ELECTRO-CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES. \65 



and we are also led to distinguish the latter from chemical affinity. 

 Some philosophers have sought to prove that caloric possesses 

 weight, though too small to he perceived; but if caloric be even Caloric does 

 supposed to be matter, it is not probable that it should possess no gravi 

 weight, because the property of radiating excludes all the effect 

 of gravitation, and because this matter, if heavy, ought to ac- 

 cumulate without limit in the planetary bodies and at length 

 destroy them. 



From the relation which exists between caloric and the If electricity 

 electricities, it is clear that what may be true with regard to C o n dudedt!ut 

 the materiality of one of them, must also be true with regard caloric is also 

 to that of the other. There are, however, a quantity of pheno- matter : 

 mena produced by electricity, which do not admit of explana- 

 tion, without admitting at the same time that electricity is mat- 

 ter. Electricity, for instance, very often detaches every thing But e j ectr ; c j ty 

 which covers the surface of those bodies which conduct it. It, detaches the 

 indeed, passes through conductors without leaving any trace of cov enngs of 

 its passage ; but it penetrates non-conductors which oppose 

 its course, and makes a perforation precisely of the same a nd perforates 

 discription as would have been made by some thing which had hodies ; 

 need of place for its passage. We often observe this when 

 electric jars are broken by an over-charge, or when the electric 

 shock is passed through a number of cards, &c. 



We may, therefore, at least with some probability, imagine Whence it *p- 



caloric and the electricities to be matter destitute of gravitation, P. ears probable 



„. . • . . ,- TT7I , • that caloric 



but possessing affinity to gravitating bodies. When they are and the elec- 



not confined by these affinities.they tend to place themselves in tricmes are 

 .,., . . . . rr<i i matter, &c 



equilibrium in the universe. The suns destroy at every 



moment this equilibrium, and they send the re-united electrici- 

 ties in the form of luminous rays towards the planetary bodies, 

 upon the surface of which, the rays being arrested, manifest 

 themselves as caloric ; and this last in its turn, during the time 

 required to replace it in equilibrio in the universe, supports 

 the chemical activity of organic and inorganic nature. If we 

 can imagine all this to be possible, we possess a notion how the 

 sun can cause a body to emanate from itself without loss of its 

 own volume, and without this emanated body producing on the 

 bodies which arrest it the effects of a gravitating and falling 

 matter. 

 But it is proper to put an end to these conjectures. I hope Apology for 



that 



