t is proportionally increased. --Observe its effect on
this small glass tube, the middle of which I present to the extremity of
the flame, where the heat is greatest.

CAROLINE.

The glass, in that spot, is become red hot, and bends from its own
weight.

MRS. B.

I have now drawn it asunder, and am going to blow a ball at one of the
heated ends; but I must previously close it up, and flatten it with this
little metallic instrument, otherwise the breath would pass through the
tube without dilating any part of it. --Now, Caroline, will you blow
strongly into the tube whilst the closed end is red hot.

EMILY.

You blowed too hard; for the ball suddenly dilated to a great size, and
then burst in pieces.

MRS. B.

You will be more expert another time; but I must caution you, should you
ever use this blow-pipe, to be very careful that the combustion of the
alcohol does not go on with too great violence, for I have seen the
flame sometimes dart out with such force as to reach the opposite wall
of the room, and set the paint on fire. There is, however, no danger of
the vessel bursting, as it is provided with a safety tube, which affords
an additional vent for the vapour of alcohol when required.

The products of the combustion of alcohol consist in a great proportion
of water, and a small quantity of carbonic acid. There is no smoke or
fixed remains whatever. --How do you account for that, Emily?

EMILY.

I suppose that the oxygen which the alcohol absorbs in burning, converts
its hydrogen into water and its carbon into carbonic acid gas, and thus
it is completely consumed.

MRS. B.

Very well. --_Ether_, the lightest of all fluids, and with which you are
well acquainted, is obtained from alcohol, of which it forms the
lightest and most volatile part.

EMILY.

Ether, then, is to alcohol, what alcohol is to brandy?

MRS. B.

No: there is an essential difference. In order to obtain alcohol from
brandy, you need only deprive the latter of its water; but for the
formation of ether, the alcohol must be decomposed, and one of its
constituents partly subtracted. I leave you to guess which of them
it is--

EMILY.

It cannot be hydrogen, as ether is more volatile than alcohol, and
hydrogen is the lightest of all its ingredients: nor do I suppose that
it can be oxygen, as alcohol contains so small a proportion of that
principle; it is, therefore, most probably, carbon, a diminution of
which would not fail to