but it anpears so imnrohsh,-
and contrary TO the order and perfection of the
solar system that we think it totally inadmissbe
The opinion that they are rnsisIs - :