THE COMPONENT PARTS OF WATER.

And besides the surface which it covers, it is diffused over the earth by means of perforations and channels, which, like the arteries and veins of animals, carry this important element in all directions; and these lie so contiguous to each other, that a well of three or four feet in diameter can scarcely any where be sunk, but a vein is cut, and water springs up.

Excepting a few degrees round the poles of the earth, which are not inhabited, it is found generally in a fluid state, and so remains until it is deprived of its caloric or fire, when it immediately becomes ice, and is then unfit for most of its invaluable purposes. In its fluid and useful state, it therefore contains a considerable quantity of heat, which it derives from the incumbent atmosphere, and which at once preserves it liquid, and contributes largely to the support and increase of organic bodies.

Water was generally supposed formerly to be a simple uncompounded body; but it is now determined by analysis to be a compound. I need here only give the opinion of an eminent chemist. "Water," says he, "is an uninflammable fluid, and when pure, is transparent, colourless, and void of taste and smell. It is formed by the union of hydrogen and oxygen (gas), and may be considered as an oxide of hydrogen; oxygen and hydrogen appearing to unite only in that certain proportion, of which water is the result." One

d Parkinson.

THE INFLUENCE OF OXYGEN, &c. ON VEGETATION.

hundred parts of water are found to consist of eightyfive parts of oxygen, and fifteen of hydrogen gas.

An experiment has been made for the purpose of forming water by these gases. Nearly two hogsheads of hydrogen gas, weighing one thousand and thirtynine grains; and about one hogshead of oxygen gas, weighing six thousand two hundred and ten grains; amounting together to seven thousand two hundred and forty-five grains, were used in this experiment, and the whole produced about three-fourths of a wine pint of pure water. Water, when decomposed, or reduced to its primary elements, yields these two gases. Which of these substances was originally formed? Was the whole of the water on the face of this globe formed by the combination of these gases; or were these gases formed by the decomposition of water? The one or the other of these suppositions is probably the fact. Either supposition gives us a most grand and overwhelming idea of the wisdom and power of the Creator.

A modern author raised a variety of vegetables, under circumstances where they could derive no nutriment from soil, and which were supplied with distilled water only. Afterwards he submitted them to a careful analysis, and each kind yielded products exactly the same as if they had been grown in soil;

WATER A PART OF NEARLY ALL SUBSTANCES.

he concludes his account by remarking, that "Oxygen and hydrogen, with the assistance of solar light, appear to be the only elementary substances employed in the constitution of the whole universe; and nature, in her simple progress, works the most infinitely diversified effects by the slightest modification in the means she employs."

The particles of matter of which water is composed, are extremely small, so that it enters into the pores of almost all other bodies with facility, affords support to animals and vegetables, and forms an important part of nearly all the substances of this globe. In the sea it is mixed with a considerable proportion of salt, to preserve it from a state of putrefaction. Diffused over the face of the earth, either by springs under its surface, or by rain from the atmosphere, it is found fresh, or freed from its saline particles. For as those particles are heavier and more gross than the water with which they are mixed, they are separated either by evaporation, by means of which the clouds are formed to supply the earth with rain, or by a filtration through the earth, when it enters into the subterranean aqueducts which supply us with springs. It is essentially necessary that it should be reduced to this state, in order to serve the purposes of animal nutriment, and supplying our domestic necessities.

f Parkes.

C

THE USES OF WATER.

In addition to the above remarks on the properties and utility of this important fluid in the economy of nature, it may be remarked, that it forms an element which supports creatures innumerable, both small and great, from the monstrous whale to the animalcule, thousands of which float and play in a single drop; it links together the most distant nations, and affords the means of the freest intercourse amongst them; it softens the earth, and preserves it in a proper state for the wise purposes of its formation; and is subservient to innumerable other ends, which could not have been answered by it had it been formed on different principles, or under any other modification.

Water brings the different soils into a proper state to perform their office. Dry earth of itself has little effect; but when moistened, it has the property of decomposing atmospheric air, and of conveying its oxygen to the roots of those plants which vegetate within it."

Had water been as solid as earth on the one hand, or as subtile as air on the other, it would have been utterly unfit for any of the important uses to which it is now appropriated, and for which it is most exactly adapted. b

R See Parkes.

The following curious and interesting experiments were performed recently, during a voyage to Malta, which show the influence of the pressure of water on bodies at great depths.

An

A CURIOUS EXPERIMENT IN DEEP WATER.

Surrounding this terraqueous globe, is an AтмoSPHERE of a most curious structure; and much more so than is generally known. Its constituent parts

An empty bottle, closely corked, was let down about fifty fathoms. When it was drawn up, it was filled with water, the cork turned, the bottom end being uppermost, and forced nearly half way out of the bottle.

A bottle was then filled with fresh water, corked closely, and let down. When it was drawn up, the cork was turned upside down, and the water was brackish.

Next, a piece of twine was put under the cork, and tied round the neck of the empty bottle, so that if the cork were driven in, the twine must break. When it came up, the cork had been much forced, but had not given way, and the bottle was half full of water.

A piece of twine was again put under the cork, the bottle having been emptied, and a thin coat of sealing-wax over the cork. This was sunk ninety-eight fathoms. When it was raised, the twine and sealing wax were both broken, the cork turned upside down, and the bottle full of water.

In another experiment, a piece of twine was put under the cork as before, and a strong stocking needle was forced through the top of it, which rested on each side of the neck of the bottle; then it was dipped several times in boiling pitch. It was then let down to the depth of the last. When it was drawn up, the cork was again turned, the twine broken, the needle bent and pushed in with the cork, and the bottle full of water.

In the last experiment, a cord was put cross-wise under the cork, so that the water had two folds to break. The cork and the bottle neck were dipped in boiling pitch; and afterwards, a piece of strong canvas was tied close over the warm pitch; then the canvas, cork, and bottle neck, were dipped in pitch again. This was sunk ninety-eight fathoms, and it was found C 2

to