Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-05
Fos fTr Tt,isa.

| toR TuE TIMfe.
Messrs. Editors: Tie new Invention of Can't,
Ericsson being the principal subj ect of discussion
among the newspaper press of this country at
the present time, it would not be improper to
state few facts in relation to the properties al
caloric.
Heat, strictly speaking, is the name of SEN
| sation produced in animated bodies but custom
| has adapted it likewise to inanmate matter, and
we say the heat of the sum- or the heat of an
oyen ust as readily as the heat which these bo-
dies are capable of exciting. 1t was with a view
to avoid the confusion which arose from thus con
founding the cause and effect, that modern che
mists adopted the new word caloric to denote the
principle which produces heat; and it is ia this
sense that the word is generally employed in mo-
deru books of science.
Caloric is supposed to be a fluid of inapprecia-
Bile tenuity, which is distributed in various pro-
portions among the particles of bodies, and it is
called Tree caloric or heat of temperature what
ever be its degree, whatever the source
whence 1t is derived, provided it is perceptible to
the senses, or affects the thermometer Free en-
ioric always tends to diff'use itself equally; in
other words when two bodies are of different
temperatures, the warmer gradually parts with
It's calorlc to the colder, till they are both brought
to the same temperature Thus, when a Their
mometer is applied to hot body, it receives ca
loric, when to a cold one it communicates part of
Its own caoric and this communication contin
ues' until the thermometer and the body arrive at
the same temperature. Cold is not positive
quality, but merely the dimipution of heat. Bo-
dies, too, that are of the same temperature, give
out and absorb equal quantities, 80 that no varia.
ton OF temperature is produced in them; but
when one body contains more caoric than ano-
ther the exchange is always in favor of the cold
er body, until an equal diffusion is effected
But new feature has sprung up in the histo-
ny OF calorc, Wits application as motive
power. of which Capt. Ericsson claims the honor
OF the invention. Truly, this is an age of i'm
proyement. Scarcely has one invention been
made Thoroughly known, ere another rises as its
rival. We all thought steam most wonderful
Improvement, and so it was Yet Capt. Ercs-
sons plan seems still greater and more wonder
ful. And there, too, seems to be pleasure taken
by the rising generation in the Improvement and
advancement of the sciences. To pass our time
in the study ofthe sciences has, mall ages been
reckoned one of the most dignifiet aud happy
OF human occupations, and the name of Phoso-
pher and Lover of WISDOM has been given to
those who lead such life.
Its easy to show that there Il positive graft
hcation resulting from the study of the ,ciences.
Ii 1t be pleasure to crafty curiosity o what
we are ignorant of, to have our feelings If Won
dercalled forth, how pure delight of thi very
kind does natural science hold out to its Students
Is there anything in all the idle books of taos and
horrors with which youthful readers Ire so
much delighted, more truly astonishing thin the
fact, that few pounds of water may, by merely
being placed in n particular way, produce IN ir-
resstble force; or thatb the applicaton'of hated
air or caloric, a vessel may be driven with reat
speed through the waters of the deep! We think
not.