Caxro I. VEGETAVTION; 27

With boundleſs ſpring elaſtic airs unfold,

Or fill the fine vacuities of gold;

With ſudden flaſh vitreſcent ſparks reveal, 16

By fierce colliſion from the flint and ſteel; 2?

(O6)

united with phlogiſtic matter in reſpiration, which ſeems to be a Now combuſtion, its volume is lefiened; the carbonic acid, and perhaps phoſphoric acid are produced; and heat is given out; which according to the experiments of Dr. Crawford would ſeem to be depoſited from the vital air. But as the vital air in nitrous acid 1s condenſed from a light elaſtic gas to that of a heavy fuid, it muſbpoſfſeſs leſs heat than before. And hence a great part of the heat, which is given out in üring gunpowder, 1 ſhould ſuppoſe, muſt refide in the ſulphur or charcoal.

Mr. Lavoifier has ſhewn, that vital air, or Oxygene, loſes leſs of its heat when it becomes one of the component parts of nitrous acid, than in any other of its combinations; and is hence 1

CAPDA

1 1

gunpowder; but as there ſeems to be great analogy between

le of giving out a great quantity of heat in the exploſion of

the matter of heat, or Calorique, and the ele&ric matter; and as the worſt conductors of eleCtricity are believed to contain the greateſt quantity of that fuid; there 1s reaſon to ſuſpedt that the worſt conduCtors of heat may contain the moſt of that fluid; as ſülphur, wax, GIk, air, glaſs.:- See note on 1. 176 of this Canto.

JULE /GCHt Parks: 1. 229. When flints are ſtruck a92m other flints they bave the property of giving ſparks of light; but It ſeems to be an internal light, perhaps of ele&tric origin, very different from the ignited ſparks which are ſtruck from flint and ſteel, The ſparks produced by the collifion of ſteel with flint appear to be globular particles of iron, which have been fuſed,