The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-10

Proofs that there is such Substance as The dir
At first might suppose the air not to be substance
or body walk in II, and move every limb without
any feeling indicating the presence Of any thing. On
calm day, might be apt 10 say, on looking on a
building at distance that there IS nothing between
him and the buldinghat the space between is empty;
but let him be on the top OF coach going very
fast or even move the hand brskly he will then have
feeling Of impression his face or hand, like that
of some light substance striking him. or like gentle
breeze. II, while running he hold open umbrella
behind him. he will feel something resistingthe advance
of the umbrella and rendering the exerton OF force
his part necessary to pull it EDWARDS; while no such
force viii be required to carry the umbrella closed like
a walking stick in the hand There must be some sub
stance present which causes the impression the face
hand and ressts the open umbrella while advancing
This substance the air II is invisible, SO that we see
nothing in the space which it occupies and we do
feel il on a calm day. when moving slowly. be-
cause it is so extremely light and parti> les strike
upon the face gently and at conpastl, ely long IN
tervals. But when move FAST the Particles OF air
strike with greater impetus, and hence produce
decided impression. When atemp, TO draw the
open umbrella along feel great RESISTANCE, be-
cause the umbrella has TO push such large quantity
OF air before it: when the umbrella is closed II has
to push out of its way much less quantity OF air,
hence less force is required II we reflect that there
is really why matter should he very heavy,
ndeed there is gas sixteen times lighter than a'r)
and why it must always be visible, we shall
have little difficulty in concevlng that AIR is a sub
stance or body well as water or ron Nothing shows
better that air is substance than the nature Of wind
Wind-whether gentle breeze that is scarcely felt
upon the cheek, and is sufficient to swell ont the
vass of sailing vessel, brisk gale, communicating
strong impulse to the sails OF ship, and driving
along the rate Of many miles an hour hurricane
tearing up by the roots, converting tie surface
Of the into raging pillows, aud hnrryng every
thing before it in its progress--is nothing but AIR IN
of motion in the first case moving very slowly,
in the last moving with almost Incredible velocity
lat the rate Of of miles hourly and it is its
velocity to which its force When moving
slowly, is scarcely felt, Just leaden ball might be
thrown gently board to leave not the slightest
impression; while the same ball, if discharged with
explosive violence from muske would penetrate the
hardest oak. The phenomena of clouds or balloon
floating in the air OF birds flying, also point ont that
it is material substance They rest upon the air IN
the way ship does the surface OF water
person looking into room in which nothing can be
but the walls, would be apt say there is nothing
in it but there air and although he does not see 1t,
the rooms completely filed with ii, so much that
if he walks into il he drives much OF the air at
the moment in which he Other proofs that the
air is substance or body will be given proceed,
such as its weight and pressure and its color.-Retds
Chemistry Of Nature.