Father. Yes, it is very apparent in tubes whose diameters are one-tenth of an inch or more in length, but the smaller the bore, the higher the fluid rises; for it ascends, in all instances, till the weight of the column of water in the tube balances, or is equal to the attraction of the tube. By immersing tubes of different bores in a vessel of coloured water, you will see that the water rises as much higher in the smaller tube, than in the larger, as its bore is less than that of the larger. The water will rise quarter of an inch, and there remain suspended in a tube, whose bore is about oneeighth of an inch in diameter.

This kind of attraction is well illustrated, by taking (Plate 1. Fig. 5.) two pieces of glass joined together at the side BC, and kept a little open at the opposite side AD, by a small piece of cork E. In this position immerse them in a dish of coloured water, FG, and you will observe that the attraction of the glass at, and near BC, will cause the fluid to ascend to B, whereas about the parts D, it scarcely rises above the level of the water in the vessel.

Charles. I see that a curve is formed by the water.

Father. There is, and to this curve there are many curious properties belonging, as you will hereafter be able to investigate for yourself. Emma. Is it not upon the principle of the

VOL. I.-C

attraction of cohesion, that carpenters glue their work together?

Father. It is upon this principle that carpenters and cabinet makers make use of glue; that braziers, tinmen, plumbers, &c. solder their metals; and that smiths unite different bars of iron by means of heat. These and a thousand other operations, of which we are continually the witnesses, depend on the same principle as that which induced your mamma to use the white lead in mending her saucer. And you ought to be told, that though white lead is frequently used as a cement for broken china, glass, and earthen ware, yet if the vessels are to be brought again into use, it is not a proper cement, being an active poison; besides, one much stronger has been discovered, I believe, by a very able and ingenious philosopher, the late Dr. Ingenhouz, at least I had it from him several years ago; it consists simply of a mixture of quick-lime, and Gloucester cheese, rendered soft by warm water, and worked up to a proper consistency.

Emma. What! do such great philosophers, as I have heard you say Dr. Ingenhouz was, attend to such trifling, things as these?

Father. He was a man deeply skilled in many branches of science; and I hope that you and your brother will one day make yourselves acquainted with many of his important discove

ries. But no real philosopher will consider it beneath his attention to add to the conveniences

of life.

Charles. This attraction of cohesion seems to pervade the whole of nature.

Father. It does, but you will not forget that it acts only at very small distances. Some bodies indeed appear to possess a power the reverse of the attraction of cohesion.

Emma. What is that, papa?
Father. It is called repulsion.

Thus water repels most bodies till they are wet. A small needle carefully placed on water will swim flies walk upon it without wetting their feet:

Or bathe unwet their oily forms, and dwell
With feet repulsive on the dimpling well.

DARWIN.

The drops of dew which appear in a morning on plants, particularly on cabbage plants, assume a globular form, from the mutual attraction between the particles of water; and upon examination it will be found that the drops do not touch the leaves, for they will roll off in compact bodies, which could not be the case if there subsisted any degree of attraction between the water and the leaf.

If a small thin piece of iron be laid upon quicksilver, the repulsion between the different metals will cause the surface of the quicksilver near the iron to be depressed.