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12 Dec 28th 1842

I have been studying for some days past [[capillary?]], and in connection with the subject, I have made to day a few experiments. First, to determine the affect of heat on [[capillary?]]. I wetted a tube of about 1/50 of an inch [[strikethrough]] with [[/strikethrough]] internal diameter with water, found the elevation of the liquid, when the tube was withdrawn from the water. I then plunged the same tube with its contained columns of water into a kettle of boiling water, when the [[grip??]] was withdrawn, the column was about to the tenth of an inch or about this quantity below its former level. This was repeated several times and always with the same result. 

Reflecting on this experiment, which in prin ciple is an old one, the thought occurred to me that if a column of water were placed in a tube in a horizontal position thus, [[image]] and heat applied to the one end, a motion should be produced in the column towards the other. The column will be equally attracted by the [[capillary]] in each direction, namely, towards a and b, therefore if we begin the attraction at one end, the column will move in the direction of the other. When the experiment was tried, the result was I anticipated. The motion of the column was quite rapid and could be moved several inches by the cautious application of the heat of the [[short?]] lamp. 

This experiment explains very satisfactorily the fact, mentioned by [[Raoult?]] in his chemistry of the motion of [[strikethrough]]heat[[/strikethrough]] oil along a wire, by applying a lamp to the wire of one side of the oil. The effect is given as an illustration of the repulsive power of heat. 

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Another idea has occurred to me in the course of my reflection on this subject, in reference to the theory of capillary of [[Poision??]], namely that the legend is [[rarified?]] and condensed by the action of the [[capillary]] force. If this hypothesis be correct, should not the top of a capillary column depolarize light? 

Tried this by means of the polarizing apparatus of a [[?]] but with [[not?]] [[success?]]

I have since [[writing]] the account of the machine for determining the velocity of a cannon ball, by means of electricity, conversed with Mr Saxton on the subject, and learned from him that there would be but little difficulty in constructing the revolving disk, it would be rendered sufficiently uniform in motion by means of a fly wheel, or by its [[over?]] momentum. He advises however a wheel or rather cylinder of not more than 4 or 5 inches in diameter, and [[says?]] on this spaces corresponding to the [[too?]] of a second could be [[marked]] out.

I have since though of a method adjusting the several needles so as to advocate the difficulty attending the different degrees of [[invection?]], and this consists in deflecting the different needles to different distances by measure of [[pius?]], moved backward and forward by means of fluid screws. The needles could all be provided by attending all the wires on the wire for each, to the same screen, and when this was broken through, each needle should work the same moment on the revolving disc, if they did not, then the deflecting [[pews?]] should be so adjusted that the [[deserved?]] result would be produced. 

Another improvement was made in this method by causing the velocity to make it [[over?]] [[??]] see my [[??]], [[??]] [[??]] [[??]] [[??]] [[??]].

N B.another improvement in the arrangement, consists in smashing the [[earth??]] [[perform?]] the part of half the conductor.