XIX. An account of experiments on the change of the elastic force of a constant volume of atmospheric air, between 32° F. and 212° F., and also on the temperature of the melting-point of mercury

Abstract

It was some time since proposed by the Kew Committee of the British Association to determine the temperature of the melting-point of mercury, in order if possible to add a third to the two familiar points which have been so long exclusively used in graduating thermometers; and afterwards the sum of £150 was voted for this purpose by the Government Grant Committee of the Royal Society. In prosecuting this research, the final arrangement of apparatus has cost much labour and time; but the results at length obtained have exhibited a precision which has induced me to present them to the Society in the following communication. I shall in the first place endeavour to describe the apparatus used, and shall then give an account of the experiments made and deduce results.