The vapor rises attached to this fluid; but at a certain height they separate, and the vapor descends in rain, retaining but little of it, in snow or hail less. What becomes of that fluid? Does it rise above our atmosphere, and mix equally with the universal mass of the same kind? Or does a spherical stratum of it, denser or less mixed with air, attracted by this globe, and repelled or pushed up only to a certain height from its surface, by the greater weight of air remain there, surrounding the globe, and proceeding with it round the sun? In such case, as there may be a continuity or communication of this fluid through the air quite down to the earth, is it not by the vibrations given to it by the sun that light appears to us; and may it not be, that every one of the infinitely small vibrations, striking common matter with a certain force, enter its substance, are held there by attraction, and augmented by succeeding vibrations, till the matter has received as much as their force can drive into it? Is it not thus that the surface of this globe is continually heated by such repeated vibrations in the day, and Cooled by the escape of the heat when those vibrations are discontinued in the night, or intercepted and reflected by clouds? Is it not thus that fire is amassed, and makes the greatest part of the substance of combustible bodies? Perhaps when this globe was first formed, and its original particles took their place at certain distances from the centre, in proportion to their greater or less gravity, the fluid fire, attracted towards that centre, might in great part be obliged, as lightest, to take place above the rest, and thus form the sphere of fire above supposed, which would afterwards be continually diminishing by the substance it afforded to organized bodies; and the quantity restored to it again by the burning or other separating of the parts of those bodies. Is not the natural heat of animals thus produced, by separating in digestion the parts of food, and setting their fire at liberty? Is it not this sphere of fire which kindles the wandering globes that sometimes pass through it in our course round the sun, have their surface kindled by it, and burst when their included air is greatly rarified by the heat on their burning surfaces? 1 CONTENTS. LIFE of Dr. Franklin, as written by himself, ESSAYS. On Early Marriages, On the Death of his brother, Mr. John Franklin, ib. The Whistle, a true story, written to his nephew, · 173 A Petition of the Left Hand, The Handsome and Deformed Leg, Conversation of a Company of Ephemera; with the Soliloquy of one advanced in age, Morals of Chess, The Art of procuring Pleasant Dreams, Advice to a Young Tradesman, · 175 176 178 180 183 188 190 191 Necessary Hints to those who would be Rich, The Way to make Money plenty in every Man's On modern Innovations in the English Language, and An Account of the highest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz: the Court of the Press, Observations on the generally prevailing Doctrines of Precautions to be used by those who are about to un 247 Remarks concerning the Savages of North Amer- To Mr. Dubourg concerning the Dissensions between A Comparison of the Conduct of the Ancient Jews Nautical Affairs, 248 Positions to be examined, - The Internal State of America; being a true descrip- 255 257 nent, American White-washing, Answer to the above, Convention, 279 Final Speech of Dr. Franklin in the late Federal Preference of Bows and Arrows in War to Fire-arms 295 On the Theory of the Earth, Loose Thoughts on a Universal Fluid, 297 300 |